SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)

Partners

The Opportunities Fund (OF) for Persons with Disabilities works in partnership with organizations of and for people with disabilities, including the private sector.

For the purposes of carrying out activities, eligible employers and coordinators are businesses (including federal crown corporations found on Schedule III, Part II of FAA) and comparable provincial crown corporations; organizations, including public health and educational institutions; band/tribal councils; municipal governments and individuals.

Effective Date

Effective April 1, 1997; implemented September 1997

Expiry Date

The February 2000 federal budget announced the continuation of the program on an on-going basis. The Opportunities Fund Terms and Conditions were recently renewed to March 31, 2004.

Web Site

http://www.drhc.gc.ca/epb-dgpe/ofpd-fiph/menu/home.shtml

Purpose

The objective of the Opportunities Fund is to assist persons with disabilities in preparing for, obtaining and keeping employment or becoming self-employed, thereby increasing their economic participation and independence.

The intent of the program is to assist people with disabilities who normally have had little or no labour force attachment and who therefore do not qualify for assistance under the Employment Insurance (EI) program. The operating principle will be that, where clients are eligible for other programming, OF will function as an alternative measure for cases where there is no comparable intervention easily accessible for the client.

Roles and Contributions

The objective will be achieved by working in partnership with non-government organizations representing persons with disabilities, the private sector and provincial governments in using innovative approaches that demonstrate best practices to promoting the economic integration of persons with disabilities.

HRDC provides funding to eligible organizations, who in turn provide programs and services to integrate individuals with disabilities into employment or self-employment and to address barriers to an individual's labour market participation.

Roles and contributions are specified in the contribution agreements signed by both parties.

Any communication materials produced by service providers must be in accordance with the Federal Identity Program (FIP) policy (i.e. acknowledgement of Government of Canada contribution through signage, use of the Government of Canada logo on printed material, etc.).

Resources

Funding

$30 million annual funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund

Tracking and Reporting

Program funds are largely administered at the regional level. For the most part, local offices enter into contribution agreements with service providers who are required to collect, track and report client and financial information. This information is reported to HRDC for the purposes of feeding into the program accountability framework and program evaluation process (see "Measurement and Reporting" section for more details).

Federal spending is reported in the annual HRDC Departmental Performance Report and also in the Government of Canada's Public Accounts through the Report on Plans and Priorities (Main Estimates): http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/fas-sfa/dpr0001.shtml http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/fas-sfa/rpp0203.shtml

Measurement and Reporting

Outcomes

A Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework has been developed for the Opportunities Fund activities. The framework describes in detail the main program performance indicators, outputs and outcomes. The outcomes focus on the labour market participation of persons with disabilities and the level to which the program helped them achieve greater employability and obtain employment.

Outputs for the Opportunities Fund include:

• Promotion/dissemination of information products
• Project Agreements
• Assistance to persons with disabilities

Short-term outcomes:

• Persons with disabilities obtained employment
• Persons with disabilities achieved enhanced employability

Medium-term outcome:

• Persons with disabilities maintained employment

Long-term outcomes:

• Persons with disabilities moved towards economic self-sufficiency
• Persons with disabilities integrated into the labour force
• Persons with disabilities returned to school following OF programming

Client and financial information is captured by both third party and internal departmental systems. These systems generate the program's short-term outcomes. Medium- and long-term outcomes will be reported as part of the 2004-05 summative evaluation.

Indicators

The two key program indicators are:

• Persons with disabilities obtained employment.
• Persons with disabilities achieved enhanced employability.

Performance indicators for the first key indicator include:

• Number of OF clients who found work
• Percentage of OF clients with closed action plans who found work

Performance indicators for the second key indicator include:

• Number of OF clients who have completed an OF intervention designed to enhance educational, occupational or trade skills
• Percentage of OF clients who have completed an action plan that included an OF intervention designed to enhance educational, occupational or trade skills
• Percentage of total OF clients served who attribute their enhanced employability to the OF program.

Comparable Indicators

Societal indicators of the well-being of persons with disabilities are available via Statistics Canada's Health and Activity Limitation Survey.

Evaluation / Thrid Party Assessments

The evaluation strategy is outlined in the program's Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework. There is also a Risk-Based Audit Framework for the program. Formative and summative evaluations were conducted for the first three years of the program (during the program's initial pilot phase), while another summative evaluation will take place by 2004-05.

The formative evaluation report on the first year of implementation is available at: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/OFPD.shtml

The summative evaluation on the initial three years of the program is available at: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/OFPD2.shtml

Shared Information and Best Practices

Information and best practices are shared through conference calls, annual workshops and ongoing communication with the Regions. These are also shared across the Department with other areas dealing with disability issues or programs, such as the Office of Disability Issues and Canada Pension Plan - Disabilities.

HRDC's website has a "persons with disabilities" link which provides sub-links to useful disability-related sites: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/menu/info_disabilities.shtml

Information and ongoing developments are also shared with members of a sub-committee to the National Reference Group for persons with Disabilities, on a roughly quarterly basis. HRDC's Evaluation and Data Development Branch also spearheads a "Lessons Learned" series, which includes lessons learned from disability policies and programs: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/DPP.shtml

Public Reporting

Federal spending, client participation rates and key program indicator information are reported in the annual HRDC Departmental Performance Report and also in the Government of Canada's Public Accounts through the Report on Plans and Priorities (Main estimates). Both websites are as follows: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/fas-sfa/dpr0001.shtml http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/fas-sfa/rpp0203.shtml

Performance information and client outcomes are made public through the publishing of evaluation reports on the Department's website (see "Evaluation/Third Party Assessments" section above.

Involving Canadians

Provisions for Citizens to Participate in Developing Social Priorities and Reviewing Outcomes

Parliamentary standing and sub-committees often call upon members of the public to share their views on disability issues. In its recent review of the Employment Equity Act, the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities heard testimony from numerous witnesses (public and private) to talk about ways the Act could be improved, and how programs could better support the needs of persons with disabilities. Similarly, the parliamentary sub-committee on disabilities is currently soliciting feedback from representatives of the disability community.

A sub-committee of a national consultation group for persons with disabilities is convened by HRDC officials, via conference call, on a quarterly basis to allow for feedback on the Opportunities Fund.

Internal audits and program evaluations also provide valuable feedback from program recipients, including sponsors, employers and individual program participants.

Feedback Mechanisms to the Public

Human Resource Centres of Canada (HRCCs) act as conduits for the Canadian public in expressing concerns, queries or comments relating to OF.

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

See http://www18.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/opportunitiesfund/desc.asp. This site provides detail on eligibility criteria for participants who wish to access the program as well as employers/coordinators who wish to apply.

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

As most program delivery occurs at the local level, local service commitments at HRCCs apply in the delivery of the Opportunities Fund.

Measurement and Public Reporting

A formal mechanism is not in place for collecting and publicly reporting information on performance against service commitments. However, HRCCs have provided informal means for gathering this type of information.

Appeals and Complaints

Existence, Availability and Communication of Mechanisms

Appeals or complaints on projects or individual interventions would generally be directed to the administering HRCCs in the region. Complaints can also be directed to National Headquarters and elected representatives.

Tracking and Public Reporting

There is no formal mechanism for tracking appeals and complaints. HRCCs have acted as conduits for addressing complaints on a case by case basis.

Mobility

Existence of Measure

N/A