Welcome to the ACDS Umbrella, our quarterly newsletter

In This August 2021 Issue
ACDS News
ACDS 2020-2021 Annual Report Released
ACDS has released its 2020-2021 Annual Report. The report titled, A Year Like No Other: Leading Through Crisis, provides an overview of our efforts to support and lead the Community Disability Services sector through the pandemic crisis with strong communications, resource sharing and development, research, as well as advocacy on the key issues impacting the sector. The report also highlights ACDS' successful delivery of core services, including accreditation and training.

You can access the online report – which can also be downloaded, printed, and shared readily – on our website.
Save the Dates: 2021 Fall Webinar Series
We are excited to announce that the ACDS Fall Webinar Series 2021 will take place Monday, October 25; Wednesday, October 27; and Friday, October 29 (10:00am to 12:00pm each day). 

The central topic for this year’s series is developing resilience—in personal, organizational, and social terms. Session details and registration will be announced in September. For now, please save the dates to participate in learning and dialogue!  
Staffing Updates
Justin White
Accreditation Coordinator

ACDS welcomes Justin White to the Accreditation Team. Justin most recently worked in Graduated Supports, Government of Alberta, where he served for over 5 years in the roles of Assistant Supervisor and Acting Supervisor in community access programs and group homes. Justin also has experience in program coordination and front-line work. His varied roles in the sector have provided him extensive knowledge in policy and best practices in the sector, which he's looking forward to applying in his new role. Justin has a degree from the University of Lethbridge.
Welcoming New Members

ACDS is delighted to welcome the following organizations that have joined our strong and impactful collective. We thank you for trusting ACDS to support your organization, and the wider sector.

Lifestyle Choices Support Society
Founded in 1988 to support two individuals with disabilities in their home and community life, the society continues to support the dreams of individuals and their active membership in community. This includes 24 hour residential support as well as employment support.

Founded in 1963, Connect Society exists to strengthen connections among deaf and hard of hearing people. They are a nonprofit community agency providing individuals and families with resources to help them fully participate within families, relationships and the community.

Learn more about the benefits of ACDS membership, with various options for membership ranging from a voting ACDS Member to an Associate Member for individuals and families.
ACDS Office Moving
The ACDS office moved to a new location on August 19. Our phone system is temporarily down until August 26 as we set up the new office.

Administration staff are also temporarily unavailable during this time as they assist with the move.

All other staff can be reached at their email address. Our general email, acds@acds.ca is also still available at this time.

Our new address is:

Suite 220 - 200 Rivercrest Drive SE
Calgary, AB T2C 2X5
ACDS Program Updates
Creating Excellence Together Accreditation: Virtual Surveys and Digital Options

61 service providers have completed the virtual survey since the virtual survey process was launched in July 2020. ACDS launched the virtual process in July 2020 to allow organizations to complete their Creating Excellence Together (CET) accreditation given pandemic-related restrictions.
The virtual surveys continue to receive excellent feedback

“Thank you for doing an amazing job coordinating our survey. You made a potentially high stress project play out in a completely manageable fashion. I’m truly grateful for all your help from start to finish”
 
Geneve Fausak, President
Independant Counselling Enterprises Inc.

Congratulations to CET Level 2 Service Providers 

ACDS is pleased to announce that the following service providers achieved CET Level 2 Accreditation. Level 2 service providers are recognized for their innovative and creative approaches in delivering quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities. 

Cosmos Community Support Services: Cosmos also met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation

LoSeCa Foundation: LoSeCa also met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation and for Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

Rehabilitation and Employment for Developing Independence Enterprises (REDI): REDI also met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation and for Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

 
Congratulations to CET Level 1 Service Providers 

ACDS is pleased to share that the following service providers achieved CET Level 1 Accreditation.

  • Above & Beyond Adult Care Inc.
  • Calgary SCOPE Society
  • Cardston Support Services Association
  • Canadian Mental Health Association - Camrose
  • Connections Counselling and Consulting Foundation
  • Employment Placement and Support Services (EPSS)
  • Prospect Human Services Society
  • Resourceful Futures Community Support Ltd.
  • Sunrise Residential Services Ltd.
  • Taber Special Needs Society
  • Westward Goals Support Services Inc.
  • Wetaskiwin & District Association for Community Service (WDACS)
CET Surveyor Training (New Standards)
September 9 to 27

This training will cover the new Creating Excellence Together (CET) standards and is intended for all current and potential surveyors for the CET accreditation program, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about the new standards.

The training has two components:
  • An online portion from September 9 to 20. The online training is an opportunity to become familiar with the 2021 CET Standards including Level 1, Level 2, Children, CSND and our newest addition, the Secure Treatment standards. This online component is mandatory for all current surveyors in order to continue surveying under the new CET Framework and standards. This training is also available to anyone who wants to learn about the new standards.

  • Virtual sessions September 23, 24, and 27. This component is available to surveyors only. The virtual sessions will include an overview of the new standards; survey process; completion of a mock survey; a survey schedule overview, among other topics. 


Fees:

$100 + GST per learner
Training and Development

ACDS offers several courses and other learning opportunities to disability organizations and staff, giving them the knowledge and tools to provide quality supports to individuals with developmental disabilities.
 
Courses are designed for leaders and frontline staff working in the disability sector and are available to members and non-members. Many courses are relevant to, and may be of interest to staff and organizations outside of Alberta.

Training is currently offered through two delivery methods

Virtual training: Virtual training sessions are hosted via Zoom communications over two to three days. All previous in-person training is currently being held virtually.

Online training: Ongoing courses that can be started and completed online at a learners’ own pace.
Upcoming Training

Virtual Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
Hosted Via Zoom October 7 to October 8 (9:00am to 12:00pm each day)

This training is offered virtually and does not feature physical restraints. It is ideal for staff who do not require knowledge of restrictive interventions in their de-escalation techniques. This training still meets standards for CET purposes. In light of current guidelines in place due to COVID-19, in-person training is on hold.  

Training covers: Prevention and deceleration strategies, decision-making related to risk associated with crisis behaviour, and post-vention approaches. 


Fees:

ACDS Members: $52.50 + GST per learner
Non-members: $75 + GST per learner
Mindful Hearts Training
Hosted by Winnifred Stewart Association September 21, 22, 23 9:00 am – 12:00pm

Designed for care partners and agency employees who provide support to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, or another form of chronic dementia. Using training resources from around the world, Mindful Hearts is comprised of several techniques and approaches to assist care partners to support individuals. Throughout the course, participants will learn about dementia, including the symptoms, stages, and how to provide effective, proactive support. Care partners will also learn how to prevent burnout and will review how to apply learnings to their daily work. 
Online Training

Click here to see our full list of ongoing training programs ranging from, Foundations in Community Disability Studies to Building a Culture of Safety.
New Courses Available
Trauma-Informed Abuse Investigation Program

This is an online course containing modules addressing best practices in investigative interviewing; defining and constructing effective questions; eliciting disclosures; developing and adhering to interviewing protocols. The course also includes scheduled practice sessions with a trained facilitator.

This certification course is made for workers in the Community Disability Services sector, as it combines foundational theories and practices of investigative interviewing with reference to individuals with disability. Learners will be able to practice their skills in scheduled sessions with trained facilitators and receive feedback for ongoing professional development in this area.

Fees:

ACDS Members: $850 + GST per learner
Non-Members: $1000 + GST per learner

This course qualifies for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant
 
This course is delivered online and taken at the learner's own pace over a period of up to one year. A certificate is issued by ACDS in partnership with Griffith University's Centre of Investigative Interviewing upon successful completion of course requirements.
Advanced Skills in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

This online course is designed for workers involved in planning and overseeing behaviour support plans within their organizations. It addresses implicit bias, principles of trauma-informed care, compassion fatigue, and managing oneself—all with a view to enhance workers' practice related to positive behaviour supports. 
 
While the fundamentals of PBS describe an approach to human-centered support, the work of acknowledging one's own biases, attitudes, limitations, and teamwork style is always ongoing. This course reflects on those considerations as related to positive behaviour supports. 
  
Fees: 

ACDS Members: $250 + GST per learner  
Non-Members: $360 + GST per learner

This course qualifies for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant

Subsidy support of $150 is available to the first 18 registrants. 
Advocacy and Research
Critical Worker Benefit Advocacy Success

On July 22, the Alberta government announced an expansion of the Critical Worker Benefit (CWB) and is rolling out a second round of the CWB to include job categories not included in the first round.

Disability workers providing the following services are now eligible for the $1,200 CWB:

  • Supported Independent Living
  • Respite
  • Community Access
  • Employment Supports

ACDS advocated strongly for full inclusion of all disability workers for several months, advocating directly to government, through social media, and by coordinating a letter writing campaign to MLAs. Service providers and staff also engaged in individual advocacy to advance this successful outcome.

#CWB4AllCDS
Advocacy Timeline

We continue to advocate on every major issue impacting the CDS sector related to the pandemic. This comprehensive timeline details ACDS’ advocacy efforts at every stage of the crisis since the public health emergency was declared in Alberta in March 2020. 

Learn more about ACDS’ advocacy efforts on issues related to COVID-19, as well as other issues impacting the CDS sector.
ALIGN Journal - Spring 2021

The ALIGN spring journal features an article by Nilima Sonpal-Valias, Elizabeth Schweighardt, and Andrea Hesse of ACDS titled, COVID-19's Impact on Alberta's Community Disability Services Sector. The article is informed by ACDS' comprehensive report, Impact and Insights: COVID-19 and Alberta's CDS sector.

The journal, published by the ALIGN Association of Community Services, features a number of articles written by nonprofits in Alberta on topics related to the pandemic.
Additional News and Updates
Bill C35, the Canada Disability Benefit Act Introduced

On June 22, 2021, the federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, introduced new legislation to establish the framework for a new Canada Disability Benefit. You can read the announcement here and Bill C-35, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, here
 
ACDS is supporting Disability Without Poverty, an initiative to ensure that the Canada Disability Benefit becomes a reality. The pan-Canadian initiative is led by people with disabilities supported by their families, friends, service providers, allies, and organizations. Among other important principles, the initiative calls for people with disabilities to be included in the design of the Canada Disability Benefit, that extra costs associated with disabilities are acknowledged, and that the income of Canadians with disabilities is raised above the poverty line.
Facility-Based Continuing Care Review Recommendations Report

In June, the Alberta government released a report following its review of facility-based continuing care, which began in the fall of 2020. The report, which also considered learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic, details a range of recommendations intended to improve the quality of life of residents, families, staff, and operators, in various facility-based continuing care settings, including designated supportive living. You can read the report here.
Johnson Insurance Benefits

As our insurance provider, Johnson Insurance reserved exclusive savings on home and car insurance for ACDS members.
 
  • With Johnson, you’ll get access to benefits such as:
  •  Identity Theft Protection
  •  24/7 Emergency Claims Service
  • First Claim Forgiveness
  • Get AIR MILES® Reward Miles±
 
Call for a quote and you could win groceries for a year!


Alberta Council of Disability Services