Archived - Evaluation of the Income Assistance Program - Follow-up Report Status Update as of March 31, 2008
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PROJECT TITLE EVALUATION OF THE INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ACTION PLAN APPROVAL DATE: 12/19/2007 |
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PROGRAM SOCIO-ECONOMIC POLICY AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS (HEADQUARTERS) – SOCIAL POLICY AND PROGRAMS BRANCH |
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PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 1. Refocus the Income Assistance Program to include support to assist individuals in need to make the transition to work. |
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STATUS: Request to Close | ||
ACTION PLAN | EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE | RESPONSE |
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Begin implementation in Ontario in 2008-09; other regions to follow in 2009-10 and beyond. | Request to close. Implementation will not take place as planned. INAC will revisit the active measures approach as part of the policy renewal process for 2008-09. |
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Request to close. The Income Assistance Program did not receive policy approval. | |
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A strategic planning session with the Regions will take place on June 26-27, 2008, to discuss future policy direction including active measures. | |
PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 2. Develop an active measures approach to delivering income assistance programming on-reserve, including organizational changes required for successful implementation at the community level. |
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STATUS: Request to Close | ||
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May 30, 2008 | Request to close. Policy approval to implement active measures was not received. The development of a statement of goals and objectives will not be possible at this time. Following the strategic planning session on June 26-27, 2008, INAC will develop a new policy direction that includes active measures as an option. |
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Start with Ontario in 2008. Other Regions to follow in 2009-10 and beyond |
Request to close. INAC did not receive policy approval to implement active measures. As a result, the Department will not be implementing active measures in Ontario at this time. However, Ontario Works (a form of active measures) is being implemented in 26 First Nations. AES Comment: To close |
PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 3. Strengthen capacity of First Nations income assistance service providers with adequate training, access to individual assessment tools and systems. |
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STATUS: Pending Implementation | ||
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October 31, 2008 | INAC did not receive policy approval to implement active measures. As part of the policy renewal process for 2008-09 the Department will be developing program options including active measures. |
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Other regions to follow in 2009-10 and beyond | This strategic planning session on June 26-27 help to establish a direction for the income assistance program to be reflected in the policy renewal document in 2008-09. AES Comment: To be evaluated in 2008/09 |
PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 4. Improve coordination of the Income Assistance Program at the national, regional, and local levels with INAC's education, economic development and other social programs. Work with federal and provincial labour market partners to enable income assistance clients on-reserve to access a range of active measures. |
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STATUS: Pending Implementation | ||
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December 31, 2008 | The Branch has had preliminary discussions with Education, Economic Development and HRSDC to inform them of ongoing progress and leverage resources for pre-employment activities (active measures) for youth. |
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Ongoing | INAC has developed closer relationship with HRSDC and is exploring ways to work together to strengthen each other's programs in order to better serve income assistance recipients. |
PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 5. Through its income assistance and other programs, in concert with other federal departments where appropriate, implement preventive strategies to ensure young people stay in school and graduate, and avoid welfare dependency. Explore transitional programs such as educational upgrading and skills training targeted to youth that access income assistance. |
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STATUS: Pending Implementation | ||
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Ongoing | INAC is exploring possible collaboration with Education and First Nations to encourage First Nations youth to stay in school. |
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December 31, 2008 | INAC has identified contacts and started to discuss setting up a Committee with Education, Economic Development and HRSDC/AHRDAs. |
PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 6. Improve program delivery and monitoring by addressing weaknesses in the basic needs component so INAC can more effectively plan for and manage changes introduced by provinces/territories, develop a sustainable coherent program, and to ensure services of a reasonably comparable nature. |
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STATUS: Pending Implementation | ||
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March 31, 2009 | As part of the policy renewal process INAC plans to strengthen the management control framework, including a performance measurement framework, RMAF and RBAF. AES Comment: Statement needs to be strengthened re: Policy Renewal Process |
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PROJECT RECOMMENDATION 7. Income Assistance Program and clarify accountabilities for monitoring, measuring and reporting on effectiveness and outcomes of the Program. |
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STATUS: Pending Implementation | ||
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September 30, 2008 | As part of the policy renewal process INAC will develop new outcomes and performance indicators for the RMAF. |
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March 31, 2009 | INAC is working to identify gaps in the management control framework and define roles and responsibilities for HQ and Regions to address these gaps. AES Comment: The program is being re-evaluated 2008-09 prior to seeking policy renewal. |