I just finished a whopping eight-page CEO report for the ASPECT board of directors. In it, I compare what I have done over the past month to the goals, targets, and initiatives set out in our Strategic Plan. I won't share the entire report with you right now, because that "exciting read" is saved for the board, but I thought you might like to know what we are doing.

Strategic Goals 

Advocate, Represent, Inform, and Build Capacity for our members. Financial Stability for ASPECT.

In This Month's Report

The type of activities and initiatives I have reported on this month are the following:

1. Government: the who, what, where, why of conversations I have had with ministers, ministry staff, and public servants at the provincial and federal levels. This month, because of the ASPECT Conference and the social services sector forum, I reported on 11 conversations, not including several others I have had with public servants.
2. Member contact and feedback on the issues, health of their organizations, introductions and connections, etc. We measure how we are doing by monitoring membership numbers, anecdotal feedback, and our annual member survey (coming soon). We are not able to undertake a physical member tour this year but will be announcing virtual regional meetings for January. What we hear in those meetings helps us act on your behalf.
3. My stakeholder relations reports include boards and organizations on which boards I have a position, have met with, and/or attended their events. They are 3rd Voice, BC Chamber of Commerce, Career Education Society, CERIC, Canadian Council for Career Development, Canadian Coalition of Community-Based Employability Training, BC Prior Learning Action Network, Continuing Education and Training Association of BC, Federation of Community Social Services of BC, Board Voice, BC Career Development Association, BC Labour Market Online, Social Services Labour Market Research Advisory Community, and Social Services Sector Roundtable. There are more organizations, but these are the ones I've had contact with this week.  To see all our advocacy connections, go to the advocacy relationship map on our website.
4. Our education and professional development opportunities continue to grow. I have reported on the success of the recent ASPECT Conference, the new webinar partnership with First Work in Ontario, our Values Based Leadership series, the development of the next ASPECT Summit, the events management contracts we have for other organizations, the research projects we are developing, and when I'm planning to take my vacation. 

At the centre of absolutely everything I do is acting on behalf of ASPECT members. I welcome you to send me a quick email to let me know your thoughts. The more information that I can provide to your volunteer board of directors, the better ASPECT can meet your needs.  

Janet Morris-Reade

ASPECT is partnering with First Work in Ontario to help our sector neighbours in central Canada transition to a new service delivery model.We are putting out a call to ASPECT members to present on one or more of the webinars topics indicated below. Background Employment services in Ontario are currently delivered through an outputs versus and outcomes-based model. As BC service providers know, this is a significant shift in the way employment services are offered and some Ontario service providers will not be successful under the new model. Right now they are keen to learn from you. ASPECT, in partnership with First Work, would like to offer a series of webinars for Ontario service providers. We are recruiting ASPECT service providers who can present on one or more of the following webinar topics.   Webinar Series Topics Outcomes-based WorkBC Model: a review of how it works and how it’s changed since 2008. Making the transition to an outcomes-based employment services model: what I wish I had known. Tough management decisions – preparing your staff and your organization for an outcomes-based employment services model. Questions Answered: Learning how to adapt to an outcomes-based employment service model.   Remuneration The first webinar will take place in mid-to-late January with the others to follow in short succession. A portion of the net proceeds will be shared with the webinar presenter(s) from $250 - $500.    Application Please click here to apply to be a webinar presenter.

Apply Now!

Earlier this week, I attended and had an exhibitor booth at the BC Career Education Society (CES) Conference in Vancouver. Along with ASPECT board member and 2018 David Hutson Leadership Award recipient, Peter Bailey of Free Rein Associates, we promoted the work of ASPECT, our new Values Based Leadership program, and looked for ways to build bridges between high school educators and what ASPECT service providers. It makes perfect sense to me that everyone who works at preparing people for the workforce should be working together or at the very least, be aware of what the other is doing.

The conference is in its 42nd year and draws nearly 500 delegates from all over the province. I was delighted to see several ASPECT members and partners as exhibitors there, as well. The lower mainland WorkBC centres shared an exhibitor booth and staffed it with representatives from several service providers. We had a good discussion about the adjustment to the new contract and the services available. I know, from my conversations with some of the conference delegates, you'll likely be hearing from a school teacher or administrator in your community, reaching out to the services that you offer. 

Also, there at one of the exhibitor booths was one of my favourite people, Seanna Quressette of Douglas College. Douglas College is working to attract and educate the next generation of Career Developers. Frequent ASPECT Conference Exhibitor, ASTTBC was also there along with staff from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training representing the WorkBC.ca website.

What we learned at the conferences is there is room for ASPECT to work with the CES, especially as we enter into the unique labour market. The relationships we make with other organizations with similar mandates as ASPECT and the ties we develop on your behalf will better prepare the employment services sector for the future. 

Janet Morris-Reade

A week ago, I along with about 200 other representatives from various social services organizations and activists, were invited to Richmond to attend a Social Services Sector Forum to help to define collaborative engagement to advance the work of the social services sector and to hear about the latest work of the Social Services Sector Roundtable (SSSR).  You might remember the roundtable of a similar name - the Social Services Sector Innovation and Sustainability Roundtable - under the previous provincial government. 

The new SSSR, which was formed last spring from my understanding, has been tasked with addressing some of the bigger challenges facing social service providers in the province and have recently been discussing staff recruitment and retention, pay in-equities, procurement and contracting, and what is needed to help organizations remain sustainable. Click here for the SSSR terms of reference and here for the SSSR priority issues for community-based agencies.

The forum brought together a larger reference group to support the work of the SSSR and those in the room, as demonstrated at my table, were funded by many different ministries and funders.  (Photo from L-R: Donalda Beeson (Robson Valley Community Services, Laurie Kohl (North Shore Family Services), Lydia Kang (Family Support Institute of BC), Amanda Bains & Lisa Schmidt (Ksan House Society), Janet Morris-Reade (ASPECT BC). Missing from the photo, but also at the table, Raj Hundal (PICS).  

The Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Shane Simpson, who's ministry is responsible for the SSSR, addressed the room talking about the challenges of enacting the government's progressive agenda and how collaborative engagement was needed to reimagine how services are provided in the province.

Our table groups were then tasked with discussing answers to questions: What does successful collaborative engagement look like? What can get in the way of successful engagement? and What specific steps can we take to support collaborative engagement over the long term?

Of course, our table came up will all the best answers!  Ha-ha. Everyone in the room earnestly discussed these questions and although there weren't any silver bullet ideas, we all came away with a greater understanding of the complexity of the challenge.  

Minister Simpson circled the room and I was delighted to have a frank discussion with him. We discussed the boutique versus big box service delivery models and the deterioration of social capital amongst service providers in the sometimes cut-throat procurement process.  We also discussed that because of this competitive environment, service providers are not always comfortable sharing best practices for fear of giving away a competitive advantage. 

Again, no clear solutions were gleaned but we all appreciated being able to have the conversations. Thank you to Minister Simpson for making this happen.

I will keep you abreast of further updates on this very complex initiative. 

While at the Social Service Sector Forum last week, I had the opportunity to sit with Lydia Kang from the Family Support Institute of BC who introduced us all at the table to an initiative that is very close to her heart: MyBookletBC. Lydia is a parent advocate for her daughter and has developed an exceptionally ingenious idea for supporting someone with special needs. After further investigation, we can see how this concept could be expanded to support anyone who needs support and must share the same information repeatedly.  

The best description comes from the www.MyBookletBC.com website:

MyBooklet BC is A FREE online tool that families and people with disabilities can use to create a beautiful and personalized information booklet for a loved one or for themselves.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want YOUR OWN myBooklet now!

Ok, there are way more than 8 things to look forward to, but in this world of clickbait engagement, I'm trying my best to adapt:

1. A hot breakfast on Monday, November 5. Tuesday will be a European breakfast.
2. There are 16 workshops or presentations to choose from with something for everyone, regardless of where you are in your career.
3. Our keynote speaker, Eric Termuend, will talk about The Future of Work and the importance of community and belonging.
4. We will be hosting two national stakeholder consultations within and adjacent to the conference program: Supporting Canadians to Navigate Learning & Work National Career Development Consultation (Monday at 11am.) and Project Integrate: Exploring Future Employment Pathways Consultation, which is funded by the Future Skills Centre (Tuesday at 2pm: free registration) There are limited spaces for this consultation so pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
5. Monday night's networking reception is always lots of fun.
6. There'll be five sessions programmed just for Career Developers.
7. Government Representation: we are delighted to welcome Chris Brown from the SDPR and Catherine Poole from AEST plus several staff members from both ministries will be attending.
8. We have fabulous exhibitors this year: Benefits Program (Community Services Benefits Trust & Delta Pacific Benefit Brokers), WCG, Community Futures BC, BC Labour Market Report, BC Career Development Association, Douglas College, The Centre for Collaboration, Motivation and Innovation, Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC.

Also, we are launching our Values Based Leadership series on the Sunday before the conference. It's the best combination of excellent curriculum, being taught by an outstanding sector leader, Dr. Roberta Neault, with opportunities to build important leader networks, at an obscenely affordable price. If I sound proud of what ASPECT is offering, I am!  Registration for this series and the first three courses being delivered on November 3 is now open. 

Janet Morris-Reade

At last year's ASPECT Conference, we had a leadership session presented by Susan Steele. There were about 40 people attending and we were surprised to learn that 95% of them were existing leaders and not emerging leaders as expected. This got me thinking.

In this environment of grey tsunami retirements and others being thrust into leadership positions, many are feeling that there are issues arising for which they need training. But training courses are time-consuming and expensive: two challenges for new leaders or emerging leaders who are already drinking from the fire hose of information acquisition.  With this in mind, ASPECT BC has partnered with Dr. Roberta Neault and Life Strategies  to re-imagine our Values-Based Leadership curriculum for a present-day world with work and this is what we've come up with:

Combined In-Person & Online Learning

Our Leadership program provides students with a chance to build their networks while learning core concepts on Sunday, November 3 from 12 pm-5 pm at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel. Then at the end of the course, the capstone projects will be presented the day before or after the Summit April. (Details for the April date are still to be confirmed.)  

Core Courses + Electives

The leadership program has 6 units of core learning with 3 electives.  We are currently offering 6 electives, but that number is expected to expand as more trainers come on board. 

For the courses online, students will be required to complete the following learning activities:

1. Prepare (Monday to Wednesday)
2. Join (Wednesday) for a 30-minute live webinar
3. Discuss (Thursday to Saturday) online with other students and instructors.
4. Reflect (Due Sunday) on how views have been shaped by the learning.

Leadership Course Fees

This course is designed to be as affordable as it is flexible! Registration will be open in the next few days and detailed information will available soon on the ASPECT website. 
 

	Includes:	ASPECT Members	Non-Members
Full Series	6 core courses (including in-person components of C1, C2, and C3) 3 online elective courses Capstone project	$1,475	$1,725
Individual Online Course	1 core or elective online course	$125	$150
3-Core Bundle	3 core courses (including in-person components of C1, C2, and C3)	$375	$450
Capstone Project Presentations	Pecha Kucha presentations  Facilitated discussions Networking	$325	$350

Again, registration and details are coming soon. Thank you to Dr. Roberta Neault and Cassie Taylor at Life Strategies for helping us make this much-needed course a reality. 

Janet Morris-Reade

Why is it so hard to do great works of charity? - Special Senate Committee Report
Innovative & practical recommendations for our Non-Profit Members, insight & perspective for all Members 
reported by Jennifer Nichol, ASPECT Member Services and Administrator

 

"Why is it so hard to do great works of charity? This was the question the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector (the committee) set out to answer." Read more of the executive summary here... Struck in January 2018, the committee was asked to examine and report on Canada’s diverse and vibrant charitable and nonprofit sector.  The work done in this sector benefits ALL people. Whether the interdependence is obvious or not, this report makes it clear that it's there. What may be surprising to some is that this sector employs over 7 million people in Canada.   Released in June, the report's findings were broadcast via webinar yesterday morning and the ASPECT office was able to hear the findings first hand from one of the Senators on the committee, Ratna Omidvar. Amongst the 42 thoughtful and thought-provoking recommendations made in the report, a few stood out as being especially relevant to our sector.   Recommendation 5 (p. 36) That the Government of Canada, through the Minister of Finance and federal-provincial-territorial meetings of Ministers of Finance, support the development of pensions for the charitable and non-profit sectors that are portable across provincial and territorial jurisdictions Recommendation 6 (p. 37)That the Government of Canada, through Labour Canada, work with the charitable and non-profit sector to develop and implement a human resources renewal plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector workforce, recognizing that the needs of northern, rural and urban communities are unique. Recommendation 10 (p. 45) That the Government of Canada, through the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, develop policies that require departments and agencies to compensate for full administrative costs associated with delivering the services being funded in transfers to charitable and non-profit organizations. Recommendation 12 (p. 47)That the Government of Canada, through Treasury Board of Canada, ensure that grants and contribution agreements cover a minimum of two years, renewable as appropriate; and that the level of information required for both application and reporting on these agreements are commensurate with the level of funding, minimizing complexity for smaller amounts. Recommendation 15 (p. 52): That the Government of Canada’s procurement strategy be further modified to remove barriers to the participation of charitable and non-profit organizations, with a particular focus on suppliers with smaller staff complements.  Outside of these official recommendations, in the context of the webinar environment, we also heard about the need for innovative ways for the sector to self-fund, as ASPECT CEO, Janet Morris-Reade discussed with her “Big Idea” at our inaugural ASPECT Summit. We heard about the real need for formal relationships to exist with the Federal Government, outside of the CRA. Another idea discussed was to create a set of standard accounts used by the sector to enable ease of reporting and accessibility to procurement data and establishing baselines for overhead costs.    Organizations like ASPECT are one of many non-profits across Canada who also have the privilege of serving both the public and our members, a distinction also discussed as a way to further develop policy and regulation.  Wrapping up, we also heard from participants who wondering why this report hasn't been picked up by more news agencies. It was suggested that few reporters are dedicated to this sector, which often leads to misrepresentation of the work being done or even a lack of understanding around how much the sector contributes to our current economic model (it's 7% of GDP) so we encourage our Members to read and spread this report around, as always, we are stronger together. What do you think about these recommendations? We want to know. Meh or 10/10? Read the whole report here ... Do you have something you'd like featured? Please email jnichol@aspect.bc.ca

I’ve spent the morning in meetings discussing professional development opportunities for ASPECT members and the employment services sector at large. It’s an exciting time as many of the contracts have been awarded, and organizations are looking at ways to get the best value for their professional development budgets. Although we don’t have all the details worked out, I wanted to give you a heads up of what learning opportunities are coming your way.

 
ASPECT Conference 2019 – November 4 & 5, 2019, Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel
 
The ASPECT Conference is the event of the year with something for everyone: case managers, resource centre staff, job developers, workshop facilitators, administrators, program managers, instructors and counsellors, leaders and emerging leaders. Check out the program and register before October 4 for early bird discounts.
 
ASPECT Values-Based Leadership – Face-to-Face November 3 & April 21 plus online learning courses
 
We’ve partnered with Dr. Roberta Neault and LifeStrategies Inc. to create a leadership training course for the busy leader and/or the emerging leader at an affordable price. Dates and registration will be confirmed next week, but the ASPECT Values-Based Leadership course includes two face-to-face learning sessions where core courses are taught and discussed allowing you to build your essential network, plus 5-9 online courses with pre-learning, webinar lecture, forum discussions and learning assessment. 
 
If you sign up for the whole program, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for a credentialed Leadership designation. Can’t commit? We’ve also designed the leadership training course to be accessible to those who may want to take only parts of the course. Once you’ve read the course topics, you’ll want to take everything.

• Core course topics are: What is Leadership?; Self-Awareness, Confidence & Values; Trust, Motivation & Recognition; Leadership within the Organizational Context; Leading for Change; and Leadership: Where Do We Go from Here?
• Elective course topics are: Leadership Lessons for Transformational Times; Supervising Career Development Practitioners; A Social Justice Approach to Leadership; HR Life Hacks for Leaders and Advocacy; Leadership & Communication; and Teams & Leadership.

Webinars & Workshops – Call for Presenters
 
This year we will offer five face-to-face workshops and a minimum of 10 webinars, some of which will be free and some of which will be exceptionally affordable. If you have a topic or expertise that you would like to share with our networks, please email me. Some of the topics in development are Time Management Strategies for Client Meetings, Interpreting Psychological Assessments and When to Seek Help, Goal Setting Chaos, Gender Identity and Inclusion, and more. 
 
ASPECT Summit 2020 – April 22, 2020, Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotel
 
This employer-facing summit will bring together employers and employment experts to help employers connect with the pre- and post-employment supports available in their communities and to help employment experts (service providers) further develop their offerings to employers within their communities. The date is set, but more information is coming soon.

There are lots of opportunities to learn and build your networks. If you are looking for training but don't see it mentioned above, contact me with your ideas and we'll see if we can deliver it.  More details coming soon.

Janet Morris-Reade