TAMRMS#: B06
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CSAC Recommendation: FCSS Operating Grant
Presented by: Connie Smigielski, Manager
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That the following 2019 FCSS Operating Grant allocations be approved as follows:
1. St. Albert Community Information and Volunteer Centre (CIVC); $43,818 for 2019, to provide the Sidekicks Program a program to provide mentorships and matches for children and youth; $70,920 for 2019, to provide an Information and Referral Program, a program aimed at linking residents to needed services; and $70,920 for 2019, to provide the Volunteer Centre program, a program aimed at connecting residents looking for volunteer opportunities and connecting organizations looking for volunteers.
2. St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families Society (SAIF); $36,975 for 2019, to provide the SAIF Education Program, a program aimed at providing educational, skill development and awareness workshops/presentations to school-aged children and youth in various topics; and $38,280 for 2019, to provide Youth Counselling for youth 12 - 18 years who have witnessed or experienced abuse in their family or relationships.
3. St. Albert Family Resource Centre (FRC), $198,191 for 2019, to provide the Family Life Education Program, a program geared at enhancing parenting skills and support to families.
4. St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank, $62,991 for 2019, to provide the Community Liaison Program, a program that provides a range of information, referral and outreach support to individuals and families.
5. St. Albert Seniors Association, $79,963 for 2019, to provide the senior support program, a program aimed at providing a range of information, referral and outreach supports to seniors and in addition, to lend support administratively to Bereavement Fellowship services.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
Each year the City allocates FCSS Funding to outside organizations to provide preventive social supports on behalf of, or in partnership with the Community Services Department. The Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) reviews the proposals submitted for funding and presents the Committee’s recommendations to Council for approval.
This report outlines recommendations provided by the CSAC with respect to the 2019 FCSS Operating Grants, as per Policy C-CS-14.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
Community Granting and Support for Delivery of Services.
Management of Grants for the Delivery of Social Services:
Provision of grants to deliver preventative social services in the community.
Family Life Education Program
Program is geared at enhancing parenting skills and support to families.
Stop Abuse in Families education program
Program aims at providing educational, skill development and awareness workshops/presentations to school-aged children and youth on various topics.
Community Liaison Program
Program that provides a range of information, referral and outreach support to individuals and families.
Senior Support Program
Program that provides senior support that aims to provide a range of information, referral and outreach support to seniors. The support includes administrative support to Bereavement Fellowship.
Information and Referrals
Program aims at linking residents to needed services.
COUNCIL DIRECTION
The Council direction that has resulted in this matter being brought before Council is Council Policy C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
As per the FCSS Operating Grant Program Policy C-CS-14, the City may offer financial assistance in the form of an operating grant for eligible St. Albert not-for-profit community organizations for the delivery of preventative social services to the community.
Applications are reviewed by the CSAC and recommended to Council for approval. On November 20, 2018 the CSAC reviewed the submissions for the 2019 Operating Grant Funding and provided recommendations for Council’s consideration.
The operating grant recommendations have been decreased from the amount requested by the organizations, as per Council Policy C-CS-22, Outside Agency Operating Grant Program, which restricts organizations from applying and receiving funding for the same item more than once from differing granting programs within the City.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
All applicants were and are encouraged to discuss their application with Administration prior to the intake deadline to ensure the applicant and components being applied for are eligible as per the governing Policy, assist with the application if needed and to provide clarification.
Policy C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program was revised in 2018 to address the concern of the potential for organizations to receive duplicate funding for the same services from the City. The Service Standards/Expectations #7 within the Outside Agencies Operating Grant Policy indicates, “Municipal dollars from two separate funding programs shall not be used to fund any portion of the same operational component, including but not limited to staff costs, incurred by the Eligible Not-for-Profit Organizations”.
Changes to the policy were reviewed with the five applicants to ensure their understanding. The agencies included in their applications requests for funding for the same operating component from both the FCSS Operating Grant Program and the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program, resulting in a decrease in their funding allocations as recommended by CSAC.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Total funding currently included in the proposed 2019 operating budget for the FCSS Operating Grant Program is $699,000. The allocations being recommended by CSAC for funding total $602,058. The balance remaining within the FCSS grant fund would be $96,942 and would be available for use as per the FCSS grant guidelines and funding agreement.
Legal / Risk:
Recipients of the FCSS Operating Grant sign a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms and conditions for the funding, including expected outcomes and deliverables.
Organizational:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendations, the following alternatives could be considered:
1. That the funding requests, as identified be adjusted as per the direction of Council.
Report Date: December 17, 2018
Author(s): Connie Smigielski
Committee/Department: Community Services
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief People Officer: Michelle Bonnici
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble