September 23, 1998

To:Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

From:Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

Subject:Revised Social Assistance Caseload Report

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to introduce a revised reporting format for depicting the Ontario Works caseload in Toronto. A revised social assistance caseload report, now called the City of Toronto Ontario Works Report, is described, and its distinct features are discussed.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

Toronto Social Services (T.S.S.) has fundamentally redesigned its high level summary of the social assistance caseload. The need for a revised format for reporting out on the caseload is in response to recent changes initiated by the Provincial government.

The report is based on the Ontario Works program, which has different program design and delivery requirements than the former General Welfare Assistance (G.W.A.) program. Its predecessor was called the Toronto Community Services Monthly G.W.A. Report, more commonly known as the Form 5 report. Based on cost sharing arrangements that have since been changed under Ontario Works, the Form 5 report no longer provides a meaningful picture of the Division's Ontario Works caseload.

Appendix 1 contains a sample of the revised report

Discussion:

In 1996, the Province first introduced Ontario Works in several pilot municipalities. Toronto commenced an incremental rollout of Ontario Works after an initial pilot in August of 1997. The Department has provided reports to Council on Ontario Works on a regular basis.

While most employable recipients were initially required to participate in the program, participation for people in other categories of assistance, such as sole support parents, was voluntary. In late 1997, new provincial social assistance legislation, the Social Assistance Reform Act, (S.A.R.A.), comprised of the Ontario Works Act (O.W.A.), and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act (O.D.S.P.A.), was passed. Among other changes, S.A.R.A. mandates the transfer of the provincial sole support parent caseload to the municipal delivery level.

The new legislation equally focuses on both income support and employment assistance. Under O.W.A., municipal social assistance delivery agents must provide for the employment support needs of a larger pool of clients, including sole support parents. In May 1998, O.W.A. was proclaimed, replacing the General Welfare Assistance Act. Toronto is currently implementing legislated changes.

Revised Caseload Report:

The revised caseload report is consistent with the Division's new mandate under the Ontario Works Act, and has been redesigned to present relevant information on the caseload, as well as to identify trends. Data in this report more accurately reflect the combination of income support and employment caseloads of Ontario Works. The three key sections in the report are total caseload, family structure, and Ontario Works program participation.

1.Total Caseload

In this section of the report, caseload data including all cases and persons in receipt of income support in the reporting month, is recorded. Increases or decreases in caseload have traditionally been of primary concern to the municipality. These are shown in the first three columns of the report under the headings caseload, total caseload, and individual cases served to date. This last figure is cumulative, calculated by adding new cases served to a baseline (the baseline is the number of cases on assistance at the end of the previous year). A chart of the caseload trend over the past year has been included in the bottom left hand corner.

2. Family Structure

Caseload data on family structure is recorded in this section. Knowing how families on assistance are structured leads to a better understanding of the full range of service needs of clients within either the income support or employment streams of the program. The family structure section indicates how many families with and without children, singles, sole support parents and children under temporary care are on assistance month to month. Also included is the number of children on the caseload, an important variable for assessing program priorities.

3.Ontario Works Program Participation

This section is divided into two areas: first, an estimate of the potential number of people who would be expected to be engaged in an Ontario Works employment activity on a monthly basis, based on caseload characteristics, and second, an actual count of those who are participating, based on information from employment plans.

The first area records Ontario Works participation data as a count of the number of people who have requirements under Ontario Works, less those who have been deferred or exempted for age, health, or other reasons, such as being a single parent with a child under four years of age. The information under the heading " total potential participants" represents an estimate of the potential Ontario Works caseload.

The second area, enrollment, deals with the actual number of people who are engaged in one or more employment activities under Ontario Works. As the program is still in the process of transition, the figure also includes clients who are voluntarily participating from the former Family Benefits program.

Finally, there is a cumulative count of the number of people served year to date who have been or are participating in an employment activity. This is calculated in the same manner as cases served year to date. A chart reflecting the trend is included on the bottom right hand corner.

Data used are generated through a number of sources, including Ontario Works Technology, as well as the provincial caseload report, the Form 5, and MAIN, the Division's cheque production database. For added clarity, the reverse side of the report provides explanatory notes describing the terms used.

Conclusion:

New mandates under the Ontario Works Act and regulations have made conveying key information about changes to caseload and program participation a necessary feature of ongoing reporting practice.

The City of Toronto Ontario Works Report is primarily meant to be a high level summary of key data. The report is intended for circulation to Committee Chair and members of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, as well as other appropriate departmental staff. Other program-specific data or performance reports are generated at a more detailed level.

Further changes in the way monthly caseloads are reported may be required when single parents on Family Benefits become part of the municipal Ontario Works caseload.

Contact Name:

Heather MacVicar, General Manager

392-8952

General Manager, Social Services Division

Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services