INCOME MAINTENANCE: A MODEL FOR TRANSITION March 5, 2013 Bev Clarke, Executive Director 647 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 101 Windsor, Ontario N9A 4J4 (519) 1

AGENDA 1. Introduction2. Contacts 3. Services and Programs 4. Ontario Works Referrals – Who are they? 5. Why transfer to Ontario Disability Support Program? 6. It takes a village! 7. Questions 2

5-Year Contacts Trend 3

5-YEAR SERVICES REQUESTED TREND 4

5-Year Client Age Trend 5

Services Requested 2011/2012 6

PROGRAMS & SERVICES Services Information Referral Lending Library Workshops Conferences Child Programs Social Skills Literacy & Numeracy Tutoring After-School Programs Summer Camps Youth Programs Computer Enrichment Transition Planning Recreation Adult Programs Social Skills A/T Training Transition Planning Recreation Employment Supports Client Intervention 7 Parent Program Advocacy Training

ONTARIO WORKS REFERRALS – WHO ARE THEY? 8

ONTARIO WORKS REFERRALS TO THE LDA Adults referred by Ontario Works are usually: affected by generational poverty,suspected of having cognitive deficits, and at risk of homelessness due to not complying with the income maintenance requirements. 9

IN ADDITION TO COGNITIVE DEFICITS… Ontario Works clients also present with other barriers such as: addictions mental illness physical health problems inadequate life and/or social skills incomplete or inadequate education involvement with child protection services language barriers and immigration issues insufficient work experience domestic violence criminal record children with disabilities… 10

11 DIAGNOSIS TYPES

12 SOCIAL BARRIERS

ONTARIO WORKS REQUIREMENTS: CHALLENGES FOR PERSONS WITH COGNITIVE DEFICITS AND COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 13 Must deal with an authority figure who appears to control financial outcome A detailed and personal interview is required A lot of information and documents are presented in a short time that have legal and financial ramifications

ONTARIO WORKS REQUIREMENTS: NON COMPLIANCE 14 Unable to submit required documents in a timely manner Do not disclose disability to caseworker Unable to complete assigned tasks identified in participation agreement

WHY TRANSFER TO ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM? 15

BENEFITS OF TRANSFERRING FROM ONTARIO WORKS TO ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM ODSP allows higher asset limits ODSP provides higher income support levels: basic needs and shelter Provides more financial security for individuals who require long term income support due to disability 16

IT TAKES A VILLAGE! 17 The process requires a community partners to be successful…

STEP 1 Clients participate in an intake interview to determine where existing documentation can be accessed (e.g. school boards, hospitals, treatment facilities, police departments, Children’s Aid Society, corrections) 18

STEP 2 Documents requested are reviewed, if there is sufficient information, the client is assisted with an application for Ontario Disability Support Program If there is no or insufficient documentation, the client is added to the waiting list for a psychological assessment. 19

STEP 3 When sufficient documentation is received, the client is assisted with an application for Ontario Disability Support Program or assisted with developing an achievable Participation Agreement. 20

SOUNDS SIMPLE??? Issues associated with the process… The participating clients are non compliant by nature. The application must demonstrate long term severe disability. How is severe disability determined? The older the client, the more likely it is that agencies have purged supporting documents 21

Windsor is the only municipality with a contract with the Learning Disabilities Association to provide client intervention services and psychological assessments. The waiting list for psychological assessments is always growing! Training staff to have an understanding of legislation, systems, and psychological and medical documents is challenging… and takes time. 22

PARTNERS City of Windsor – funding and referrals The University of Windsor – recommending psychology students for positions related to the project and providing affordable psychological assessments Community Agencies – provide access to documentation without fee (e.g. Greater Essex County District School Board, Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board, Canadian Mental Health Association, Children’s Mental Health Treatment Facilities, Local Hospitals) 23

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED What are the long term outcomes of stabilizing income? Is the process both practical and therapeutic? What are the long term cost savings? 24

Questions??? 25