Knowledge Exchange Blog

Previous Posts

Collaborating to Tackle Homelessness in Ontario With Data

May 2025

Ontario is at a tipping point in its homelessness crisis. This is the stark conclusion drawn from a recent groundbreaking study outlined in the report “Municipalities Under Pressure: The Human and Financial Cost of Homelessness in Ontario.” Released in January 2025, it revealed the unprecedented and growing costs of homelessness to individuals, families, communities, and governments, and charts a collective path forward.

Before this ambitious research study, comprehensive profile of the current and future state of homelessness in Ontario did not exist. As well, there was not a comprehensive assessment of need, identification of the solutions required and cost estimates of what it would take to end chronic homelessness. The research is underpinning continuing policy and advocacy efforts for OMSSA, NOSDA and AMO. The report will serve as a platform for conversations with the provincial government and has gained traction throughout the sector and in the media.

Simplifying Access to Benefits Helps With Not Only Financial Health, But Mental Well-Being Too

May 2025

There is a profound and inseparable relationship between financial health and mental well-being. In order to improve one, we need to support the other. That’s why financial counselling, resources and tools are an essential part of improving financial well-being—and ultimately supporting more positive mental health outcomes. Prosper Canada’s mission is to ensure that Canadians living with low income have access to much needed financial support systems.

Embracing Compassionate Care: The County of Renfrew Mesa Initiative

April 2025

OMSSA is featuring several 2024 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the County of Renfrew. 

In early 2024, the County of Renfrew launched a groundbreaking initiative centered around a collaborative approach to providing compassionate care in the community. This phased approach, named Mesa (pronounced “mey-suh”), embodies bold and compassionate work to address the root causes of homelessness, substance use, addictions, and mental health issues while fostering a resilient and healthier community for all residents of the County of Renfrew. This blog post explores the essence of Mesa, highlighting its innovative strategies and the profound impact it has on the community.

Cochrane District Services Board: Pilot Project to Support Client Access to Healthcare Practitioners

April 2025

In 2023, the Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) undertook a comprehensive analysis of its client demographic, revealing that 25% of its caseload had been on social assistance for five years or more. This deep dive into the reasons for the prolonged need for social assistance identified significant health barriers, including physical impairments, mental illnesses, and addiction issues, which impede clients' success.

The data further showed that 57% of the clients on social assistance for more than five years may not have access to a healthcare practitioner. To address these challenges, CDSB launched a pilot project in 2024 aimed at enhancing client access to healthcare practitioners.

The Importance of Collaboration in the Human Services Sector - Learnings from CSWB in Halton

March 2025

Kendra Habing is the recipient of OMSSA's 2024 OMSSA Young Leader Award. This award honours an individual 30 years or younger who has been recognized as a leader, created change, and strengthened leadership in their community. Kendra will be recognized at our 2025 Exchange Conference.

Today’s human services sectors face increasingly complex and dynamic challenges. Issues like mental health, homelessness, housing insecurity, and substance use require a multi-sector response that extends beyond the capacity of any single organization. To solve these challenging issues, upstream interventions are needed to prevent crisis in our communities.

The Halton Community Safety and Well-Being model is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when government, human services, and community partners come together with a shared vision. It reminds us that when we work collaboratively, we can do more together - leading to stronger, healthier, and safer communities for all.

Northumberland Early Years Employment Initiative

March 2025

OMSSA is featuring several 2024 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from Northumberland County.

The Early Years Employment Initiative (EYEI) is six-week course designed to introduce Ontario Works (OW) clients and students (grades 11 and 12) to the workforce skills relevant for starting/re-starting careers in the Early Years sector. The program fosters a collaboration between the Early Years (EY) and OW Divisions at Northumberland County by encouraging workforce participation in an Early Years sector that is searching for ambitious ways to promote a thriving workforce and support increasing child care demands in Northumberland.

Family Services Durham: Building Collaborations for Responsive Support and Services to the Most Marginalized

February 2025

OMSSA is featuring several 2024 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the Region of Durham.

Family Services Durham (FSD) has provided affordable and no-cost quality community-based mental health services in Durham Region for almost 50 years. In 2023, over 6,600 residents were supported within FSD’s range of programs, which offer holistic, client-centered, trauma- and poverty-informed services designed to stabilize and strengthen individuals, couples, and families and respond to emerging needs.

Highlights of the 2024 Virtual Forum

February 2025

Each year, OMSSA develops the topic of our annual Virtual Forum according to the interests of its members and on current developments in the municipal social services in Ontario. Since the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General ordered that all Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plans adopted before July 2021 would need to be reviewed and revised by July 2025, it seemed both timely and appropriate that the 2024 OMSSA Virtual Forum be focused on issues directly linked to this work.  

An Interview with Katherine Chislett

February 2025

From 2017 to 2024, Katherine Chislett served as Commissioner of Community and Health Services for York Region and as President of Housing York, Inc., overseeing a $1 billion budget, 3,000 staff, and more than 300 programs that support York Region’s residents. Katherine’s focus on integrated service management and her dedication to equity and inclusion have enriched the lives of over 1.2 million residents.

She is also the recipient of the 2024 OMSSA Lifetime Achievement Award. OMSSA sat down with Katherine for an interview to discuss her work and career and thoughts on human services in Ontario.

Be Part of the Solution Lambton

January 2025

Be Part of the Solution stemmed from priorities identified at Lambton County’s 2023 Stronger Together Summit. This event brought together stakeholders from local non-profits, government, the healthcare sector, and individuals with lived experience to discuss issues of housing, homelessness, and addiction. The top priority emerging from this summit was a public education campaign around homelessness, particularly with a focus on long-term supportive and affordable housing, and community will to say “yes, in my backyard” to these proven interventions. Learn more about Lambton County's public education campaign. 

City of Brantford Community Resource Navigation Team

January 2025

OMSSA is featuring several 2024 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the City of Brantford.

Brantford’s Community Resource Navigation (CRN) pilot is a service delivery approach focused on improving OW recipients’ overall well-being, decreasing time on assistance and/or avoiding the need to enter the social assistance system altogether through an integrated and person centered service delivery model. 

An Interview with Gail Spencer

January 2025

Gail Spencer, Manager of Housing Stability and Homelessness for the City of Greater Sudbury, spearheaded community and provincial initiatives, developing a roadmap for a responsive, integrated human service system for the unhoused population and programs aiming to end homelessness.

She is also the recipient of the 2024 OMSSA Patti Moore Human Services Integration Award. OMSSA sat down with Gail for an interview to discuss her work and career and thoughts on human services in Ontario.

An Interview with Adrienne Jugley

December 2024

Adrienne recently served as the Commissioner of Community Services where she was committed to serving the most vulnerable people in the Niagara community from infant to senior. In this role, Adrienne envisioned Niagara Region as a strong community where individuals are supported to maximize their potential, achieve their goals, and enhance their quality of life and social well-being.

She is also one of the recipients of the 2024 OMSSA Champion of Human Services Award. OMSSA sat down with Adrienne Jugley for an interview to discuss her work and career and thoughts on human services in Ontario.

An Interview with Janine Mitchell

December 2024

Janine Mitchell has worked in the human services sector for her entire 40 year career, starting off working in licensed child care and eventually making her way to a municipality managing Children’s Services, the delivery of Ontario Works Program and Social Services Emergency Management.

She is also one of the recipients of the 2024 OMSSA Champion of Human Services Award. OMSSA sat down with Janine Mitchell for an interview to discuss her work and career and thoughts on human services in Ontario.

Providing Access to Rural Data for Decision Making: ROI's Community Wellbeing Dashboard

November 2024

Rural communities often struggle to find information to support decision making. Not only can rural data be difficult to find, it’s also difficult to work with. Most rural municipalities don’t have a data analyst on staff to gather, analyze, and interpret data. But all municipalities have to make the same decisions, whether or not they have capacity for data analysis. Therefore, it’s critical to make rural data more easily accessible and understandable for decision makers. The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has developed a Community Wellbeing Dashboard that improves access to information for decision making.

Towards Reconciliation in Research: Ethical Approaches to Research and Engagement with Indigenous Peoples

November 2024

The history of unethical research with Indigenous Peoples cannot be undone, but we can recognize this history and shift towards a future where research is decolonized and collaborative. By centering Indigenous data governance and adopting ethical methodologies, we can foster a research environment that respects the sovereignty, knowledge, and rights of Indigenous communities so that research benefits rather than harms Indigenous communities. This shift is not only necessary for healing historical wounds but also an essential part of reconciliation and healing for Indigenous communities.

No More Poverty Strategies: One Year Later

November 2024

Ahead of OMSSA's 2024 Policy Conference, Davis Pier CEO, Mike Davis, builds on observations made at last year's Conference, reflecting on the experiences he heard from Members, and with a deeper appreciation of the complexities of Ontario's social services environment. Read more of Mike's insights and lessons learned ahead of Davis Pier's presentation at our 2024 Policy Conference.

OMSSA Report on the 2024 Fall Economic Statement

November 2024

The Ontario Government delivered their 2024 Fall Economic Statement. Assuming there is no major economic downturn over the next few months, there is a good chance a balanced budget will be achieved for 2025-26 ahead of current projections when the budget is delivered in March and before an election campaign is launched. Learn more about some of the highlights relevant to OMSSA Members and the municipal human services sector.

Walking Together: Bruce County's Journey Toward Indigenous Reconciliation

October 2024

Bruce County, located on the traditional territories of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Saugeen First Nation, collectively known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), took the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action to heart. The County’s relationship with these First Nations is amplified by their shared history and geography. Recognizing this, Bruce County embarked on a significant and comprehensive journey toward Reconciliation, marked by the development of the Indigenous Reconciliation Planning Initiative and ultimately the Indigenous Reconciliation Framework, and the Saugeen Anishnaabek Reconciliation Pathway and Action Plan. This blog delves into that journey - its beginnings, milestones, and the steps Bruce County is taking to foster meaningful Reconciliation.

Achieving Equitable Child Care for Urban Indigenous Families in Collaboration with CMSMs and DSSABs

September 2024

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) represents 31 member Friendship Centres, who have identified that Indigenous-led early learning and child care (IELCC) is a top priority, central to fostering strong, vibrant and prosperous Indigenous children, families and communities. This work is critical to transforming and advancing Ontario’s child care system towards an Indigenous-led model that can support high-quality urban Indigenous early learning and child care programs and services. The OFIFC continues to assert that supporting the right of urban Indigenous communities to self-determination is an action-oriented reconciliation commitment that Service System Managers can advance in collaboration with the OFIFC. Learn more about the work OFIFC is undertaking to move this work forward.  

Shining A Light on SAMS Data: The City of Ottawa's Case Management Tool

September 2024

The City of Ottawa’s Case Management Tool is a successful replacement to working out of the Provincial SAMS reports. It’s more accurate, more timely and more user-friendly. It comes in the form of a suite of Power BI dashboards tailored to the needs of the user groups. These dashboards are operationalized and are the prime sources of information for Ontario Works case management. Prior to this, Ottawa relied on reports from Social Assistance Legacy Information (SALI) for performance metrics and manually-maintained Excel files to keep on top of caseloads. Learn more about the work Ottawa is doing to help their community. 

Dufferin County Providing Shelter From the Storm

September 2024

Although winter is several months away, Dufferin County is already taking measures to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during bouts of severe winter weather or any other emergencies that may arise. A cornerstone of their community preparedness efforts is a fleet of eight (8) new emergency support trailers. These trailers are intended to provide emergency support services personnel with the equipment they need to open a temporary shelter in situations where external aid might not be readily available, such as blizzards, tornadoes, road closures, or residential fires. Learn more about how Dufferin County is preparing for the next emergency.

Highlights of the 2024 Exchange Conference

August 2024

Over 400 people from the human services, health, child care, and public services participated in OMSSA’s in-person Exchange Conference held on May 7 and 8 in Mississauga. Over these two days there was an opportunity to focus on several important professional development topics, enhance skill sets, and showcase the innovative work happening in each of our sectors to address the most pressing issues in our local communities. Read more about the highlights of our most recent Conference. 

Region of Durham Adult Protective Services: Innovative Partnerships and Housing Stability

August 2024

OMSSA is featuring several 2023 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the Region of Durham.

The Adult Protective Services (APS) team provides case management and advocacy for over 300 adults with developmental disabilities living in the community. Clients of the APS program are those with mild developmental/intellectual disabilities that can often ‘fall-through-the-cracks’ and can represent some of our most vulnerable citizens in the community.

An Interview with Cathy Cousins

July 2024

Cathy Cousins worked for the Region of Niagara in Corporate Services for 10 years, until 2005, when she began to hold a variety of roles in Community Services including Director of Support Services, Acting Commissioner, and Director of Homelessness Services and Community Engagement within the Region. She has experience with labour negotiations and job evaluation, and involvement in a variety of committees with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) for emergency management and emergency social services. She is skilled in budget preparation and management, financial reporting and committee presentations. Cathy has previous experience on the OMSSA Board as President and currently serves as Past-President. This interview explores her priorities in human services delivery for Niagara Region, her involvement with OMSSA, and her overall experience and contributions to the human services sector. 

Understanding Autistic Human Services Workers

June 2024

Often, autistic individuals are overlooked for roles in helping professions, yet, recent research that examines autistic educators, nurses, librarians and doctors, demonstrate that those with lived experience are proud of their workplace contributions in helping professions, especially in relation to supporting autistic service users. Further, human services boast inclusive values and ethics, which might draw autistic workers towards the field. In this article, author Sarah Southey provides a brief overview of autism in the workplace and describe challenges and recommendations that can be implemented to foster neurodivergent inclusion in human services organizations.

An Interview with Mike Nadeau

June 2024

Mike is currently the CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Social Service Administration Board and Treasurer of OMSSA. He has over 20 years’ experience in both First Nations and municipal human services. Prior to joining the District of Sault Ste. Marie, Mike was the Executive Director for the Ontario Native Welfare Administrators’ Association (ONWAA) for 12 years and was accountable to 108 First Nations across the province.

Mike has extensive knowledge regarding human service delivery, policy and best practices. This interview explores his experience working with different communities and his overall experience and contributions to the human services sector.

Lee Airton Real Talk and Fireside Chat Summary

June 2024

At OMSSA's 2024 Exchange Conference, our Day 2 Keynote Speaker, Lee Airton (they/them), Assistant Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies in Education at Queen's University, discussed contemporary successes and challenges in the work of creating institutions that welcome gender and sexual diversity, particularly in the changing Canadian political context. Lee also answered questions from attendees about specific practical issues that are arising in workplaces so we can work to ensure our spaces are affirming for all. This conversation, including Q&A, has been summarized for the Knowledge Exchange Blog and Exchange Conference Resource webpage. 

Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound: Connecting for the Dream

May 2024

Seven years ago, Ashley Pitawanakwat moved 700 kilometers across the province from Wikwemikong First Nation to Niagara Region with her three children to escape an abusive partner.

Pitawanakwat describes herself as lost in her trauma at the time. She hadn’t lived in her hometown of Fort Erie for 20 years and was nervous about reconnecting with the local urban Indigenous community. Gradually, though, she began to attend women’s drumming circles at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre (FENFC).

At one of these events, a Friendship Centre board member asked if she would consider participating in a new pilot program, Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound (UIHB). "I didn’t know what UIHB was, what the goals were, or even what being a pilot participant meant, but I said yes and jumped right into it," she recalls.

To learn more about the Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound Program, please attend the session Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound: Connecting for the Dream at the 2024 OMSSA Exchange Conference on May 8th at 10:30 a.m.

An Interview with Andrew Scavarelli

May 2024

Andrew is currently the Director of Ontario Works for the County of Simcoe and he is also Chair of OMSSA’s Awards Committee. Andrew has nearly 15 years of experience in the successful and integrated delivery of municipal social services. He began his career with the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) in 2009, where he held progressive leadership roles, and played a key-role in TBDSSAB’s commitment and transition to an integrated service delivery model. 

Known by his colleagues as an influential leader, strong consensus builder and exceptional communicator, Andrew is a visionary leader who continuously demonstrates his commitment to furthering social and human service integration.

This interview explores his experience working with different communities and his overall experience and contributions to the human services sector.

Developing an Indigenous-led RECE Training Program in Niagara

May 2024

OMSSA is featuring several 2023 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from Niagara Region.

The Niagara Region Children’s Services Division, the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre (FENFC), Niagara College (NC) and Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) formed a partnership, planned and delivered the Indigenous-led Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) Program pilot project.

An Interview with Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou

April 2024

Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the human services sector. As Commissioner of Durham Region’s Social Services Department, Stella oversees programs and services across six divisions that include; early learning and childcare, social assistance, emergency social services, housing and homelessness, individual & family counselling along with four Long-term care homes.  

Stella is currently the Vice-President of OMSSA and she is also Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Network. 

Stella holds a strong vision for helping individuals and families in the community through integrated service delivery of innovative modernized approaches. This interview explores her priorities in human services delivery for Durham Region, her passion and value for keeping Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the core of her work, and her overall experience and contributions to the human services sector.

OMSSA Report on the 2024 Federal Budget

April 2024

On April 16, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered the 2024 Federal Budget. The budget focused on three themes: Solving the Housing Crisis, Fairness for Younger Generations, and Economic Growth and Productivity. Learn more about some of the highlights relevant to OMSSA Members and the human services sectors.

Build Belonging Through Inclusive EarlyON Programming

April 2024

OMSSA is featuring several 2023 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the City of Brantford.

Build Belonging is a collaboration between the Brantford Immigration Partnership, Community Living Brant, Child and Family Services of Grand Erie, YMCA Immigrant Services, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, and the City of Brantford.

The goal of Build Belonging is to increase EarlyON attendance from diverse families, by offering culturally-informed programming, art, books, and toys, culturally-based storytelling, open houses, translation of promotional material and program calendars, community/parent consultation, and identification of champions within various cultural communities.

Build Belonging represents a key project supporting both the Inclusive Community Plan and Building the Community from the Kids Up Plan.  

OMSSA Report on the 2024 Ontario Budget

April 2024

On March 27, Ontario's Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, delivered the 2024 Ontario Budget titled Building a Better Ontario.

Learn more about some of the highlights relevant to OMSSA Members and the municipal human services sector.

Service Delivery Approach with the Catherine Street Community Service Hub

March 2024

In August 2022, the Catherine Street Community Service Hub (CSCS Hub) was created. The CSCS Hub is an innovative way of providing integrated person-centred services through collocation. Caring and knowledgeable staff and partners work together to create a safe resting space where everyone is welcome to drop in and access coordinated wrap around municipal and community services and supports in one location.  

This service delivery approach aims to streamline the client experience, increase the capacity to deliver responsive services and support, and reinforce accountability to clients, staff, and community.  

An Interview with Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders

February 2024

Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders has 45 years of managerial and executive expertise in health and human services operated and funded by the government. Throughout his career, he has devoted himself to providing strategic guidance to government, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

Douglas’ experience covers service system management, multi-system integration, strategy and policy development, systems expansion, and oversight design and implementation within human services and includes considerable understanding and expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

His recent advisory work includes: developing a 10-year Early Learning and Child Care Service plan in collaboration with an Ontario social services organization; advising an Ontario temporary shelter on external pressure management; advising two Ontario-based social service organizations on fiscal viability amid declining funding; leading an Ontario municipality in introducing integrated service access and delivery to improve client service and reduce multiple intakes; and leading an Ontario immigration settlement community in settling and offering services to 1,800 immigrants on an emergency basis within a year.

He is also the recipient of the 2023 OMSSA Lifetime Achievement Award. OMSSA sat down with Douglas for an interview to discuss human services, his career, and his involvement with OMSSA.

Global Events Have Local Impacts

February 2024

OMSSA is featuring several 2023 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the County of Simcoe below. 

Working in community-based planning is rewarding. It is gratifying to foster partnerships that create local solutions for people arriving in Simcoe County. Community stakeholders did not disappoint, working collaboratively to help Ukrainians find a temporary new place to call home.

In May 2022, the Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) hosted two online community information sessions to coordinate local system planning, identify gaps, and brainstorm potential solutions. Securing temporary and permanent housing, transportation, and childcare were some of Ukrainian's greatest challenges. The Simcoe County LIP engaged in solution-focused planning with local systems to bridge gaps.

Highlights from OMSSA's 2023 Policy Conference

February 2024

OMSSA's 2023 Policy Conference successfully took place on November 30 and December 1. This year’s conference, once again, contained a mix of sessions. There were several plenary sessions designed to be of interest to all OMSSA Members, as well as a comprehensive slate of sector-specific break-out sessions.

We’ve learned that there continue to be profound challenges to the social services sector. But knowing the energy and enthusiasm through which OMSSA Members approach their work, it’s assured that throughout 2024 we will hear stories of amazing successes that have been achieved.

City of Windsor Asylum Claimant Team

January 2024

OMSSA is featuring several 2023 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the City of Windsor. 

Roxham Road is bisected by the Canada-U.S. Border between Quebec and New York. It sits about 50 km south of Montreal. The road is a well-travelled unofficial border crossing for asylum seekers hoping to enter Canada. Due to the volume of claimants arriving in Quebec, It was not long until Quebec shelters were full. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stepped in and rented hotels in Quebec to accommodate the asylum seekers. The hotels rented in Quebec by IRCC quickly filled. They had to expand their hotel operations outside of Quebec. IRCC transferred asylum claimants via charter bus to multiple municipalities across Ontario for temporary hotel accommodations. Windsor first welcomed the asylum seekers crossing at Roxham Road in January 2023. Learn more about the team that helped asylum seekers as they arrived in Windsor.

An Interview with David Thomas

January 2024

David Thomas has been involved in policy development and training for over 30 years. Many of you know David from past years employed by OMSSA as a Lead Trainer in their Social Assistance Training, commencing from 1994, and more recent years as a Lead Trainer for the SAIL Curriculum and currently with OW Directive Training and Life Stabilization. David is involved with various Leadership Initiatives providing skills and competencies designed to improve service quality, build organizational capacity, enhance service system management, and further service integration. David’s role in supporting Integration includes managing multiple projects related to implementation and delivery of streamlined services for clients and staff alike. He is also one of the recipient of the 2023 OMSSA Champion of Human Services Award. OMSSA sat down with David for an interview to discuss his work as a facilitator and his thoughts on social assistance in Ontario.