Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

Overview

Ministry Goals

The Ministry's goals are unchanged from the previous year, reflective of our consistent mandate and focus upon the delivery of income assistance, disability assistance and employment programs for British Columbians in need. This strategic direction sets clear priorities, ensuring that effort at every level of the organization is aligned and focused on common results.

Goal 1: Deliver responsive, innovative and effective services to clients in need.

Goal 2: Provide low-income persons with disabilities with the best system of support in Canada.

Goal 3: Support integrated service delivery through cross ministry services that provide disadvantaged British Columbians with supports that are responsive to their unique needs.

Goal 4: Provide employment programming that is flexible in meeting individual client needs to achieve sustainable employment.

Planning is a continuous activity involving all areas of the Ministry. Members of the Ministry's executive and management teams meet regularly throughout the year to systematically evaluate the Ministry's direction against client and stakeholder feedback, organizational performance and emerging strategic issues as part of ongoing risk management processes. When appropriate, the Ministry adjusts its activities accordingly to reflect necessary changes.

Linkage to the Five Great Goals

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance plays an important role in the achievement of four of government's Five Great Goals which are to:

1. Make British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.

Employment programming and a school start-up supplement that was doubled in 2006.

2. Lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness.

Provision of income and shelter assistance; extended medical coverage; Healthy Kids offering dental and optical services; medical equipment and supplies; nutritional supplements, funding for drug and alcohol treatment and activity fee supplements.

3. Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors.

Lead the Disability Strategy including: Expansion of the 1-800 Personal Supports Information Line; Outreach programs assisting those with mental illness; Delivery of the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities; Support for the Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities' 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment by 10 per cent by 2010; and support for 2010 Legacies Now which is endeavouring to leave lasting legacies in sport and recreation, the arts, literacy and volunteerism from B.C.'s hosting of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Ministry also offers subsidized bus passes for low-income persons with disabilities and seniors, a Community Volunteer Supplement, and the Senior's Supplement.

4. Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.

The Ministry's mandate does not directly contribute to the achievement of Great Goal 4.

5. Create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Employment programming and funding for employment-related expenses, including work clothes and moving expenses to accept confirmed employment.

Cross Ministry Initiatives

To effect real change in the lives of our clients, the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance recognizes that we need to continue to work closely with partner ministries, organizations and other levels of government; shared responsibility requires shared solutions. Accordingly, over the next three years, the Ministry will continue to partner on the following cross ministry initiatives: (lead ministry in italics)

StrongStart BC

Ministry of Children and Family Development

StrongStart BC is a government cross ministry initiative to support the healthy development and early learning of children (birth to six). Priorities for the early years include early diagnosis for hearing, sight and dental problems; booster seat awareness; informing parents of the link between early childhood physical education and skill development; new "StrongStart Centres" for early childhood education; and language and cultural opportunities for Aboriginal children.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance will continue to support improved health outcomes and physical fitness among children in low-income families through the provision of dental and eye care supports, sports camp fees, school start-up assistance and natal supplements.

Crystal Meth

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Government's Crystal Meth Strategy, led by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, targets the use and production of Crystal Meth through an integrated framework that strengthens partnerships amongst communities, service providers and law enforcement agencies. The Crystal Meth Secretariat was established in 2005 to support new and continuing initiatives based on prevention, treatment and enforcement.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance is committed to continuing to work with partners to develop strategies to prevent the use and mitigate the effects of Crystal Meth on our clients and their families.

ActNow BC

Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts

ActNow BC, led by the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, combines cross government and community-based approaches to promote healthy living choices for British Columbians. The programs and initiatives champion healthy eating, physical activity, ending tobacco use, and healthy choices during pregnancy.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance will support enhanced wellness and healthy lifestyles among clients through the provision of health supplements for eligible clients such as nutritional supplements, dental coverage, and assistance with sports and recreation fees for children in low-income families.

Literacy

Ministry of Education

The Government of British Columbia has set a Goal to make B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent. To be considered literate, a person has sufficient reading skills to understand and process printed information encountered in everyday activities. The Ministry of Education is leading the development and implementation of the Provincial Literacy Action Plan — ReadNow BC — to help British Columbians improve their reading skills.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance continues to support the involvement of low-income children in the educational opportunities available to them through the provision of a School Start-up Supplement.

The Ministry will also continue working with the Ministry of Advanced Education to develop a long-term study to determine the impact of Adult Basic Education and related supports (i.e., child-care) on income dependence of single-parent clients with young children who have no employment obligations.

2010 Olympics and Paralympics Winter Games

Ministry of Economic Development

All provincial ministries, agencies and Crowns have been working together to ensure every available opportunity to develop sustainable economic legacies are explored and pursued so that businesses and communities in British Columbia receive benefit from the Games.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance will continue expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate and volunteer in the 2010 events through the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities and WorkAble Solutions website.

The Ministry will also support the roll-out of the Measuring-Up framework in conjunction with 2010 Legacies Now's focus on accessibility and inclusiveness.

Regulatory Reform

British Columbia continues to make regulatory reform a priority across government, making it easier for businesses to operate and succeed in British Columbia, while still preserving regulations that protect public health, safety and the environment. A citizen-centred approach to regulatory reform will reduce the number of steps it takes to comply with government requirements or access government programs and services.

The Ministry is committed to reducing its regulatory burden and has committed to a zero net increase in regulatory requirements through to 2008/09.

The Ministry is also committed to improving regulatory quality by:

• streamlining access to personal supports information by expanding the 1-800 Personal Supports Information Line for persons with disabilities to include a website and provide information about and referrals to additional programs and services;
• leading, in collaboration with partner social development ministries, the alignment of eligibility criteria for government's disability programs and services;
• streamlining the Persons with Disabilities designation application and adjudication processes; and
• streamlining processes for children with disabilities or special needs to ensure a smooth transition of services from children's programs to adult programs.

Citizen-Centred Service Delivery

Citizen-centred service delivery is a government-wide initiative to coordinate information, programs and services so that they can be presented to citizens in a way that takes their needs into account from beginning to end. The vision is to make it possible for citizens to access the government information and services they need in a simple and timely manner with a phone call, a mouse click or a visit to a service centre, no matter how many programs or ministries are involved in their request.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance supports government's commitment to citizen-centred services by:

• taking an important role in providing British Columbians with disabilities with a single-window, toll-free number, offering information and referrals for 17 programs and services delivered by five ministries;
• continuing to develop and implement its Multi-Channel Service Delivery initiative, which will simplify procedures, enhance tools and resources for staff, streamline business processes, and develop an integrated approach to better meet the needs of clients;
• interacting with clients and other members of the public in a manner founded upon the Ministry's Values and Service Code;
• providing expanded client access to Ministry services through partnering with Service BC in 24 communities; and
• citizens primarily assess service quality by five factors identified by Citizen's First: timeliness, knowledge and competence of staff, courtesy/comfort, fair treatment, and outcome.² Recognizing this, the Ministry will continue to evidence its commitment to citizen-centred services by measuring performance through ongoing implementation of its service standards.

Performance Plan

The Ministry continues to make every effort to ensure that British Columbians in need have access to quality service and are treated with dignity and respect. Ministry clients can expect to receive consistent, fair and responsive service across the province and regardless of the delivery channel used (e.g., local office, telephone, and growing use of the Internet), as supported by our Values and Service Code.

The Ministry provides a wide range of services to our clients, including income and shelter supports, and employment programs for clients who are able to work. Clients with barriers to employment or persons with disabilities have access to extended services, including supplementary assistance and special life skills programs. The Ministry also proactively engages with clients through outreach initiatives and integration projects to connect eligible persons with the services the Ministry provides. The Ministry engages in ongoing evaluations to maximize the effectiveness of our programs and services and respond to the unique and changing nature of our clients' needs.

The Ministry operates local offices in communities across the province, where people in need can access information about services available through this Ministry, other government agencies, and community organizations.

Advances in technology, including wider availability of the Internet, provide new opportunities to deliver information about the Ministry's services online. In addition to accessing information in-person or online, people may contact the Ministry-operated call centre toll-free to ask questions or apply for assistance by telephone. By using one or a combination of these channels, enquirers and clients can access information, programs, and services in ways that suit their needs.

It is critical that the services the Ministry provides be responsive to the unique needs of its clients. To ensure that client needs are being met, the Ministry conducts regular reviews of its income assistance rates, regulations, policies and processes. Ongoing reviews of income assistance rates and policies across Canada allow the Ministry to monitor how British Columbia compares to other jurisdictions providing services to people in financial need.

• Conduct annual income assistance rates review in the context of changing client needs.
• Expansion of partnership with Service BC to maintain services in B.C. communities.
• Ongoing implementation of the Multi-Channel Service Delivery project which improves consistency and choice in how and when clients access the Ministry's service and information.
• Provision of current and complete information about policy and programs to the public through the OnLine Resource.

Description of measure: Assisting clients to find employment is a critical aspect of the Ministry's mission. Temporary assistance is provided to people who have employment-related obligations, and to those who are temporarily excused from seeking work (e.g., parents of a young child, clients fleeing an abusive relationship). Measure 1.1 tracks the percentage of B.C.'s working age population receiving temporary assistance with employment-related obligations. This measure is an indicator of the economic health of the province as well as the appropriate incentives that foster independence and improve outcomes for clients and their families. Monitoring this measure at the community level enables the Ministry to anticipate changes in demand for its services in communities across the province and develop programs that respond to client needs.

The Ministry continues to support greater independence for persons with disabilities, founded upon financial security, enhanced well-being and full participation as members of the community. We recognize that persons with disabilities face unique challenges in daily living and may require supports for voluntary employment or continuous assistance.

In order to meet the unique challenges of clients designated as Persons with Disabilities, this client group receives the highest rate of assistance and the widest array of benefits available in British Columbia. The Ministry is committed to maintaining both the $70 per month increase for disability assistance and the increased allowable earnings exemption provided in 2006. As a result of these increases, Persons with Disabilities clients may receive a monthly income (made up of a combination of income assistance and earnings) of more than $1,350.

Additional supports available to clients receiving disability assistance include low-cost bus passes and enhanced medical coverage — such as Medical Services Plan coverage, Pharmacare, extended dental and optical insurance and medical supplies. Persons with disabilities in British Columbia may also access information and referrals for personal supports through a single-window, 1-800 number.

The Ministry also offers a full continuum of services that assist Persons with Disabilities clients to move toward employment to the degree that they are able. A Persons with Disabilities designation is not affected by a client's ability to work or their participation in an employment training program or placement.

• Supporting employment, volunteerism and community engagement among Persons with Disabilities through employment programs and supporting the Minister's Council's 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for all persons with disabilities by 10 per cent by 2010. The Challenge is supported by the 2010 Legacies Now Measuring Up document.
• Enhance service delivery options such as the Internet to better accommodate the needs of Persons with Disabilities.

Description of measure: Measure 1.2 tracks the percentage of the total caseload receiving disability assistance. As the number of clients receiving temporary assistance declines (i.e., demonstrating success in finding employment) the proportion of the total caseload receiving disability assistance increases. The Ministry monitors this measure to anticipate future trends in the Ministry's caseload and emerging trends in needs of clients with disabilities. Projected increases in the Persons with Disabilities caseload are reflective of an aging population and increased life expectancy due to improved medical treatments.

The Ministry continues to implement strategies to build a citizen-centred approach to service delivery. Built on the foundation of the Service Code and Organizational Values, the Ministry is developing service standards to ensure that clients throughout the province consistently receive quality service when interacting with the Ministry. The Ministry has initiated and will continue to engage staff in developing general and program-specific service standards through further dialogue. For more information about the Ministry's service standards, please visit the Ministry's website at: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/sp.

• Continue implementation of the Ministry's performance management framework.
• Continue integration of the Values and Service Code with all Ministry activities.

Description of measure: This measure tracks the Ministry's success in meeting service standard targets. A higher per cent for this measure indicates that citizens receive more consistent and timely service when interacting with the Ministry. The baseline reported in this Service Plan focuses on standards for core programs, while general service standards continue to be refined.

The Ministry is committed to openness and transparency in its delivery of services to clients. All clients are informed of their rights to request a reconsideration of Ministry decisions that affect their application for services. Clients dissatisfied with a decision may request an internal 'second look' by Reconsideration Adjudicators within the Ministry who are removed from the initial determination.

The BC Employment and Assistance appeal system ensures unbiased, fair, timely, and transparent decision-making for clients. The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal operates under the authority of the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. The mission of the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal is to provide an accessible appeal process that delivers timely and fair decisions. The Appeal Tribunal is structured as an independent public body to ensure unbiased, fair and transparent decision-making. The Appeal Tribunal's Chair and Vice-Chairs are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; Tribunal members are appointed by the Minister. Members are recruited throughout the province as hearings are held in local communities. Although most hearings are in person, they may also occur by teleconference, or, if both parties agree, through written submissions to the Tribunal. This flexibility ensures all clients have access to the appeal process, regardless of where they reside.

Description of measure: A higher percentage for this measure indicates the Ministry is doing a better job of providing timely and efficient service to clients and meeting regulatory requirements. Adjudication of health decisions represents a large proportion of the reconsideration requests that the Ministry undertakes annually. Significant increases in the number of complex health reconsiderations have impacted the Ministry results for 2006/07. The Ministry will continue to refine its processes and work with medical service providers to improve the efficiency and timeliness of reconsiderations.

The Ministry envisions a province in which British Columbians in need are assisted to achieve their social and economic potential. The Ministry's services for persons with disabilities directly support government's Great Goal of building "the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors".

The Ministry is continuing its leadership role developing cross ministry strategies that support the above Great Goal. The Disability Strategy will provide for a flexible, comprehensive, and integrated system of support for persons with disabilities that will allow them to participate more fully in the social and economic life of the province. A key focus of the Strategy is the integration of government services to make them more accessible, easier to deal with, and more responsive to those who need them. Providing opportunities for persons with disabilities benefits both individuals and their communities. Of all adults with disabilities in British Columbia aged 19-64, 22 per cent receive income assistance. 44 per cent are not working, however, a large percentage of this number consider themselves able and willing to work. Persons with disabilities today have more access to technology, education and other supports, but still they have high levels of unemployment and low levels of labour market participation. They have the motivation, education and abilities to be valuable members of our workforce.

Those British Columbians on income assistance who have a disability can apply for the Persons with Disabilities designation. This designation is given under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. The Act recognizes that persons with disabilities may require additional supports, including a higher assistance rate, supplementary assistance and specialized supports to employment.

Description of measure: This measure evaluates the Ministry's performance in the review and adjudication of applications for designation as a person with a disability. Determining eligibility for designation as a person with a disability is a complex and often time-intensive process, requiring the review of detailed medical evidence and a close examination of all case materials. The Persons with Disabilities Designation Application includes detailed information from the applicant's physician and other health professionals on diagnosis, health history, the degree of impairment and its impact on the applicant's daily living activities. The length of the adjudication process reflects the commitment to reaching fair and consistent decisions that comply with legislative requirements and the principles of administrative fairness. A triage process allows the Ministry to identify cases that involve urgent medical situations or children with disabilities, requiring expedited adjudication.

A shorter timeframe for this measure indicates that clients are receiving more timely and efficient service. Future-year targets anticipate continual improvements in performance and business processes and these time-frames may be accelerated.

One of the most significant barriers that persons with disabilities face is social isolation. Volunteering and employment help break down those barriers, enrich clients' lives and enhance community participation. A successful strategy for improving independence for persons with disabilities must consider the full spectrum of programs, services and supports required to address the needs of persons with disabilities. It should recognize that individuals experience disabilities in different degrees and at different stages of their lives, and that their needs will vary over time.

To meet the needs of persons with disabilities who wish to work or volunteer, the Ministry provides the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities, which will be revised in 2007. As the revision is completed, we are ensuring a continuity of services for clients. The Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities provides a range of specialized employment programs to help people with disabilities participate more in their communities, pursue their employment goals as they are able, increase their self-reliance, and build skills and experience that may lead to further employment or volunteer opportunities. Participation in any Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities service is voluntary. Under the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities, employment includes voluntary employment, part-time or full-time paid employment, or self-employment.

Persons with Disabilities clients who volunteer may increase their economic well-being as they are eligible to receive a monthly volunteer supplement of up to $100. The Ministry increased funding for the Community Volunteer Supplement in 2006/07 to reduce wait lists for this program.

To further support Persons with Disabilities clients in achieving greater financial independence while increasing involvement in their communities, the Ministry is maintaining the increased earning exemption for clients receiving disability assistance. Earning exemptions combined with disability assistance provide the opportunity for clients to receive a monthly income of approximately $1,350.

Services offered through the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities are designed to assist persons with disabilities to improve and maintain their employability and their chances of being meaningfully engaged in employment-related activities. Services include:

• Employment Crisis Services
• Disability Supports
• Pre-Employment Services
• Employment-Based Services
• Formal Assessments
• Participant Supports

A person with a disability does not have to be a recipient of BC Employment and Assistance to participate in the program, which is available across the province and accessed through community service providers or by contacting a ministry office.

The revised Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities is intended to assist individuals with a significant physical, developmental or mental health disability that is the primary barrier to finding and maintaining employment; secondary barriers to employment may also be present. It is also important to note that goals such as increased job readiness, disability management, employability skills and enhanced work experience are within the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities mandate. However, it is an expectation that potential Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities participants are capable of participating in and benefiting from the range of activities and services provided.

Contracts are performance-based as service providers receive milestone payments based on client progress in training and job placement. The Ministry is committed to procuring contract services through a fair, open and competitive process. To implement the revised Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities initiative, the Ministry will be engaging the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services, Strategic Acquisitions and Technology Procurement Branch and utilizing a Request for Proposal process to engage service providers to deliver the revised Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities services.

• Implementation and ongoing monitoring of the revised Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities.

Description of measure: This measure tracks the number of clients receiving disability assistance who have recorded earned income and volunteer supplements. An increase in this measure indicates improved community participation, self-reliance and employability among persons with disabilities.

Leadership, partnership, and action by employers, persons with disabilities, governments, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders are key to the success of employing persons with disabilities. The Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities, with representation from the business community, public, private and education/training sectors, is designed to engage employers in finding concrete solutions to increase employment for persons with disabilities in British Columbia.

The Ministry supports the Council's 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for persons with disabilities by 10 per cent by 2010. Communities and employers will be supported in achieving their goals of the Challenge through the provision of a 10 by 10 Tool Kit, which includes strategies to achieve and promote the Challenge goals at a local level, media templates, and two key resources: WorkAble Solutions and 2010 Legacies Now Measuring Up guide. The WorkAble Solutions tools help employers connect with job-seekers with disabilities and assists both groups through the recruitment and retention process with a job-posting resource website, Employer Handbook and corporate video. WorkAble Solutions forms a partnership between the B.C. Human Resources Management Association and the Minister's Council. There are currently over 100 employers registered on the website. Measuring Up is a guide to assist communities to collectively assess their access and inclusion level for persons with disabilities, and begin to work on community solutions. In 2007, the Ministry will continue collaborating with other partners to expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, and to ensure the WorkAble Solutions website continues to meet Web Accessibility Initiative accessibility standards and the needs of its users.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represent a unique opportunity to assist persons with disabilities and for all British Columbians to experience world class sporting and cultural events. Participation in this special event, including benefit from emerging direct and indirect employment opportunities, will be available to all British Columbians, including persons with disabilities. The Ministry continues to work with the Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities, as well as employment programming service providers in communities across the province, to fully engage persons with disabilities in this unique opportunity.

• Improving linkages among persons with disabilities and the business community, businesses and community-based job placement agencies and service providers.
• Support the Minister's Council's 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for persons with disabilities in communities across the province by 10 per cent by 2010.
• Expand opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate and volunteer in the 2010 events through the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities and WorkAble Solutions website.
• Assist 2010 Legacies Now in developing sustainable, community-based initiatives focused on sport and recreation, arts, literacy, and volunteerism.

As outlined in its Strategic Plan, Government has made the development of a comprehensive and integrated system of support and services for persons with disabilities a key priority. The Strategy will make services more citizen-centred and result in improved outcomes for persons with disabilities, including improved health and safety and a greater level of participation in the social and economic life of the province. Persons with disabilities are already benefiting from the single-window, 1-800 Personal Supports Information Line implemented in 2006. The Ministry continues to work with other ministries and organizations to ensure that persons with disabilities in British Columbia have the best system of support in the country.

• Lead, in collaboration with partner social development ministries, the alignment of eligibility criteria for government's disability supports and services.
• Simplify the Persons with Disabilities designation application and adjudication processes.
• Streamlining processes for children with disabilities or special needs to ensure a smooth transition of services from children's programs to adult programs.
• Work to ensure that the Workable Solutions website continues to meet Web Accessibility Initiative standards.

The Ministry continues its commitment to leading successful integration of the delivery of social, health, educational and employment services, in support of government's commitment to providing the best system of support for disadvantaged British Columbians. Collaboration between ministries, other levels of government and community organizations is critical to the successful transformation of the design and delivery of health, education and literacy, employment, shelter and assistance programs.

One component of the Ministry's involvement in these partnerships is collaborative participation on numerous research projects. Initiatives include: improving literacy, assessing the impact of Adult Basic Education programs for single parents with young children, and evaluating the impact of the Ministry's employment-first approach to income assistance with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Advanced Education and the Government of Canada, respectively. The intent of these projects is to achieve a better understanding of the impacts and benefits to clients, thereby enhancing client satisfaction, maximizing positive results from available resources, and ultimately improving the outcomes of individuals and communities.

The Ministry participates on the Interministry Research and Innovation Committee, led by the Ministry of Advanced Education. The Committee serves to enhance linkages and communication about key research and innovation initiatives among ministries.

The nature of these inter-ministry, collaborative efforts is one wherein partner organizations contribute in important and diverse ways, making attribution of specific outcomes to individual partners a challenge. To provide appropriate transparency and accountability for results, the Ministry continues to develop outcome measures and monitor activities toward achieving key deliverables and will report on results as they are available.

By maintaining its active involvement with the Premier's Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions, the Ministry continues to support government's efforts to address these issues. The Ministry plays a key role in helping people break the cycle of homelessness by supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to move beyond temporary shelter to more secure housing, and to gain greater self-reliance through employment.

The Ministry is expanding its outreach programs in communities across the province to assist potential clients who are homeless, in medical care or in correctional facilities. Outreach services include activities such as conducting intake interviews, helping to complete application forms, and connecting clients to community services and ministry supports. The Ministry will also continue focusing resources on the challenges faced by the province's largest metropolitan centre through expanded involvement in the Vancouver Downtown East Side Housing Integrated Task Team targeting unscrupulous landlords. Ongoing advice, assistance and funding is provided by the Ministry to the Vancouver Agreement which brings government partners, community organizations and businesses together in a coordinated strategy that promotes and supports sustainable economic, social and community development, particularly in the Downtown Eastside.

• Explore alternative approaches to dual diagnosis clients with the Solicitor General, BC Housing, and the Ministry of Health.
• Continue to support the development and implementation of recommendations from the Premier's Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions.
• Expand the Vancouver Downtown East Side's Housing Integrated Task Team model, targeting unscrupulous landlords, to other communities across the province.
• Expand outreach programs in communities across the province to assist potential clients that are homeless, in medical care or in correctional facilities.
• Continued development and implementation of an Inter-ministry Strategy for Mentally Disordered Offenders.
• Continuing to support the Vancouver Agreement until March 2008.

Our clients are diverse and frequently require the services and supports provided by other ministries including Health, Children and Family Development, and Education. Addressing the needs of clients through responsive and individualized services is dependent upon government's ability to share, manage and protect client information. Ultimately, new inter-ministry data sharing processes that respect the confidential nature of personal information and comply with information and privacy legislation, are critical for developing effective integrated programs and ensuring that clients receive better service from government.

• The Ministry is working with the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services and the Ministry of Children and Family Development on a case management system that will facilitate an integrated and citizen-centred approach to service delivery.
• Data-matching project with the Ministry of Health to assess client use of the medical system.
• Partnering with the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction to evaluate client outcomes associated with the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver.
• Assessing the impact of pre-release programs on income assistance dependency in support of an inter-ministry strategy for mentally-disordered offenders.
• Ongoing monitoring of information and systems to ensure proper safeguards and appropriate usage of personal information as well as strict adherence to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

In support of the B.C. government's New Relationship with Aboriginal people, the Ministry continues to liaise with Aboriginal organizations to identify social, educational and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people. These opportunities may include increased participation in Aboriginal education and literacy programs, and expanded access to new and existing employment opportunities.

The Ministry will be working with the Ministry of Advanced Education to develop a long-term study to determine the impact of Adult Basic Education and related supports (i.e., child-care) on the income assistance dependence of single-parent clients with young children and Aboriginals living in economically-depressed areas. The Ministry will also continue to support the Aboriginal Self-Identifier Project which will allow the Ministry to better understand and meet the needs of Aboriginal clients. In support of Government's Great Goal 3, the Ministry will continue mapping personal support programs and services delivered or funded by the provincial, federal and First Nations governments and Aboriginal organizations to determine options for integration, resulting in more streamlined, citizen-centred services.

• Work with Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement holders to provide Aboriginal persons with targeted employment programming.
• Complete the mapping of personal supports programs and services delivered or funded by the provincial, federal and First Nations governments and Aboriginal organizations to determine options for integration.
• Work with Aboriginal community on the development and implementation of the Aboriginal Self-Identifier Project.

The Ministry plays an important role in supporting the ActNow BC initiative; a comprehensive health promotion program designed to support individuals and communities in protecting and improving their wellness. The Ministry provides supports to low and moderate-income families with children at risk, including programs such as the Healthy Kids program. Recognizing that basic dental care and vision are important determinants of overall health, the Healthy Kids program provides basic dental and optical care to low and moderate-income families not already covered by insurance plans. Extending coverage to these families ensures that low-income working families have access to dental and optical coverage they otherwise could not afford.

The Ministry also provides clients with supports that promote good nutrition and a physically active lifestyle, including natal nutritional supplements and camp fees for clients.

• Continued provision of natal nutritional supplement, Christmas supplement, camp and recreation fees, and Healthy Kids optical and dental coverage for children in low and moderate-income families.
• Increasing awareness of the Healthy Kids and other health-promotion programs to encourage financial independence for low and moderate-income families.

Providing children with the opportunities to succeed requires the involvement of families, communities and all levels of government. The Ministry exempts the parent of a child under three years of age from the income assistance eligibility requirement of seeking employment, and makes specialized supplementary assistance available to assist with the health, dental and educational needs of children, including a School Start-Up supplement that was doubled in 2006. In addition to providing higher income and disability assistance rates to clients with children, the Ministry also supports non-parent caregivers through the Children in the Home of a Relative program. The Ministry will continue working with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to enhance child protection and support services through the transition of this program.

• Continuing to provide a suite of supplementary assistance, including a School Start-Up Supplement, and higher rates of support to clients with children.

Employment programming remains a key priority for the Ministry. Employment programs are intended to assist clients to move along the employment continuum.

The Ministry implemented two new programs in 2006:

• The BC Employment Program — launched July 4, 2006. The BC Employment Program consolidates two of the Ministry's former employment programs, Training for Jobs and Job Placement, and the employment-focused aspects of the Community Assistance Program, into a single program designed to be more flexible in meeting the needs of individual clients with employment obligations; and
• A revised Community Assistance Program which provides services to those clients who have more significant barriers to employment in order to enhance their quality of life and support them to participate more fully in their communities. This program is not focused on employment.

In addition, the Ministry is finalizing a revised Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities to be implemented in July 2007.

These programs are designed to ensure that there is a high degree of flexibility available to tailor services to meet the needs of individual clients.

The Ministry will continue to closely monitor the performance of these programs.

The BC Employment Program was introduced in response to the Ministry's changing caseload and to provide individualized, flexible services to meet the needs of clients with multiple barriers and employment obligations. As such, the program has an extensive performance management framework ensuring clients receive the services they require in a supportive environment. Outcomes of the BC Employment Program are focused on clients making progress along the employment continuum to become job ready or achieve employment defined as $560 or 70 hours per month.

Description of measure: This performance measure indicates success of a client securing sustainable employment. It is changed from last year to incorporate the focus of the Ministry's new BC Employment Program.

Clients who are able to work will be supported to achieve financial independence through services provided under the new BC Employment Program, launched July 4, 2006. The program is delivered by three contractors in nine service delivery bundles across the province, with 82 sub-contractors forming an extensive service delivery network. Contractors receive compensation through a fee-for-service model with performance incentives. The annual budget for the BC Employment Program is $35 million and will serve 15,000 clients annually throughout British Columbia.

Ministry objectives for the BC Employment Program include:

• assist employable clients to reach independence as quickly as possible through sustainable employment;
• assist clients who have barriers to employment to progress along the employment continuum through increased employability and connections with community services; and
• improved administrative efficiencies in employment programming.

Clients benefit from this approach as 50 per cent leave assistance for employment within four months. Since 2001, over 48,000 clients have found employment through employment programs (particularly in the hospitality and construction industries), earning an average starting wage of almost $11 per hour — 40 per cent above minimum wage. Immediate benefits of employment include a higher household income than would be received from income assistance. Over the long-term, research indicates that this approach benefits families and individuals by breaking the inter-generational pattern of welfare-dependency that many clients have experienced. Children raised in income assistance-dependent families are 70 per cent more likely to require income assistance in their lifetime than are children raised in financially independent families.

The BC Employment Program is the product of an open, consultative process that incorporated feedback and input from Ministry staff and stakeholders, including community-based service providers from across the province. As a result of this engagement, the BC Employment Program is a comprehensive program that offers:

• flexible, individualized programming that meets the unique needs of clients;
• programming that utilizes the in-depth knowledge and experience of community-based service providers to deliver frontline services; and
• administrative efficiencies gained through streamlining processes such as a single referral for clients and reduction in the review of employment plans.

The Ministry expects the BC Employment Program to be delivered seamlessly to clients as they move through the program. The program has three main components:

• Client Intake: assess client suitability to participate in the program;
• Directed Work Search: provides short-term support to clients who are considered capable of conducting their own work search; and
• Individualized Services and Supports: geared for clients who could, with additional services and supports, move into employment. Individualized Services and Supports provides a range of service options tailored to individual client need, including Life Skills, Short Term Certificate Training (to help participants obtain common certificates) and Employment Services (e.g., resume writing assistance, arranging interviews and access to job banks).

• Monitor client outcomes relating to the new BC Employment Program.

Some of our clients who face multiple barriers may never achieve and/or sustain financial independence through employment. The revised Community Assistance Program, implemented in October 2006, offers flexible, individualized services to meet the unique needs of these clients and to support them in enhancing their quality of life and in participating more fully in their communities. These services are delivered using the in-depth knowledge and experience of community-based service providers. The services include personal counseling and coaching, core and supplementary life skills, and being connected with external community services. The Community Assistance Program is expected to serve approximately 5,000 clients annually with a program budget of $7.5 million per year.

The revised Community Assistance Program provides structured services and supports designed to meet the needs of BC Employment and Assistance clients with significant barriers to employment who are deemed:

• Expected to Work or Expected to Work-Medical Condition;
• Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers;
• Persons with Disabilities; or
• No Employment Obligations.

The Community Assistance Program is not an employment program, as the employment elements of the original Community Assistance Program were moved to the BC Employment Program, launched in July 2006.

The Community Assistance Program is delivered through 50 contracts with 33 community service providers. Through its focus on service provider linkages with other community services and support systems, participants in the Community Assistance Program may have outcomes resulting in:

• increased community involvement;
• enhanced networking;
• commitment to healthier lifestyle;
• enrolment in education or training;
• volunteer placements;
• improved personal budgeting abilities;
• movement into employment programming;
• development of skills that contribute to stronger family relationships; and
• employment may also be an outcome for participants.

• Ongoing monitoring of the revised Community Assistance Program.