Fostering Systemic Change: An Innovative Case Study in Collaboration and Partnerships “Postsecondary IS Possible”
CONTENT & TAKEWAYS Quick facts: everything you always wanted to know about Toronto in 1 minute Our story: insights about an innovative experiment towards a greater access to PSE Toronto-USA: Same Community of Practice - different realities? Let’s find out… Hands-on session: navigating the access system in Toronto The PATH Pilot project : vision, approach & challenges You tell us: How would you address the PATH challenges? Group discussion Top 10 lessons learned HAND-OUT : Toolkit manual on program evaluation in the non-profit sector
YOUR NEIGHBOURS FROM THE NORTH
QUICK FACTS ABOUT TORONTO : • Provincial capital of Ontario • Most populous city in Canada: 2.7M • Greater Toronto Area (GTA): 6 M • Tallest free-standing structure in Western Hemisphere: CN Tower (553.3 m-high (1,815.3 ft) • 25% of Hollywood movies are actually filmed in Toronto • Half of Toronto's population was born outside of Canada • Top 5 visible minority groups : South Asians (12% of the population), Chinese (11.4%), Black (8.4%), Filipino (4.1%) and Latin American (2.6%) • Multicultural population (GTA): 9 M by 2036 • Over 180 languages and dialects • 1 in 5 of Toronto's homeless youth identify as LGBTQ • In 2005, Toronto media coined the term "Year of the Gun", with 52, out of 80 homicides in total. Gang- related incidents have been on the rise (over 300 gang-related homicides between 1997 and 2005)
OUR STORY: THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS OF TORONTO “We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us thru that darkness to a safe and sane future .” John F. Kennedy
OUR STORY: THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS OF TORONTO
OUR STORY: THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS OF TORONTO
OUR STORY: THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS OF TORONTO Mandate : “ Develop and implement a collaborative and coordinated approach among educational institutions to enhance access to PSE for all those who, without intervention and support, would not otherwise be able to access PSE ” Brand : “Postsecondary is possible”
WHAT ARE “ACCESS PROGRAMS”? Academic Transition Outreach & Job Training, Demographic Completion Engagement Certification & Pre- Apprenticeship • Ability focused • Academic • Early • Job Training & • Aboriginal • Academic • Crown Wards bridging awareness Pre- • Transitional • Career • First upgrading Apprenticeship • Dual credit • Certificate Year exploration Generation • Retention • Literacy & • Mature Programs Programs • ELL/ESL basic skills • Life skills Language • Tutoring & • Newcomers • Women only mentorship
4-PRONGED STRATEGY Strategic Policy & Systemic Change Community of Practice Partnerships & Systemic Change Public Education & Navigational Tools Research & Evaluation
TORONTO-USA: SAME COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - DIFFERENT REALITIES? MENTIMETER SURVEY : On a scale of 1 to 4, how would you rank the impact of these challenges/barriers on your clients’ ability to reach their PSE What sector do you represent: goals? • • Secondary Lack of knowledge re: access & support programs • • College Lack of knowledge re: financial aid programs • • University Complex navigation of the system (rules; requirements; • Community-based organization processes; etc.) • • Other Duplication / repetition of registration/information-sharing sessions What type of program do you provide: • Academic completion Which groups are most representative of your client population? • You may check more than one box. Transition • • Outreach & engagement Black • • Job training, certification & Pre-apprenticeship Indigenous • • Demographic Other visible minorities • • Other Newcomers • Women • Men • LGBTQ
TORONTO-USA: SAME COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - DIFFERENT REALITIES? MENTIMETER SURVEY : What age group do the majority of your On a scale of 1 to 3, which set of skills adds the most value to clients fall into : your work with vulnerable clients ? • • Under 18 Trust : Being able to create a personal connection of trust and • 18-21 understanding • • 21-35 Expertise : being knowledgeable about how to navigate the • 35 and over system • Connections : Being able to tap into a network outside my own organization In ONE WORD, how would you describe the experience of looking for programs / resources / information about access to PSE?
ANSWERS FROM THE TORONTO COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (CET SYMPOSIUM DECEMBER 2018)
What sector do you represent? % Which groups are most representative of your client Secondary 9 population? You may check more than one box. % College 29 19 Black University 34 Indigenous 12 14 Community-based organization Other Visible Minorities 20 Other 14 14 Newcomers What type of program/support do you provide? % Women 14 17 Men 11 Academic Completion LGBTQ 9 Transition 23 1 Francophones Outreach & Engagement 29 What age group do the majority of your clients fall Job Training, Certification & Pre-Appreciation 10 into? % Demographic 10 Under 18 25 Other 10 29 18-21 On a scale of 1 to 4, how would you rank the impact 21-35 27 of these challenges/barriers on your clients’ ability 35 and over 19 to reach their PSE goals On a scale of 1 to 3, which set of skills adds the most value to your work with vulnerable clients? Lack of knowledge re: access & support programs 3.5 Trust: Being able to create a personal connection of trust Lack of knowledge re: financial aid programs 3.2 and understanding 2.9 � Complex navigation of the system (rules; requirements; Expertise: Being knowledgeable about how to navigate processes; etc.) 3.4 the system 2.6 Duplication / repetition of registration/information-sharing � Connections: Being able to tap into a network outside sessions 2 my own organization 2.2
HANDS-ON SESSION: councilofeducators.ca
HANDS-ON SESSION: councilofeducators.ca
HANDS-ON SESSION: councilofeducators.ca
THE PATH PILOT PROJECT Access is not a “one size fits all” job… The Law of the Tool
THE PATH PILOT PROJECT: VISION
THE PATH PILOT PROJECT: APPROACH Improved navigation ֎ Mobile friendly ֎ Interactive ֎ Interconnected
THE PATH PILOT PROJECT: APPROACH Improved navigation ֎ Mobile friendly ֎ Interactive ֎ Interconnected Wrap-around Approach ֎ Client-centred ֎ Cross-referrals ֎ Partnerships ֎ Continuity
THE PATH PILOT PROJECT: APPROACH Improved navigation ֎ Mobile friendly ֎ Interactive ֎ Interconnected Data Collection Wrap-around Approach ֎ Information ֎ Client-centred ֎ Intelligence ֎ Cross-referrals ֎ Options ֎ Partnerships ֎ Action ֎ Continuity ֎ Evaluation ֎ Change ֎ More data…
GROUP DISCUSSION The Beta version of the PATH digital platform is ready to be launched as a pilot project in Toronto. Beyond the technical / IT adjustments, we anticipate to face – at least – two main challenges: • Concerns about confidentiality – privacy re: personal client information • Resistance to change from some practitioners (re: duplication of existing processes) QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION : • As practitioners, how likely would you be to adopt a tool such as the PATH? Why? • What approach / strategy would you recommend to mitigate the challenges to implementation?
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #1: A network needs champions to come to life, to survive and to strive. Champions are leaders with a long-term vision. They create opportunities. They take risks. They show the way.
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #2: There is no formula to leading a network Intelligence, funding and structure are necessary …They are not enough. There are no shortcut. There are no guarantees. Leading a network is an art as much as it is a skill, and the only constant is change.
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #3: Leadership First – Structure Next. Funding and opportunities follow leadership, members’ commitment, partnerships, and the demonstrated value proposition of the network.
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #4: Of Networking and Juggling…
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #5: “Piggy - backing” can be a good thing…
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #6: Making sure that funders ask the right questions… “Success” or “Performance” cannot be captured, measured and evaluated as if the network was a PSE institution.
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #7: About Pilot Projects… Use them to manage expectations and deliver results faster Make sure the project is adaptable and scalable
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #8: Data, Data…And More Data
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #9: “I think I can…” “ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has .” Margaret Mead
TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED LESSON #10: The work is never done…
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