On Tuesday, March 19, 2013 the Board of Directors of Southwest Community Options Inc. gave their stamp of approval to the Southwest Strategic and Sustainable Business Plan: "A Strategic Approach to Service Delivery", previously released in draft form in the March 8, 2013 media release celebrating our success story:
Through our Board’s vision and sound directives, Southwest has enabled itself as a not-for-profit organization to enhance service delivery and supports for the benefit of Vulnerable Persons living with an intellectual disability. We truly hope that you take the time to read our story, and we always appreciate feedback, which helps us to learn and grow.
Celebrating Our Success Story
March 8, 2013
News Release
Southwest Community Options Inc. – A Remarkable Success Story!
Ninette, MB – The Board of Directors of Southwest Community Options Inc. (Southwest) made a significant commitment one year ago to improve wages from an average of $12.00 per hour to a current average of $15.00 per hour for support workers that provide support to people living with an intellectual disability. “We prefer to view the people we support as people with differing abilities.” said Board Chair Beth Clark. Clark went on to say “As human beings living in society, every one of us live with differing abilities.”
One year ago, the Board of Directors and Senior Management were concerned with a long history of high staff turn-over, low staff morale, high overtime costs, vacant support worker positions and unfilled staff shifts, which resulted in service delivery that was less than desirable. Clark noted “We are contracted by the Province of Manitoba as an agency to support people of differing abilities so they can live good lives by meeting their needs and interests.” Southwest Executive Director Ron McCullough added “Front line support workers are a critical element of what we do and without them, it is difficult to meet needs of the people we support, and meet the service delivery expectations of the Province of Manitoba.”
“We appreciate all of the work that is taking place in the Department of Family Services and Labour, as they re-evaluate service delivery, with re-development of service delivery in mind.” said Clark. Clark added “At Southwest, we have been actively lobbying over the past 12 months to encourage Minister Howard and her Colleagues in the Manitoba Legislature to consider increasing the funding allowance for support worker wages to $15.00 per hour.” Southwest’s new ability to retain and attract qualified and competent support workers over the last year has resulted in new opportunities to improve service delivery by focusing on true Community Inclusion and has built new capacity in Southwest, which creates new opportunities for future growth and expansion. Executive Director Ron McCullough stated “Southwest has developed a positive and meaningful relationship with Provincial Regional staff in Brandon.” McCullough went on to say “Southwest is now growing with sustainability in mind for the future.”
Southwest is concerned that provincial funding to provide support services for Vulnerable Persons living with an intellectual disability in Manitoba has not kept pace with inflationary costs over the past two decades, disabling Manitoba service delivery agencies like Southwest from doing what we were created for. Clark summed up her comments by saying “As a caring community, we will support and advocate for people who do not have the resources to influence our political leaders, to ensure that the people we support are not dis-enabled.”
Related Information from Provincial Sources
The Province of Manitoba provides funding for the expected service delivery at an average rate of $12.06 per hour, pursuant to the Provincial Funding Guidelines. The Province of Manitoba advertises for support workers from time to time, advertising at a rate of $15.08 to $16.30 per hour, pursuant to their collective agreements. Southwest has copies of various Canada Job Bank advertisements on file.
“Community Living disABILITY Services (CLDS) has, within available resources, helped increase the average wage of workers through the Staffing Stabilization Initiative (SSI). Since the inception of the SSI in 2000/01, the overall wage for disability workers has increased by 41.9 per cent, increasing from an average of $8.50 to $12.06 per hour.” Elaine Hawkins, Director, CLDS email dated July 18, 2012 to Southwest Community Options Inc.
Southwest understands and believes that the stated increase of 41.9% has not kept pace with either inflation or Manitoba minimum wage rate increases over the same time frame. In any event, the average of $12.06 per hour does not value support workers. We understand that the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta have made the commitment to value support workers in recent years by funding wage levels for this sector at a more appropriate level.
“As you may be aware, funding for CLDS has increased substantially in recent years to support adults with intellectual disabilities and their families – by 346 percent since 1999. However, the care needs of participants are increasing and becoming much more complex. We must therefore continue to look at long-term options to help support the program’s sustainability.” Jennifer Howard, Minister of Family Services and Labour letter dated November 19, 2012 to Southwest Community Options Inc.
At Southwest, we understand that the 346% increase is largely a result of new people entering the Manitoba support system since 1999
Background Information about Southwest Community Options Inc.
In February 1999, the Manitoba government announced the closure of Pelican Lake Centre (a small institution located on the north easterly shores of beautiful Pelican Lake and a major employer in the Ninette and surrounding areas.) Following the closure announcement, a need for services for families with individuals wishing to remain in the Ninette area was identified and Southwest Community Options Inc. (Southwest) was created to meet that need.
Southwest is governed by a dedicated volunteer Board whose members share the vision that Vulnerable Persons should be accepted and embraced by society and enjoy the rights and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship. The first organizational meeting was held on February 7, 2000, and the Board and Staff have worked tirelessly ever since that date to address the unique needs and provide fundamental support to Vulnerable Persons. Southwest was certified as a corporation on March 10, 2000 and qualified as a registered charity on April 1, 2000.
Southwest currently supports 33 Individuals labeled with an intellectual disability. Residential support is provided in homes located in Baldur, Ninette and Killarney. Day service opportunities are provided in Ninette and Killarney for 37 Individuals.
The annual budget for Southwest is now approximately $3.3 million per year. Southwest currently employs approximately 100 people within our local region with annual payroll in the $2.7 million range. Other goods and services purchased that benefit the local economy are valued at approximately $600,000 annually, which includes groceries and household items, household furniture, property taxes, utilities, vehicle and property maintenance and fuel. In other words, Southwest contributes approximately $3.3 million annually to the local economy.
Our diligent and dedicated Board Chair, Beth Clark, graciously shared our good news story with Honourable Minister Jennifer Howard, in a letter ~
Our sustainable future lies in our collective commitment to enabling "a good life" for Vulnerable Persons living with an intellectual disability. The Southwest Strategic and Sustainable Business Plan, entitled "A Strategic Approach to Sustainable Service Delivery", defines who we are as it confirms our commitment to moving forward into that future:
