Present: Heather Lumley, Executive Director, St. Leonard s Community Services; Nancy Powers, Executive Director, The Salvation Army Centre of Hope; Saundra Lynn Coulter, Program Manager, London Abused Women s Centre; Susan Macphail, Director, Community and Women s Programs, CMHA Middlesex ; Barhet Woldemariam, Project Coordinator, H4W, CMHA-Middlesex; Bruce Rankin, Senior Director, RHAC/John Gordon Home; Cathy Nolan, Managing Director, Street Level Women at Risk; Kate Placide, Community Planning Specialist, United Way London and Middlesex; Lisa Smith, Deputy Superintendent, Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre; Laura Cornish, Homeless Prevention Team, City of London; Tammi Mugford, Deputy Superintendent, Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre; Mirella Bryant, Manager, Transition Services, Youth Opportunities Unlimited; Pam Hill, Director of Clinical Services, Addiction Services of Thames Valley; Lynne Robinson, Service Director, Intake and Native Services, The Children s Aid Society of London & Middlesex; Pam Hill, Director of Clinical Services, Addiction Services of Thames Valley; Sgt. Lorna Bruce, Persons at Risk, London Police Service; Sgt. Tracy Miernicki, Persons at Risk, London Police Service; Chuck Lazenby, Executive Director, Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness; Jaclyn Seeler, Case Coordinator, Street Level Women at Risk; and Rebecca Stokes, Housing Stability Worker, Street Level Women at Risk. 1. Introductions and Welcome Mirella Bryant, Co-Chair of the Collaboration Advisory Group, called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. A special introduction was made to Sgt. Tracy Miernicki with London Police Service Persons at Risk. Introductions were made. 2. Collaboration Advisory Group Meeting Minutes for Meeting held April 13, 2016 Motion: To approve the minutes of the April 13, 2016 meeting. Moved: Barhet Woldemariam Seconded: Pam Hill 3. Review of the SLWAR Model Heather Lumley reviewed the SLWAR model, including: Core Purpose Guiding Principles Conceptual Model Definition of Housing First Institutional Circuit 4. General Update from the Governance Group Heather Lumley provided a general update from the Governance Group. The Governance Group reappointed Heather Lumley as the Chairperson. The Governance Group deferred appointment of the Vice Chair. Lisa Smith has resigned from the Governance Group. Heather thanked Lisa for her contribution. The Governance Group will appoint a new member, as per the Governance Group Terms of Reference. The Governance Group will update the Collaboration Advisory Group about appointments at the June 8, 2016 meeting. Page 1 of 6
5. Policy Cathy Nolan reviewed policy with recommendation for approval. i) Tasks and Timelines The Tasks and Timelines provides milestones for the various components of the Street Level Women at Risk Program. Motion: To approve the Tasks and Timelines Moved: Sgt. Lorna Bruce Second: Pam Hill ii) iii) SMART Goals Policy and Worksheet Establishing goals with participants assists the participant and the organizations involved in assisting her, to achieve improved health and housing outcomes. Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely (SMART) goals are developed, reviewed and revised with the participant and used for participant planning and reporting. Motion: To approve the SMART Goals Policy and Worksheet. Moved: Barhet Woldemariam Second: Chuck Lazenby Service Matching Policy To match each participant supported by the Street Level Women at Risk (SLWAR) Program to the appropriate service provider(s) from the Collaboration Advisory Group (CAG) who will provide immediate and ongoing support to achieve long term housing stability. Discussion: Saundra Lynn Coulter proposed an amendment to read, The Case Coordinator, in collaboration with the participant, will consider: Motion: To approve the proposed amendment. Moved: Saundra Lynn Coulter Second: Barhet Woldemariam Motion: To approve the policy with the suggested amendment. Moved: Saundra Lynn Coulter Second: Mirella Bryant It was agreed that the revised policy would be brought back to the June 8, 2016 Collaboration Advisory Group. Page 2 of 6
iv) Communication Policy The purpose of the policy is to ensure control over media messaging and to protect the integrity of the Street Level Women at Risk Program (SLWAR), Governance Group, Collaboration Advisory Group, the staff, participants and their families/significant others. Motion: To approve the Communication Policy. Moved: Sgt. Lorna Bruce Second: Pam Hill v) Whatever it Takes Request and Agreement Forms A flexible fund available to support housing stability for participants of Street Level Women at Risk (SLWAR). Discussion: The Whatever it Takes Fund is being tracked internally. One business day is intended to be the maximum length of time. The Policy will be reviewed in September. Motion: To approve the Whatever it Takes Request and Agreement Forms Moved: Barhet Woldemariam Second: Nancy Powers vi) Housing Allowance Request and Agreement Forms The Housing Allowance Policy is during initial start-up phase to provide a permanent, flexible investments in housing stability. Discussion: If the woman s circumstances remain the same the Housing Allowance will continue. The Street Level Women at Risk Program has annualized funding. Motion: To approve the Housing Allowance Request and Agreement Forms Moved: Pam Hill Second: Barhet Woldemariam 6. Street Level Women at Risk Evaluation A comprehensive, mixed methods evaluation will be conducted over a minimum of three years. The public Request for Proposal closed May 10, 2016. 7. Collaboration Teleconference and Participant Teleconference Jaclyn Seeler reviewed the service component of the model, including: The Service Delivery Model The Service Pathway What to Expect Page 3 of 6
Jaclyn presented and facilitated a discussion regarding the Collaborative Teleconference. Key decision makers that can facilitate rapid internal referral in their organizations join this call. This call is for organizations in the collaborative whether their organization is supporting specific women in the SLWAR Program or not. These conference calls are currently being held on Thursdays at 1pm. Discussion: Members indicated that their organizations were ready to start on the teleconference included: Unity Project, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Salvation Army, and Addiction Services of Thames Valley. The women are identified by first name only and only high level information is shared. Consider if minutes will be recorded for these teleconferences. Action items will be emailed. Action: Invitations for the Collaboration Teleconference will be sent to the group. Jaclyn Seeler reviewed the Participant Teleconference. Front line staff working with an individual woman in the SLWAR program will meet as needed to assist woman in achieving her goals and working on housing stability. These meetings may take place in person, by teleconference or email and will be short in duration. Discussion Women will choose whether they attend these teleconferences. Teleconferences discussion is focused on woman s SMART Goals and housing stability. Other discussion: London Abused Women s Centre policy does not permit in-home work or participation in case conferences when women are not present. The Salvation Army has been evaluating what they can offer to the SLWAR Program. They have determined that they can assist with needed household items, including beds for a reasonable cost. Creating system efficiencies to address moving costs for participants identified as a topic for the Collaboration Advisory Group. Action: Add system level discussion regarding moving costs to a future agenda. 8. Managing Directors Report The team is learning from the women that they are supporting in the program. SLWAR Staff have attended various training through City of London, Host Agency and in the community. SLWAR is continuing to work towards full staff compliment and are hiring a temporary Housing Stability Worker, Housing Selection Worker and part time admin. There will be an update provided to the Collaboration Advisory Group meeting at the June 8, 2016 meeting. Page 4 of 6
The team has been meeting with community organizations, including but not limited to: Safe Space, Homes 4 Women and the Housing Stability Bank. These meetings have been positive. SLWAR is working to house women. Two women are housed currently and another moves next week. Cathy Nolan and Sgt. Tracy Miernicki will present at a volunteer appreciation event at Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. 9. Appointment of the Collaboration Advisory Group Co-Chair position Heather Lumley led the election of the Co-Chair position. The Collaboration Advisory Group Terms of Reference states that, The Chair of the Governance Group will serve as one Co-Chair of the Collaboration Advisory Group. A second Co-Chair will be appointed by members of the Collaboration Advisory Group. The role of the Co-Chair includes facilitating the Collaboration Advisory Group and attending a preparation meeting prior to each Collaboration Advisory Group meeting. Mirella Bryant has put her name forward for another term. Heather Lumley led the election. 1. Heather invited nominations from the floor. No names came forward. 2. Heather invited nominations from the floor. No names came forward. Motion: To accept Mirella Bryant as the Co-Chair for the Collaboration Advisory Group Moved: Chuck Lazenby Seconded: Nancy powers 10. Update Homes 4 Women Barhet Woldemariam provided an update about Homes 4 Women. The intake process is changing to increase intakes and meet the goal of housing ten women by the end of the year. Currently, there are nine women in various stages of the program. Barhet is attending an upcoming social innovation residency in Banff where she will look at sustainability of the program and next steps. 11. North East Community Conversations Cathy Nolan provided an update regarding the April 19, 2016 North East Community Conversation about sex work. 43 people attended. Most attendees were service providers. The conversation included 4 personal testimonies presented by members of the North East Community Conversation group, a panel and small group discussions. The panel included Treena Orchard, Nathan Dawthorne, Jennifer Vale and Aura Burditt. Nathan Dawthorne s research focuses on men involved in sex work in London. He has identified 40 men working in sex work in London through his research. Page 5 of 6
Attendee s identified that it would be helpful if there were future conversations that separated sex trafficking and sex work. 12. Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday June 8, 2016 12:00 1:30 pm, London Police Service Community Room, 601 Dundas Street 13. Adjournment at 1pm. Page 6 of 6