TAMRMS#: B06
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CSAC Recommendation: FCSS Operating Grant
Presented by: Connie Smigielski
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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:
1) Sidekicks Program $43,818
2) Information and Referral $70,920
3) Volunteer Centre Program $70,920
Total: $185,658
2. St. Albert Seniors Association:
1) Senior Support Program $79,963
Total: $79,963
3. St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank:
1) Community Liaison Program $62,991
Total: $62,991
4. St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families Society (SAIF):
1) SAIF Education Program $36,975
2) Youth Counselling $38,280
Total: $75,255
5. St. Albert Family Resource Centre (FRC)
1) Family Life Education Program $198,191
Total: $198,191
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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 PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF 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.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
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 offers an annual operating grant program, administered by the FCSS Department, to eligible community non-profit organizations for the delivery of preventive social services, in accordance with the funding formula and regulations identified in the FCSS Act.
Applications are reviewed by the CSAC and recommended to Council for approval. The CSAC conducts a rigorous review of each application, being mindful of the policies and guidelines associated with each grant program, program outcomes, deliverables to ensure accountability regarding the recommended allocations for funding support to community agencies. On November 20, 2018, the CSAC reviewed the submissions for 2019 operating grant funding and have provided recommendations for Council consideration.
Five applications were received for review with CSAC providing the following recommendations:
Application #1 Community Information and Volunteer Centre
Program Funding Received 2018:
1) Sidekicks $45,277;
2) Information & Referral $80,932;
3) Volunteer Centre Services $91,003
Program Funding Request 2019:
1) Sidekicks $54,794.60;
2) Information & Referral $75,896.60;
3) Volunteer Centre Services $87,431.60
Eligible funding request:
1) Sidekicks $43,818;
2) Information & Referral $70,920;
3) Volunteer Centre Services $70,920
CSAC recommendation for 2019:
1) Sidekicks $43,818;
2) Information & Referral $70,920;
3) Volunteer Centre Services $70,920
CSAC recommended funding is the maximum amount of funding CIVC is eligible for as per Policies C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program and C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program Policy was revised in 2018 to provide an improved process and program which is transparent, equitable, recognizes support already received from the City, eliminates duplication of funding, and is built on documented expenses.
Ineligible expenses in the 2019 submitted application for the FCSS Operating grant included:
• rent
• Sidekicks Coordinator
• Volunteer Coordinator
Agency received grant funding from the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program for the above expenses.
Application #2 St. Albert Seniors Association
Program Funding Received 2018:
1) Senior Support Program $121,000;
2) Bereavement Fellowship Services $4,000
Program Funding Request 2019:
1) Senior Support Program $84,180;
2) Bereavement Fellowship Services $4,000
Eligible funding request:
1) Senior Support Program $74,963;
2) Bereavement Fellowship Services $4,000
CSAC recommendation for 2019:
1) Senior Support Program $74,963;
2) Bereavement Fellowship Services $4,000
CSAC recommended funding is the maximum amount of funding St. Albert Seniors Association is eligible for as per Policies C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program and C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program Policy was revised in 2018 to provide an improved process and program which is transparent, equitable, recognizes support already received from the City, eliminates duplication of funding, and is built on documented expenses.
Ineligible expenses submitted in the 2019 application for the FCSS Operating grant included
• 7% of the operating costs
Agency received grant funding from the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program for the above expenses.
Application #3 St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank
Program Funding Received 2018:
1) $97,500 Community Liaison Program
Program Funding Request 2019:
1) $73,300 Community Liaison Program
Eligible funding request:
1) $62,991 Community Liaison Program
CSAC recommendation for 2019:
1) $62,991 Community Liaison Program
CSAC recommended funding is the maximum amount of funding St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank is eligible for as per Policies C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program and C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program Policy was revised in 2018 to provide an improved process and program which is transparent, equitable, recognizes support already received from the City, eliminates duplication of funding, and is built on documented expenses.
Ineligible expenses submitted in the 2019 application for the FCSS Operating grant included:
• rent
• facility maintenance
Agency received grant funding from the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program for the above expenses.
Application #4 Stop Abuse in Families Society (SAIF)
Program Funding Received 2018:
1) $66,509 SAIF Education Program
Program Funding Request 2019:
1) $37,850 SAIF Education Program
2) $39,350 Youth Counselling
Eligible funding request:
1) $36,975 SAIF Education Program
2) $37,935 Youth Counselling
CSAC recommendation for 2019:
1) $36,975 SAIF Education Program
2) $37,935 Youth Counselling
CSAC recommended funding is the maximum amount of funding Stop Abuse in Families Society is eligible for as per Policies C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program and C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program Policy was revised in 2018 to provide an improved process and program which is transparent, equitable, recognizes support already received from the City, eliminates duplication of funding, and is built on documented expenses.
Ineligible expenses submitted in the 2019 application for the FCSS Operating grant included:
• Phone
• Insurance
Agency received grant funding from the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program for the above expenses.
Application #5 St. Albert Family Resource Centre
Program Funding Received 2018:
1) $198,136 Family Life Education Program
Program Funding Request 2019:
1) $198,191 Family Life Education Program
Eligible funding request:
1) $198,191 Family Life Education Program
CSAC recommendation for 2019:
1) $198,191 Family Life Education Program
CSAC recommended funding is the maximum amount of funding the St. Albert Family Resource Centre is eligible for as per Policies C-CS-14 FCSS Operating Grant Program and C-CS-22 Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program Policy was revised in 2018 to provide an improved process and program which is transparent, equitable, recognizes support already received from the City, eliminates duplication of funding, and is built on documented expenses.
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”.
In March 2018, Administration notified all agencies applying for the Outside Agency Grant Program of amended changes to Policy C-CS-22, highlighting the new eligibility requirements; “if you are receiving funding from another municipal grant program (ie. FCSS funding,) then you are not eligible to apply for staff costs or operating costs related to the specific program in which you are already receiving another municipal grant”.
In the fall of 2018, prior to submitting applications, all agencies were invited to meet one on one with Administration to review their applications to ensure they fully understood changes to Policy C-CS-22, three of the five agencies that applied for the FCSS Operating Grant met with Administration.
Those agencies that included requests for funding for the same operating component from both the FCSS Operating Grant Program and the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program, are recommended by CSAC for a reduction as per Policy C-CS-22.
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.
On November 8, 2018 the following motion was passed “That CPS-001 Income Supplement for Residents in Need is unfunded”. The reason for this decision was directly related to sufficient funding being available in the unallocated FCSS Operating Grant Program. The anticipated amount required for the Income Supplement for Residents is approximately $30,000.
The balance of the remaining FCSS funds for 2019 would be allocated to address community needs identified by the department, such as additional counselling support.
Legal / Risk:
The City signs an Agreement with the Province of Alberta, and agrees to the guidelines, terms and conditions regarding the disbursement and use of FCSS funds for the City.
Recipients of the FCSS Operating Grant sign a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms and conditions for the funding, including expected outcomes and deliverables.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
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: January 7, 2019
Author(s): Connie Smigielski
Committee/Department: Community Services
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief People Officer: Michelle Bonnici
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble