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2016 Annual Community Grant Appeal
Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo/Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region
(now called the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)
Presentation to Kitchener City Council Monday December 14, 2015
December 14th 2015
To Be Covered• Highlight all areas of our 2016 request
• Clarify why a local community information centre is important
• Address questions raised at the Committee meeting last week
December 14th 2015
Factors to Guide Decisions
• Prudent use of tax $
• Use facts, not impressions
December 14th 2015
2015 AgreementGrant funds are provided to the Organization to support the following services:
2015 Grant
To support Community Information Services
$46,321
To support resources dedicated to the operation of Kitchener’s Festival of Neighbourhoods
$10,772
To support community information development
(update technical systems, web development e.g. specialized information portals), new resource and product development, as well as professional development for staff and organization such as applying new sector standards which contribute to the development of community information in Ontario, including the 211 system)
$17,237
Total $74,330
December 14th 2015
2016 Request
• Total investment request = $100,000
• $75,817 (2% COL increase to the 2015 grant)
• $24,183 Part-time social planner to convene forums on issues community has asked to explore
December 14th 2015
2016 Recommendation• $0 for social planner to support forums
• $31,779 (50% of 2015 grant) for community information service and development ($0 in 2017)
• $10,829 to support partner role in Festival of Neighbourhoods
Total grant: 2016=$42,608 2017=$10,829
December 14th 2015
Defunding Rationale
• City corporation does not need our local information service – needs will be met by Region of Waterloo’s new database
• Community members can get information on-line or through many other access points
• City of Kitchener can’t justify being the only funder of local community information services
Response• City corporate needs aren’t stated
• Web based region wide directory has been publicly & freely available for over 8 years
• Information resources are provided now to City community centres e.g. electronic Blue Book, information brochures (over 5,000 brochures in past year)
December 14th 2015
• 42% of Region population lives in Kitchener
• 60% of our inquiry contacts are in Kitchener
• 60-70% of community organizations and services in Waterloo Region are located lin Kitchener
• Kitchener stakeholders want region wide information
Kitchener - Primary Service Area
December 14th 2015
City vs Region Funding• City funding is to support information services –
inquiry, system navigation, resource centre, info resources, etc.
• Region funding is for maintaining community information database
• Up to this year we shared our database through direct data transfers to local information centres and other key stakeholders to support their work
December 14th 2015
Having basic tools
Having tools vs using tools…
People’s needs being met
December 14th 2015
Having basic tools People’s needs being met
“Trained professionals effectively turn problems into solutions and information into knowledge. This process is more than just providing a telephone number or an address, but a combination of empathy, listening skills, an extensive knowledge of local resources and providing options to services.”
Michele Watson, President, Inform Ontario
Helping People is More Than Data
December 14th 2015
Sector specific providers are service area specialists
Info specialist has broader system knowledge to help organizations navigate
outside of their own sector
Sector Specialist vs Info Specialist
December 14th 2015
Sector specific providers are service area specialists
Info specialist has broader system knowledge to help organizations navigate
outside of their own sector
“Even more important, is the ability of Centre staff to use that information to not simply answer questions, but to explore these questions and their possible answers in greater depth -- and, in a case like ours, to support continued networking and connection. We need this service in Kitchener-Waterloo. Our community would be much poorer without it, and we urge you to continue your support.”
Susan Vecchiarelli, President, Canadian Federation of University Women K-W
December 14th 2015
Time and investment needed to create information resources
Efficient and cost-saving creation and development of resources
Maps, searchable lists, system navigation tools…
Info Work to Create Resources
December 14th 2015
Time and investment needed to create information resources
rc
Efficient and cost-saving creation and development of resources
"One particular initiative we applaud is the Centre’s goal to improve tenant conditions in vulnerable neighbourhoods. The Centre has created a useful information resource for tenants to help guide them through the formal complaint process for dealing with rental property maintenance issues.“
Mary Pappert, Renters Educating and Networking Together (R.E.N.T.)
Development to Meet Needs
December 14th 2015
Community Validation
• 2014 survey of over 750 residents region wide told us the community needs:– Resource centre where people can get help (85% )– Information services provided by phone, internet
and in person (63%)– Communication to keep people updated on
important issues (58%)– Incubator space for new groups (34%)
December 14th 2015
What People Tell Us
• Feedback from clients – high satisfaction rates in evaluations – 98%; 94% say they will use the information we provide
• We have created meaningful resources that make information more accessible – can we do more?
• Statements of support – letters, testimonials and presentations
December 14th 2015
Questions Asked at Dec 7th Committee
• Are we using City funds for the intended purpose?
• What does it take to maintain a community information database?
• How will our services be affected by City of Kitchener grant cuts?
December 14th 2015
Are we using City funds for the intended purpose?
• YES!
• 98% of over 614,500 contacts in 2014 were information contacts
• Funds are used only for:– Providing information services– Developing information services– Supporting our role as Festival of Neighbourhoods partner
December 14th 2015
What does it take to maintain a community information database?
• Estimated 1.5 hours per record
• Formal inclusion policy determines the priority of what to include in a database
• Data sharing arrangements can augment maintenance work
December 14th 2015
How will our services be affected by City of Kitchener grant cuts?
• Will be less able to provide free and in-kind services to the community
• Will need to generate more revenue through fee for service
• Less flexibility in how self generated funds are used to support other areas of work –e.g. community forums, social research, policy analysis
December 14th 2015
What is done with community forum results?
See summary handout with multiple examples
• Our work on many community issues started with input at community forums
• We have played a leadership role in many community initiatives:– Homelessness planning – Healthy Community visioning– ConnectKW– Neighbourhood association networking – annual summit– Disabilities and Human Rights – multiple initiatives – Poverty Elimination
December 14th 2015
Appreciation & Reality Check
• We appreciate continued support for our role as a partner in Festival of Neighbourhoods
• Our core operations make it possible for us to support FoN in many ways
• Recognition and funding for the social planning role is needed
December 14th 2015
In Sum
• Defunding is ill-advised and sends a negative message to the community
• We are the ONLY local comprehensive community information centre serving Kitchener
• Our staff are specialists who use information to help
people
• We deliver well beyond the annual grant investment
December 14th 2015
Our Ask
• Retain funding for community information service and development
• Restore funding for social planning work
• Work with us to undertake a community information needs assessment
