TAMRMS#: B06
title
CSAC Recommendations: FCSS Program Funding Allocations
Presented by: Connie Smigielski, Manager of Family & Community Support Services, Community Services Department
label
RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That a portion of the 2020 FCSS proposed budgeted program funding be allocated as follows:
St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank Society $ 62,257
St. Albert Family Resource Centre $198,191
St. Albert Seniors Association $ 75,376
St Albert Stop Abuse in Families Society $ 75,310
...body
PURPOSE OF REPORT
This report brings forward recommendations from the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) for the allocation of funding through the 2020 FCSS Program Fund for Council’s consideration and approval, as per attached Policy C-CS-14.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Service Name Service Definition Current Service Level
Management of Partnerships Program Funding Council allocates a minimum
To Deliver Social Services of 20% to match the
Provincial funding.
Applications are received
Annually. Community
Services Advisory
Committee reviews
Applications and forwards
recommendations to Council
for their approval.
Programs funded align with at
least one core value listed
in the Social Master Plan
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 Program Funding.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
As per the FCSS Program Funding Policy C-CS-14, the City may offer financial assistance in the form of program funding for eligible St. Albert not-for-profit community organizations for the delivery of preventative social services to the community.
Applications were reviewed by the CSAC on September 24, 2019. Total budget available for funding in 2020 is $602,058.
CSAC’s recommendations for Council’s consideration include:
Application #1 - St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank
• Funding Request: $62,257
• CSAC Recommended Funding: $62,257
• The funding is in support of a Community Liaison Worker ($62,257)
Application #2 - St. Albert Family Resource Centre
• Funding Request: $198,191
• CSAC Recommended Funding: $198,191
• The funding is in support of a Family Life Education Program including:
Early Childhood Programming, Child and Youth Courses, Parent Coach, Parenting Courses, Outreach Services, and Resources and Referral ($198,191)
Application #3 - St. Albert Seniors Association
• Funding Request: $75,376
• CSAC Recommended Funding: $75,376
• The funding is in support of Seniors Supports and Services ($75,376)
Application #4 - St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF) Society
• Funding Request: $75,310
• CSAC Recommended Funding: $75,310
• The funding is in support of SAIF Education ($34,005) and Youth Counselling ($41,305)
Application # 5 - St. Albert Community Information and Volunteer Centre
• Funding Request: $197,597
• CSAC Recommended Funding: $0
• Funding was requested for the Community Information and Referral Service ($8,281), Community Volunteer Income Tax Program ($16,967), Community Programming and Workshops ($22,450), Volunteer Centre Services ($64,392) and Sidekicks Mentoring Program ($85,507).
FCSS Program Funding eligibility is mandated by the FCSS Act and Regulations. As per the FCSS Program Handbook, agencies must demonstrate program effectiveness through outcome measurements and organizational sustainability.
CIVC has been receiving FCSS Program Funding for over 30 years to deliver Information and Referral (I&R), Volunteer Services, and Sidekicks Mentoring Program. CIVC received $185,658 in FCSS Program Funding in 2019.
The CSAC is recommending that CIVC not receive funding for 2020. CSAC based their recommendations on the following factors:
1. The eligibility criteria outlined in the FCSS Program Policy.
2. The program meeting a demonstrated need in the community
3. The program addressing and reporting on outcomes.
4. The stability of the organization to deliver the program.
5. The recommendations of the recent Social Program Review.
6. CIVC requested funding for new services, however:
o did not demonstrate a rationale for the proposed new services based on either a gap analysis or identified community need; and
o the proposed services identified were a duplication of existing services.
7. CIVC statistics decreased substantially:
o Volunteer referral numbers dropped by 75% between 2010 and 2018
o Information and Referral statistics dropped from 36,022 in 2010 to 1,548 in 2018
o Administration had questioned the accuracy of the statistics, and as a result, in 2017 CIVC changed how they collected and reported stats to align with best practices for Information and Referral (I&R) reporting.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
All applicants were encouraged to discuss their application with Administration prior to the intake deadline to ensure the applicant and programs being applied for were eligible as per the FCSS Program Funding Policy, to assist with the application if needed, and to provide clarification.
Administration has had multiple conversations with the CIVC regarding concerns about program outputs and outcomes. Over the past several years, CSAC has questioned the value of the return on investment; these concerns were expressed to CIVC. Further, Administration informed the CIVC Executive Director (ED) that the funding for Volunteer and I&R positions would likely be reduced.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Total funding available in the proposed 2020 operating budget for FCSS Program Funding is $602,058. The allocations being recommended by CSAC for funding total $411,134.
The unallocated balance of funding ($190,924) could potentially be used to support other identified community needs and funding pressures and/or to address any potential reduction in the provincial spring budget.
Legal / Risk:
Recipients of the FCSS Program Funding sign a funding agreement outlining the terms and conditions for the funding, including expected outcomes and deliverables.
Program or Service:
The City of St. Albert Social Programs Review conducted this year recommended continuation of the Sidekicks Mentoring Program, citing alignment to community core values and offering a needed service for a relatively small investment.
CIVC is currently exploring the transition of the delivery of the Sidekicks Program to an alternate organization. Once it has been determined if a transition is going ahead, the funding requirements for 2020 will be confirmed.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Intergovernmental Considerations
The Government of Alberta tabled its 2019-23 Budget on October 24, 2019, which maintains FCSS funding for 2019-20. No annual allotment has been confirmed for subsequent Provincial Budgets. A Spring 2020 Provincial Budget is anticipated for March or April of next year. The MacKinnon Report on Alberta’s Finances, released in August 2019, is recognized as a guiding document for both the Fall and Spring Provincial Budgets, and calls on the Province to bring per capita spending in line with other comparable provinces.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendations, the following alternatives could be considered:
1. Fully fund CSAC recommendations as presented, with any shortfall in 2020 FCSS funding (pending spring budget) being allocated from the Stabilization Reserve.
2. That the funding requests be approved at 50% of the CSAC recommendation, pending review and analysis of the provincial budget:
St. Albert Community Village and Food Bank Society $31,128
St. Albert Family Resource Centre $99,095
St. Albert Seniors Association $37,688
St Albert Stop Abuse in Families Society $37,655
3. That the funding requests, as identified be adjusted as per the direction of Council.
4. Defer FCSS Program Funding recommendations to a later date with direction from Council.
...body
Report Date: November 4, 2019
Author(s): Connie Smigielski
Committee/Department: Community Services Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble