OMSSA understands that the stress and challenges of SAMS implementation continue to affect CMSM and DSSAB staff as well as their clients.

OMSSA continues to move forward on getting real solutions from the province to the problems we are hearing about.

Below are examples of some of our efforts:

• On December 3rd, OMSSA convened the 47 Leads to finalize communication to the Province on what CMSMs and DSSABs urgently require to mitigate the fallout of SAMS implementation. OMSSA, on behalf of the 47 Leads, will be sending a letter to the Minister, Helena Jaczek, in follow up.

• Richard Steele, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Social Assistance Operations, Ministry of Community and Social Services, met with the leads for part of the meeting. ADM Steele committed to immediate action in the following areas:

• Convene a sub-group of CMSM and DSSAB representatives to work in lock-step with ministry officials on SAMS implementation challenges and solutions;
• Explore continuous follow up, linkage and updates from the working group to the Commissioners, Directors and the DSSAB CAO group.
• Implement a new communication approach that moves the focus exclusively from operational concerns to include broader issues of program delivery and staff and client impact; and,
• To deliver a clear message of the fiscal impact to municipal and DSSAB organizations from SAMS implementation and the need for mitigation funding.

The first meeting of the subgroup will be held on December 5th.

• In response to member requests, OMSSA provided its members with speaking points and a backgrounder on SAMS implementation to assist at the local level and provide a common voice and statement.

• OMSSA has convened a conference call of the Employment and Income Issues Network (EIIN) for December 8th for members to share experiences, as well as how these are being managed and the impacts and implications of SAMS.

• OMSSA will establish regular conference calls with the 47 Leads and their directors.

• OMSSA has sent a request to its members to provide information on the financial impact of SAMS implementation on staff, clients and governing bodies and to provide 2-3 clear examples of system challenges and client impacts for us to demonstrate the on the ground realities.

OMSSA's efforts and messages will continue to emphasize that the implementation of SAMS should not hinder the quality of life of the clients you serve nor hinder financially the organizations who deliver these services and that we need to get to a point, sooner rather than later, where SAMS will reflect the value of the people we serve in the communities where they live.

OMSSA would like to hear from you how we can continue to support you through SAMS implementation.