ADWA

E-Bulletin
For November 21, 2012

Alberta Disability Workers Association

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Alberta Disability Workers Association (ADWA) update As you probably already know, ADWA has been going through a time of transition. In July we lost our Executive Director, Colin Richle. The Board took some time over the summer to figure out the best way forward. We realise that we have not sent out as much information as usual to our members in this transition period, but we would like to assure you we have been working very hard to meet our memberships primary objectives. We would like to take this opportunity to provide you an update on our activities. We have three established targets: To improve the wages and benefits in the sector. Our members have identified this as the greatest area of concern. We see this as critical to improving the lives of the people who work in the field, stabilizing the workforce and having a positive impact on the lives of people being served. To create a certification system to measure competencies of existing and future staff. There is tremendous support across the sector for this initiative. A list of job classifications has already been developed by our partners at ACDS. ADWA is working collaboratively with several sector partners to develop a certification process. This will create the ability for each member to identify their level of competency, as well as areas where they can enhance their skills. It will also give employers a standard way to measure the skills and competencies of their employees. To communicate with MLAs and the Alberta government with respect to issues important to workers in our sector. Elected politicians, ministry officials and treasury members have limited exposure to the challenges faced by workers in the field of disability services. We feel it is our responsibility to let these decision makers know what is happening in our field from the perspective of those who work in it. Here are some of the things we have been doing to work toward these goals. Sharing information with our members about educating their MLAs and encouraging ongoing discussions with government. Hosting several community conversations encouraging members to take part in the Social Policy Framework development process. Getting a seat on, and participating in the work of the influential Workforce Alliance, a cross-ministry group which will affect the distribution of the ministry of Human Services $128 million in new funds for 2013-2014. Undertaking a cross-section environmental scan in July to determine our members primary concerns. Repeatedly, we have heard the need for employees to speak as one voice about the importance of our work. The ADWA Board cannot meet these targets on our own. We need an active membership to reach these goals. ADWAs vision of a sector with stable, well-trained staff is moving forward. We are a Professional Association that aspires to work with individuals and agencies to provide evidence to government that a stable delivery system with certified staff will have better outcomes. Recently our volunteer Board has met for a two-day planning session to develop a set of goals for 2012-2013.These include: Protecting the dollars promised during the election to the sector for wages. Page | 1 Alberta Disability Workers Association EBulletin for November 21, 2012

Improving our messages to agency leaders and potential members. (Reinforcing that a professional association is not a union, but a sector partner, working toward improving outcomes for individuals). Building our membership. Community workers need an outlet so that their voices are heard separate from organizations. Determining the best way to move forward with our staffing plan. With our former Executive Director leaving in July, we took the time to assess how we could best meet the needs of our growing membership. We are currently advertising for a Coordination and Communications Director position, so if you know of or are a good candidate, please check out the posting! Identifying ways to improve information dissemination; a better web presence; using social media and connecting with members is critical. Exploring ways to draw membership from all the regions of the province and ensuring regional representation on the board. Improving access to relevant education. A standard set of competencies across job classifications will lead to improvements in education. Agencies that implement the certification process and determine their staff training needs will be better able to focus training dollars on critical need areas. Addressing safety issues with government. Emerging complex needs trends highlight the need for an industry response to staff safety issues. Assessing ADWAs infrastructure needs. As a professional association we need to be sustainable. The advantage of the not seeking government funding for core expenses is that we can speak openly about our industry needs. That being said, we need a strong core membership to sustain the ongoing expenses of a professional association.

We believe a well established professional association will be a huge asset to all parts of our sector. We need your ongoing support to establish a strong voice. We hope that you will hang in with us through this initial growing period. Even better, the more you could be actively involved in helping us to recruit new members, the better! For example, several agencies in the province have now made ADWA membership mandatory for their disability workers. Even encouraging other disability support workers to check us out or supporting us by arranging a time when we can speak to workers in your area would be of great assistance. Longstanding funding, education and wage issues cannot be solved quickly, however we can begin by creating a place where the largely unheard majority of workers in our province have a voice to speak with. We hope that we can continue to count on you as an ally in this process! Thank you, Tim Bear Chair Alberta Disability Workers Association tbear@spanet.ab.ca Phone: 780-645-3441 Ext #259

MISSION:

To build a valued workforce, promoting the well-being and potential of all Albertans

ADWA Board
E Mail: Phone: Fax: Mail: Web: albertadisabilityworkers@gmail.com 780-646-6143 780.645.1885 4637-45 Ave. St. Paul, Alberta T0A-3A3 www.albertadisabilityworkers.org

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