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211 on Social Services Newsletter – June 2018

BY Ontario 211

June 7, 2018

211 on Social Services – June 2018

At 211 Ontario, we are always keeping our ear to the ground for news about new programs and services across the province. We gather that information for our 211 Navigators, but we are also pleased to share it with thousands of front-line workers so they can stay up to date on emerging tools and programs. Our goal is to ensure that we connect people with the help they need, when they need it. This newsletter is one of the ways we can increase knowledge about the kind of help available.

SmartSAVER (Omega Foundation) is increasing uptake of the Canada Learning Bond for low-income families

To improve uptake in Ontario, applications for Registered Education Savings Plan (RESPs) will be integrated into the Ontario online birth registration service this Spring. Integrating RESP referrals will allow parents to open an RESP when they apply for other services under the Ontario online birth registration service. This means more children from low-income families will be able to access the Canada Learning Bond.

CMHA self-help program now available across Ontario

An evidence-based mental health program managed by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario and CMHA York and South Simcoe is being rolled out across the province. The Bounce Back program, a self-help and coaching program designed to help adults reduce unhelpful thinking, worry less and improve their mood, is one of three province-wide psychotherapy programs that will be available to support people living with anxiety and depression. For more information visit: bouncebackontario.ca.

Future Planning Tool: Financial Planning Tool for People with Disabilities

In partnership with Prosper Canada, Ability Tax and Trust, and Pooran Law, Plan Institute has launched the online Future Planning Tool to help persons with disabilities and their families to accomplish their future planning goals, including financial planning, housing, relationships and more.

Available in English and French, the tool is user-friendly, easy to navigate and helps simplify complex planning steps to ultimately develop a personalized future plan. In addition to taking users through various planning steps, it contains a comprehensive library of relevant tools, information, resources and referral agencies that can help further support individuals to achieve their goals. To access the tool go to futureplanningtool.ca.

Elizz is connecting caregivers

Saint Elizabeth Health Care, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, have developed an innovative e-learning tool that provides instruction, education, videos and tools on a wide range of caregiving topics to family members taking care of veterans so they can protect, improve and sustain their own health and well-being. This new interactive resource is called Caregiver Zone: https://caregiverzone.ca/#!/forefront/home.

New National Mental Health Charity Launches

Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) launched in March 2018. MHRC is a charity exclusively funding mental health research and will be active across Canada supporting the development of innovative, priority-based mental health research. Visit www.mhrc.ca for more information.

Ontario first to get new federal incentives for adult students

The Government of Canada is supporting adult learners going back to school to upgrade their skills or pursue a new career path. Skills Boost includes several measures available in Fall 2018, including additional top-up funding for adult students eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students and new flexibilities for Employment Insurance which allows those who collect Employment Insurance (EI) to continue receiving that money while attending a post-secondary institution. Currently, those adults who are collecting EI must choose one or the other. There are also several other incentives and grants depending on the individual’s situation.

Are you prepared for CHAMP by the Canada Revenue Agency?

Canada Revenue Agency has been working for years on the Charities IT Modernization Project or CHAMP. CHAMP is going to affect charity applications in that they will need to be filed electronically, as of November 2018. CHAMP will also allow charities to file their T3010 online, although charities can continue to file their T3010 manually if they so choose. Here is some more information from the CRA on the CHAMP project.

New guide helps Canadian educators meet the needs of refugee students

Canadian educators now have a new guide to help refugee and newcomer youth: The Bridging Two Worlds: Supporting Newcomer and Refugee Youth Guide. Authored by The University of Winnipeg’s Dr. Jan Stewart and Dr. Lorna Martin, the book grew out of a three-year research program that investigated schools, settlement agencies and communities to build a database of best practices to share with educators, as well as policymakers. The guide can be downloaded for free at www.ceric.ca/twoworlds.

Actua Receives $10 Million in Government of Canada CanCode Program

Actua will receive $10 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s new CanCode program. The government is equipping Canadian youth with the digital skills they need for the jobs of the future. Actua’s funding will be used to increase program delivery across Canada by its 35 network member programs located at universities and colleges across Canada, and its Outreach Team which delivers across the North. It will also support research, teacher training and Maker Mobile Workshops. For more information about Actua, visit actua.ca

VIDEOS FOR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES

Webinar – Microsoft: Donated, Discounted, and Cloud Products Made Clear 2018-04-20 https://youtu.be/k4LZ7dbrC_A by Tech Soup Canada

Innovative Tools for Poverty Reduction Practitioners: Whole System Collaborative Outcome Mapping – https://youtu.be/cGiQCF8Qcsg by Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement

Webinar training: Planning a successful community tax clinic in Indigenous communities (Part 2) – https://youtu.be/P2FhRn60EYk by Prosper Canada

Webinar: Empowering the Employment Sector to Serve Youth with Mental Health Issues – https://youtu.be/x1AtmFod_1U by Youth Employment Services YES

Ontario Disability Support Program – Practitioners Guide – https://youtu.be/TR-09_ftm_g by Queen’s Legal Aid Public Education Project –ODSP

Bill 148 is Here Are you Ready 1 – https://youtu.be/qCnqU2rhWus by Ontario Nonprofit Network

Risks that Social Workers face when providing E-services to their clients – https://youtu.be/nycuuQJGlOs by Canadian Association of Social Workers

VIDEOS FROM NEW PROGRAMS ACROSS ONTARIO

Humans Wanted.- https://youtu.be/7wy-aDoHtxw by RBC. Learn more about this Labour Force Survey at www.rbc.com/humanswanted.

Join us for #LearntoCamp! – https://youtu.be/92jEg6XXNmk by Parks Canada

New lung health program in Cornwall at Seaway Valley Community Health Centre – https://youtu.be/IGOXJgxG1SU

How to find reliable information about your healthcare professionals by Ontario Health Regulators – https://youtu.be/dtK3kRNwSYM

Child and youth mental health at RVH opening – https://youtu.be/ipJzlgcj-Hs

Resources for Community Social Services

Money Matters is a free introductory financial literacy program for adult learners, new Canadians and Indigenous People. The workbooks are full of activities that can be adapted according to the needs of individual groups. Workshops can be delivered by the staff of the group delivering the program, or with the optional support of local TD Bank Group volunteer-tutors. Visit ABCMoneyMatters.ca for more details.