Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program Application Guide 2013/14
Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program
Application Guide 2013/14
Funding provided through the Canada / British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, the Ministry of Advanced Education, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
1. BACKGROUND
The Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program (ACBDPP) focuses on building partnerships between Aboriginal communities and public post-secondary institutions to increase access to employment-related training and education in Aboriginal communities
The Program is a key goal of the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan and has been developed with Aboriginal and post-secondary stakeholders. This funding application guide has been revised based on feedback and lessons learned from the first year of the program.
This two-year initiative 2012/13 and 2013/14 is funded by both the Federal and Provincial Governments and is managed by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education in partnership with the BC Region of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and is scheduled to end on March 31, 2014.
2. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Objective: The Program must be designed to provide Aboriginal participants with the post-secondary education and training they need to obtain employment.
The Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program will:
q Provide Aboriginal community members with post-secondary education and training in their communities that will lead to employment;
q Support Aboriginal community needs and priorities, including responding to new economic opportunities and industry needs for a local skilled labour force; and
q Provide recognized credentials or credits that are portable or transferable.
Professional development activities, education or training that aim to expand or strengthen the skills of existing staff are not eligible. Education and training must lead to new employment for unemployed, underemployed or low skilled employed individuals.
Partnerships: Proposals must be jointly submitted and signed-off by an Aboriginal community authority (Chief and Council, Tribal Council Chair, or Executive Director of an off-reserve Aboriginal organization) and a BC public post-secondary institution president. If there is an Aboriginal post-secondary institute, e.g., Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA) institute, serving the community, the Aboriginal post-secondary institute should also be a partner to the proposal. Inclusion of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) holder in the proposal is also encouraged.
Proposals must outline how the partnership arrangement will operate and how funding, administrative and reporting responsibilities will be distributed between the partners. Partnerships should be based on leading practices in community engagement and partnership building.
Eligible Programs: Programs must be directly related to identified community priorities and employment opportunities. Eligible Programs must:
q Lead to jobs and employment opportunities and be directly related to community needs and priorities;
q Meet provincial program and/or industry standards, where appropriate;
q Provide industry certificates and/or credit towards a post-secondary credential (note that Adult Basic Education and bridging programs are Eligible Programs);
q Provide sufficient opportunity or pathway for participants to ladder into further post-secondary education or training;
q Include cultural components incorporated into the curriculum/programming; and
q Utilize leading practices in career planning; assessment and transition.
Programs that focus on professional development are not eligible.
Programs may fall into one or more of the following categories:
FIGURE 1 Program Categories
PROGRAM CATEGORY ONE / PROGRAM CATEGORY TWO / PROGRAM CATEGORY THREEDescription / Entry level, essential skills, literacy, foundations to trades, and labour market preparation. / Access, ABE, university and college preparation / Certificate and Diploma programming
Level / Not necessarily accredited but must demonstrate a pathway towards employment; May enrol in ABE courses grade 8/9 and industry certificates. / Typically grades 10/11/12, credit courses leading up to an Adult Dogwood or recognized credits/certificate for labour market (for example: essential carpentry skills, industry certification) / Leads to pre-requisites for further education, and/or ladders to a certificate and diploma, or from a diploma to a degree
Focus / Focus is on retention and completion in order to be prepared for further education, training and employment; focus is also on job preparation, individual job search skills or employment readiness / Focus may combine career exploration, job preparation, upgrading, and may be specific to preparing for trades math, and various program and/or employment pre-requisites, such as Trades Math as well as job search or employment readiness / Focus is more on academics and higher level upgrading to obtain courses/credits required to enter college and/or university certificate or diploma programs, such as Health Care Attendant or Indigenous Diploma in Child & Youth Care
Examples / Literacy, Pre-Employment & Life Skills, Training, A.B.E. courses / Bridges directly to employment or further education because pre-requisites have been obtained for program eligibility / College-University Bridging, laddering from college prep, to certificate, to diploma or from certificate or diploma directly to employment
Target Group / Unemployed, Non-E.I. Client, employed with low skills, Income Assistance Client, has not graduated with a Dogwood but may have completed high school / Unemployed, Non-E.I. Client, employed with low skills, Income Assistance Client, has not graduated with a Dogwood but may have completed high school / Some post-secondary education and training is eligible for non-LMA participants.
NOTE: ACTIVE MEASURES FUNDING IS AVALABLE TO SUPPORT FIRST NATIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE CLIENTS PARTICIPATING IN AN ACBDPP (SEE APPENDIX C FOR ACTIVE MEASURES APPLICATION)
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Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program Application Guide 2013/14
Participant Eligibility: Participants must be Aboriginal. While it is anticipated that the majority of participants will be LMA eligible (see Definitions), the Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnership Program is also open to participants who do not meet the LMA eligibility criteria. Proposals must include the number of participants who will be LMA eligible as well as the number of participants who will be non-LMA eligible. The Labour Market Agreement Participant Eligibility Worksheet below will assist with determining LMA and non-LMA eligibility.
FIGURE 2 Participant Eligibility Work Sheet
At the time of registration for this program, were you receiving Income Assistance from your First Nation Yes o No o or from the Provincial Government? Yes o No oAre you currently working?
(Includes full-time, part-time, and/or self-employment)
Yes o ÷ / ø No o
Follow the instructions below in order to determine whether or not an Employed individual meets the definition of Low-Skilled. / An Unemployed individual must answer “No” to ALL 4 of the questions below in order to meet the definition of a Non-EI Client.
1. Does the individual have some recognized post secondary education towards a university degree? / 1. Is the individual currently receiving EI benefits?
Yes o / No o / Yes o / No o
If yes, the individual is ineligible.
If no, proceed to question 2. / If yes, the individual is non-LMA eligible.
2. Does the individual have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent? / 2. Has the individual received EI benefits (other than maternity or parental) in the past 3 years?
Yes o / No o / Yes o / No o
If yes, proceed to question 3. If no, individual is eligible. / If yes, the individual is non-LMA eligible.
3. Does the individual have recognized certification (such as a trades certificate, Class 1 Driver’s License, Commercial Diver certificate, etc.)? / 3. Has the individual received maternity or parental EI benefits in the past 5 years?
Yes o / No o
Yes o / No o / If yes, the individual is non-LMA eligible.
If yes to question 2 and 3, the individual is ineligible.
If no to question 3 and yes to question 2, the individual is eligible. / 4. Did the individual establish an EI claim in the past 3 years but not receive benefits as the result of a disqualification?
Yes o / No o
LMA ELIGIBLE? Yes o No o / If yes, the individual is non-LMA eligible.
NOTE: Some LMA programs may include “low levels of literacy and essential skills” as an additional eligibility criterion for employed individuals. If you are unsure whether or not this criterion applies to your program, please contact your funding provider. / NON LMA ELIGIBLE? Yes o No o
3. ELIGIBLE COSTS
The following costs expended or incurred in the community delivery of the Program may be considered “eligible costs”:
A. Direct Service Delivery Costs
q Instructional delivery wages and mandatory employment-related costs and travel where required;
q Purchase (not development) of learning materials/books;
q Adaptation or customization of existing curriculum to training needs of the participant group and/or the labour market (curriculum development costs are ineligible);
q Some facility costs for instructional site (includes janitorial);
q Utilities;
q Equipment rental/operating leasing costs;
q Third party liability costs (where applicable);
q Insurance (fire, theft);
q Completion/recognition events, including food and refreshments to be served at the completion/recognition events;
q Communication and promotional costs; and
q Licenses as required by Municipal, Provincial or Federal regulations or Acts.
Staff Wages and Benefits
Hiring locally is encouraged where practical or possible. If the hire is not a party to a collective agreement, wages shall be consistent with guidelines established by the Public Sector Employer’s Council or such other appropriate Employer’s Association, and if the hire is a party to a Collective Agreement, wages shall be at the rates specified under such Collective Agreement.
B. Participant Support Costs
q Individual assessment and related services;
q Learning resources;
q Examinations or certifications fees;
q Personal equipment directly required for training; and
q Transportation (bus passes and parking).
C. Administrative Costs
q Travel costs associated with program promotion, program related meetings, site visits;
q Some project/program coordination cost;
q Bookkeeping and bank charges;
q Office supplies;
q Photocopying;
q Program promotional costs (e.g., newsletter, printing costs, paid advertisements, etc.);
q Postage, mailing and handling costs;
q Telephone and fax line(s);
q Long-distance telephone and fax charges;
q Criminal Records Check for staff;
q Worker’s Compensation Board costs, if applicable; and
q Shared audit costs.
Extraordinary Costs
Some Program Participants may need unanticipated financial support. In such circumstances, the program may provide up to $500 to preapproved individuals during their participation in the program to offset costs of: transportation, nourishment, including snacks and refreshments, plus light meals if appropriate, and temporary childcare.
Active Measures - First Nations Communities only
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, through its Active Measures program, can provide funding to First Nation communities to support the participation of individuals on Income Assistance in the Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnership Program. The Active Measures program can also contribute to the development of case and data management systems to support the Social Development programs in First Nation communities, to assist with tracking and transition of Income Assistance participants. The Active Measures proposal requires a separate application, attached as Appendix C. First Nations applying for this support should submit the separate Active Measures application with the ACBDP program application. This funding flows directly to First Nation communities.
Budget Template
The budget template (Appendix A) must be used by the applicants. It includes a space for proposed funds and actual spending and at the same time requires an explanation for spending of a 5% or more variance.
Anticipated costs should be detailed in the ACBDPP and Active Measures proposals (if applicable). Where there is potential for overlap or duplication, ACBDPP and Active Measures costs must be coordinated and rationalised within the two budget submissions. Ineligible activities include, but may not be limited to, costs for activities or services which represent a duplication of activities or services already available.
Proposed budgets will be analysed for duplication with federal and other provincial targeted and block funding, comparison with similar programming, in-kind contributions and reasonableness. Budget submissions must identify any in-kind contributions from First Nation communities.
Note: When multiple submissions are received from the same post-secondary institution and/or First Nation community, some of the costs (e.g. administrative costs) shall be consolidated to maximize funding available for education/participants.
4. PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT
Partners will be responsible for the development and implementation of a Participant recruitment plan, including the development of associated marketing materials.
Participant recruitment plans and associated marketing and promotional materials or products must be approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education prior to implementation and/or release.
In addition to marketing and recruitment activities, it is expected that partners will utilize existing community resources (such as local referral and employment assistance services) for referrals and to support Participant transition from training into the labour market.
5. REPORTING
Program activities and results will be documented through the use of the following forms:
q Participant Intake Forms;
q Participant Exit Forms;
q Monthly Activity Reports;
q Financial report form (template to be provided by the Ministry);
q An interim report; and
q A final report.
A Participant Intake Form must be completed and signed by each Participant upon their acceptance into a Program and a Participant Exit Form is to be completed and signed by each Participant at the end of his or her participation. Institutions will be responsible to ensure that each Participant completes these forms and for submitting completed forms to the Ministry on a monthly basis.
Institutions must provide the Ministry with monthly reports on Program activities via the Monthly Activity Report Form. Information provided in the Monthly Activity Report may include, but is not limited to:
q New Participant information;
q Exiting Participant information;
q A description of all relevant activities or issues taking place each month;
q Number of Applicants; and
q Number of Participants.
Detailed procedures for completion and submission of the forms will be provided by the Ministry. On a periodic basis, to be negotiated, institutions will provide the Ministry with a completed financial report form in order to reconcile eligible costs incurred and funding received. A template and detailed procedures for completion and submission of this form will be provided by the Ministry.