FACILITATING EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND NGOS
OCASI Executive Directors Forum
November 2010
Purpose
The purpose of this session is to explore LIPs as a strategic
vehicle to foster effective relationships between government and the NGO sector.
This session will examine the implementation of LIPs in communities across the province, focusing on the development of effective relationships between government and the NGO sector.
Through a review of the learnings from LIPs and a discussion of strategies, this session will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the LIPs process to date, and provide tools and resources to ensure that successful outcomes can be replicated across the province.
Your Panelists
Tracey Vaughan, Community Development Council Durham
Audrey Andrews, Regional Municipality of Durham
Bill Sinclair, St. Stephens Community House
Sonali Chakraborti, City of Toronto
Overview
Introductions
Context
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) History, Objectives and Deliverables
Types of LIPs across Ontario
City of Toronto Toronto Newcomer Initiative
Lessons from the LIP experience for NGOs
LOCAL IMMIGRATION PARTNERSHIPS
History, Objectives and Background
HISTORY OF LIPS
RFP for Local Immigration Partnerships were issued across province in 2008
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) began in 2009
Currently there are LIPs in small and medium sized cities across the province, and several neighbourhood based ones and one City-Wide table, in Toronto
OBJECTIVES OF LIPS
Improve access to, and coordination of, effective services that facilitate immigrant settlement and integration.
Improve access to the labour market for immigrants.
Strengthen local capacity to integrate immigrants.
Establish or enhance partnerships and participation of multiple stakeholders in planning, and coordinating the delivery of integration services (including settlement, language training, labour-market integration.
DELIVERABLES FOR LIPS
To establish a Partnership Council.
To create a Terms of Reference for the partnership council.
To conduct research and establish a settlement strategy to be implemented over three years
To develop an annual action plan that addresses the priorities for a that fiscal year.
TYPES OF LIPS
Population Growth
Service Coordination
Capacity Building
A municipal government
A regional government
or
Established community
organizations with
extensive experience
serving immigrants in the
community.
3 Types of LIPs LIPs are led by:
34 LIP COUNCILS ACROSS ONTARIO
(INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO)
Regional Municipality of Peel
Regional Municipality of York
Regional Municipality of Durham
City of London
City of Greater Sudbury,
County of Essex - City of
Windsor,
City of Ottawa
City of Toronto (18 Councils)
Regional Municipality of
Waterloo,
City of Sault Ste. Marie,
County of Lambton,
Municipality of Chatham Kent,
Regional Municipality of Niagara
City of Brantford
TORONTO: MULTIPLE LIPS
CITY OF TORONTO
In Toronto, there are 17 Neighbourhood based LIP Councils, each facilitated by a lead nonprofit organization
• Members include local settlement service providers, grassroots organizations, community health centers, institutions such as school boards, hospitals, City of Toronto and others
The City of Toronto (municipal government) leads the City-Wide LIP as part of its Toronto Newcomer Initiative which will
• Implement pilot service projects to improve the City’s service system to better serve newcomers
• Conduct research, coordination to enhance the broader service system to better service newcomers
Toronto Newcomer InitiativeEncourage participation of newcomers in the life of the city and community
Enhance City Service SystemsEnhance the Broader Service
System
Newcomer Programming in Recreation Centers
Supporting Families During Reunification
City-WideLocal Immigration Partnership
Newcomer Health ResearchSettlement Workers in City Services
City-Community Delivery
City Direct Delivery
TORONTO NEWCOMER INITIATIVE
A key aspect of this initiative is partnership with community based organizations
Pilot service projects involve collaboration with several community based organizations
Health research project is guided by advisory and consultation committees from academic, community-based research and settlement service organizations
City-Wide Local Immigration Partnership table includes representation from 17 Local LIP Councils Several federal and provincial ministries Institutions such as TRIEC, Council of Educators, Francophone
serving organizations For-profit sector
Goal: develop a City of Toronto Newcomer strategy
LESSONS FROM LIPS FOR NGOS
LESSONS FROM LIPS
Join your LIP and take up a leadership role.
Recognize the value and unique roles that NGOs bring to the LIP
• Expertise
• History working with CIC
• Social capital
• Community relationships
• Freedom to advocate for immigrants
LESSONS FROM LIPS
Understand that municipalities are on a big learning curve.
• But, also that immigration is a priority among municipalities
Understand your municipal culture of partnership
• Learn the rhythm of the municipal year and cycles.
• Determine if your municipality partners with NGOs on other issues.
• Examples could be Poverty roundtables, Accessibility Committee, other Advisory Committees
LESSONS FROM LIPS
Gain a greater understanding of jurisdictional issues between regional and local governments.
• The LIP in the Region of Durham includes several cities such as Ajax, Pickering and more, each with its own Mayor
Expand your relationship to your municipality beyond the City Councillors.
• Broaden partnership to include libraries, public health, housing and other City Divisions
MORE INFORMATION
Seeking advice?
• Feel free to contact panellists or OCASI.
• CIC has created a resource guide that may be helpful; contact CIC for more information.
In Toronto, get to know your Toronto Newcomer Initiative (TNI) Team.
• Contact TNI Community Development Officer, Nisha Nagaratnam at [email protected]
DISCUSSION
Discussion Notes
Small organizations are concerned about being swallowed up larger
ones
Concern about smaller agencies dropping out of the council table
Concerned about the effects of modernization of LIPs on smaller
organizations
Stipends are important for small organizations
Big players well represented at councils
More work needed on how to make organizations more comfortable
and "join the train”
Some LIPs used the collaborative table to coordinate information
during a CFP process – issued supporting letters for each other
NGOs often lead or co-lead/co-chair councils
Active Role in beginning, but role/balance is shifting over time
Council may use nomination process – challenges to engagement
DISCUSSION NOTES
What does sitting at the table mean?
Need more consistent governance structures for LIPs.
Continue to discuss how all members benefit from councils
Council role is facilitation of competing agendas – a challenge
Importance of facilitation skills for a successful LIP council
Municipal regions can lack local voices due to size
LIPs work in conjunction with WCI projects and municipal portals
CIC is now clarifying what LIPs will and will not do
Shared leadership must be continued/monitored
Still trying to determine best practices
Community development process, need protocols that are shared
Recognise LIPs are brand new and still early for significant learnings
Discussion Notes
DISCUSSION NOTES
Next steps/Future steps:
Support stipends for small organizations and engage small
organizations
Create guidelines/value statements for LIP process
More info-sharing, best practices for LIP
Do community development, planning and training
Develop LIP coordination/community of practice
Analysis of 17 reports of Toronto LIP Councils
Discussion Notes
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