Conference 2017
Welcome to the many of you who subscribed to the ACDS Umbrella at the registration desk.
For 31st year, you came from all over Alberta to learn, to network, and to build our community at the annual gathering of our sector. Thank you for attending Conference 2017. We hope it was a useful and valuable experience for you and your colleagues.
Conference 2017 also marked the final conference for Ann Nicol as CEO of ACDS. Thank you to everyone who attended her farewell event, including MLAs Sandra Jansen (Calgary-North West) and the Hon. Irfan Sabir (Minister of Community and Social Services).
A few photos from conference
A litany of ribbons that adorned attendees name tags. MLAs Sandra Jansen and Irfan Sabir celebrating Ann's retirement and many years of service. Some of our exhibitors and sponsors, whose financial support helps make conference possible every year. We were able to once again host the Alberta Disability Workers Association AGM - congratulations to this year's slate of elected Board candidates. Finally, the ACDS Innovation Award, presented for the 1st time at the banquet evening.
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Farewell to Ann - Banquet Evening
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The 1st Annual ACDS Innovation Award winner, as voted on by the Community Disability Services community, was the collaborative group behind the My Compass Planning App - Congrats to the Southern Alberta Community Living Association (SACLA), Skills Society, and Lift Interactive.
The nominees for this year's award were the Calgary Society for Community Opportunities, In-Definite Arts Society, New Age Services, Robin Hood Association, SACLA/Skills/Lift Interactive, and Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency. Click here for the nominee profiles.
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| Sue Manery (SACLA) accepts the award |
Thank you!!! to this year's conference planning committee:
Dan Verstrate (PCLASS), Doris Kowtek (Catholic Social Services), Lorelei Martin (DARTS), Marianne Godlonton (URSA), Paige McCann Sauter (Ability Resource Centre), Pat Ferguson (Rocky Support Services), Stephen Wright (ADWA/ CASS), Jamie Post (ACDS), Christine Do (ACDS), Doreen Hogarth (ACDS).
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ACDS Notes
We officially welcome Andrea Hesse to ACDS as our new Chief Executive Officer, who will officially start her role on June 7.
Andrea lives in Edmonton, and yes is an Oilers fan!!!
Career wise, Andrea is an experienced senior leader with experience in both the non-profit and public sectors. She spent the last 5 years as Executive Director of ABC Head Start, an early education and family support agency serving children and families with diverse needs. Prior to that Andrea was a senior leader with the Government of Alberta in the Ministries of Children and Youth Services, and Human Services working on a variety of portfolios related to strategic and policy leadership for children and families. Andrea also began her career in the non-profit sector as a program manager and provided front-line services to children and families.
Educationally, Andrea completed both her B.A. and M.Ed. in counselling psychology at the University of Alberta and has presented at numerous conferences and events. In addition, she completed the Community Shift Program for Non-Profit Executive Leadership at the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario.
As a community leader, Andrea currently serves as a member on the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations. In addition, she was also a director of the Blackmud Creek Community League in Edmonton for several years.
Personally, you will find Andrea to be easy to talk with; keenly aware of the political and human services landscape; passionate about growing our sector; and a down to earth person that is easy to connect with.
All combined, Andrea will help move ACDS forward through this era of transition. She is very much looking forward to meeting the great people of the ACDS community.
Currently a transition plan is being developed which includes meeting service providers in each region, touring agencies, familiarizing herself with operations and planning strategically with the Board.
Andrea's specific contact information will be available on June 7 or shortly thereafter. Please join us in welcoming Andrea to ACDS!
Looking forward to the future,
Helen Ficocelli
ACDS President
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ACDS Training and Development
We're currently planning to roll out the next group of PBS sessions around the province, with enrollment subsidized by Disability Services.
Are you interested in bringing PBS training to your region? Please email us at training@acds.ca.
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The Political Scene
Bill 205 - The Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Act
(Introduced by MLA Sandra Jansen on April 6th)
Bill 205 would create an advocate within the Community and Social Services ministry, similar to the Senior's Advocate that currently exists. Given the limited debate time for private member's bills, if supported by the Legislature, it is unlikely to pass during the current session and will carry over until the fall session.
Exploring the creation of an Office of a Disability Advocate was a recommendation of last year's PDD Safety Standards Consultation.
MLA Jansen and the Government Caucus are asking for your feedback on the bill.
Click Here
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| First Reading of Bill 205 |
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| Press Conference for Bill 205 |
Henson Trusts in Alberta
A Henson trust (sometimes called an absolute discretionary trust), in Canadian law, is a type of trust designed to benefit disabled persons. Specifically, it protects the assets (typically an inheritance) of the disabled person, as well as the right to collect government benefits and entitlements.
The key provision of a Henson trust is that the trustee has "absolute discretion" in determining whether to use the trust assets to provide assistance to the beneficiary, and in what quantity. This provision means that the assets do not vest with the beneficiary and thus cannot be used to deny means-tested government benefits. - Wikipedia
Minimum Wage
MLA Ron Orr (Lacombe-Ponoka) asks about minimum wage in relation to Disability Services.
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News, Links, and Events
Disability Action Hall - Humanity & Me
A celebration of disability pride, culture & human rights
Call out for Artefacts and Art
Celebrating disability rights and history
Due Monday, May 10th, 2017
The Disability Action Hall and community partners invite you to be part of our 19th annual Speak Out. We invite you to submit your artwork and/or historical artifacts for "Humanity and Me", our celebration of disability pride, culture and human rights.
If your work is selected, it will be in a pop up gallery and/or part of our celebration on Friday, June 2nd, 2017 held at the historical Lougheed House.
Click for info
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2017 URSA Brain Art Gala
WHO: URSA is hosting our annual fundraising event Thursday, June 8th - the kick off to
Brain Injury Awareness Month. Brain Art is a program our brain injury survivors started to
express what it is like living with a brain injury through painting and photography. Client
art and photography will be for sale at the event. This year's program features former
Calgary Stampeder and two time Grey Cup Champion, Jon Cornish.
WHAT:
URSA's Brain Art Fundraising gala.
WHEN: Thursday, June 8th, 2017
Cocktails & appetizers at 5:00pm
Short program to follow
WHERE: Fort Calgary
(750 9th Avenue SE)
WHY: To help raise funds for URSA's
brain injury and rehabilitation programs.
Click for info
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| Birds on a Wire by Jason H, a brain injury survivor. |
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Selections Career Support Services - 2017 Golf Tournament
Date:
May 27, 2017
Location:
Country Side Golf Course
[51466 Range Road 232 Sherwood Park]
Time:
8:00am
Tickets are $145 (includes shared power cart, bottled water, scoring/proximity markers, Country Side Buffet Meal). Register as a Team of 4 for $550
Not a Golfer? Attend the banquet for $50 (1:30pm)
Download the poster
Calgary seniors struggle financially after leaving AISH coverage
Calgary seniors transitioning from Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) to seniors pension income are seeing a sizable increase in their costs of living and care.
Metro Calgary
Betty Anne Gagnon inquiry to probe woman's tragic death, nearly 8 years later
Gagnon's death is still shrouded in some mystery. Her fatality inquiry this week, nearly eight years later, is likely to answer some outstanding questions. It's also likely to retread much of what we already know: that there were several opportunities to prevent her death in the months - even years - before it happened.
CBC News
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Healthy Workplaces for Helping Professions - Workplace Health Survey
Welcome to the 2nd round of the human-service agency Workplace Health Survey of the Healthy Workplaces for Helping Professions (HWHP) project. The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the overall health (in terms of wellness and well-being) of the human services workplace in Alberta. The human services workplace comprises agencies from child and family services, child and youth counselling, home visitation, disabilities services, and women's shelters.
The first round of the survey was conducted in October 2015. Results of this survey have been used to help the HWHP Project (http://hwhp.ca), our partner agencies, and the Government of Alberta identify new resources and update current ones to help human services professionals keep their workplaces and their workers healthy, engaged, and productive. This information also helped human-service agencies develop their own wellness initiatives and make their workplace wellness culture stronger. This final survey aims to find out how agencies have made wellness a priority in their work, and how these efforts of agencies have turned into better well-being of their employees.
Please take about 15 minutes to evaluate the health of your current workplace. Your participation in this survey is vital in assessing workplace health and evaluating project impacts.
HWHP Healthy Workplaces Conference
Edmonton, October 13, 2017
Participation is open to all human service professionals in Alberta, including:
- Leaders and staff from the non-profit, agency sector in Alberta who are member agencies of ACDS, ALIGN, CYCAA, ACWS, AASAS, and AHVNA.
- Social science scholars, educators and students in the area of human resources management, public health, workplace health, and social work.
- Workplace health and safety professionals from government, insurance, and standards organizations.
Registration Information
WJS Canada Workplace Investigations Training
An increasing number of legal, privacy and other factors make it critical to form an appropriate response to a wide range of workplace claims and concerns.
The training sessions will be highly interactive. Presentation and explanation of the legislative/regulatory environment and detailed investigation strategies will be complemented by large and small group discussions and role-playing exercises based on materials and information gathered by WJS and relative to agencies that provide social services. Participants will have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge and techniques to practical scenarios and situations.
At the end of this course participants will be able to recognize when a workplace investigation is warranted and be able to conduct an investigation properly and protect the outcome.
June 22 & 23
Click to download the training poster
Rebate Programs for Home Improvements
There are three components to Energy Efficiency Alberta's Residential Retail Products Program:
- Home Improvement Rebates: You can buy eligible products and have them installed by a certified contractor to receive rebates.
- Online Rebates: You will be able to buy qualifying clothes washers, refrigerators and smart thermostats, and apply for rebates online.
- Instant Rebates: You can receive instant point-of-sale rebates on eligible products, such as LED lights, programmable thermostats, water-saving devices, smart power strips and heavy-duty timers.
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Latest discussion threads:
Conference 2017
Check out the Innovation Award nominees, and watch for resources from our 55 conference presenters coming soon!
Bed Bug Protocol
Developed by members of the Edmonton Council of Service Providers
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| The ACDS Umbrella is a publication of the
Alberta Council of Disability Services
160 3015-12 Street NE
Calgary, Alberta, T2E 7J2
Phone: 403-250-9495 * Fax: 403-291-9864
© 2017 Alberta Council of Disability Services
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