Simcoe Community Services has officially rebranded, becoming Empower Simcoe.
The need for a new name was obvious for some time, said CEO Claudine Cousins. There was a lot of public confusion, with residents associating the independent agency with the County of Simcoe.
“We really had a bit of an identity crisis,” said Cousins.
The agency was receiving calls about county garbage collection, road closures, even long-term care. “We were getting calls for everything, except anything we did.”
The agency provides programs that include Infant development and the EarlyON child and family resource centres, a Family Home Program that places children and adults with intellectual disabilities in alternative family settings, and housing support services, for those at risk of homelessness.
When the agency first looked at rebranding, it held focus groups and engaged staff, clients and volunteers in discussions around the central premise of a name change.
“We’re either going to do an evolutionary rebranding, or revolutionary rebranding,” remembered Cousins. “It has to be a strategy. Do we want to be known for the programs we deliver, or are we really interested in the outcomes?”
The decision? The rebranding would be “revolutionary,” she said, and the focus would be on outcomes for clients.
“They really want us to help them in achieving their best goals, their dreams, their best outcomes,” said Cousins. “It’s about empowering people to live a self-fulfilling life… We walk beside them, and they lead.”
The new name: Empower Simcoe.
“The key message we get across is, we support the community from childhood to adulthood,” said Cousins.
Empower Simcoe works with community partners to provide a range of services.
Infant Development provides early intervention services, both at home and in the EarlyON centres, for infants and children from 0 to 6 years of age. The program not only identifies children who may be at risk of developmental delays or difficulties, Empower Simcoe social workers also work with the families to “equip the parents with resources.”
Said Cousins: “Individuals don’t stand alone. It’s a family issue.”
EarlyON Centres provide a safe setting for children up to age 7 and their caregivers or parents, to engage in play-based learning.
“It’s a true curriculum-based play,” said Cousins. “Children learn. They interact with other children, they learn socialization, they learn to talk. The parents also come together and collaborate. They come together and have adult conversations – it’s a little bit of respite.”
The Family Home Program places children and adults with intellectual disabilities in alternative family settings, paying host families a per diem, based on the needs of the individuals, and funding from the Ministry of Children and Community Services.
Empower Simcoe provides the monitoring and oversight, to ensure that all placements are safe and positive, for both clients and host families.
Group Homes, in Barrie and Orillia, are in place for adults with intellectual disabilities who need minimal support. “They can live on their own, basically. They just need a little bit of help,” Cousins said.
Empower Simcoe’s Youth programs are designed to assist any youth in the transition between school/living at home, and independent living in the community. A Summer Youth Program “is open to any youth who wants to learn new skills, who wants to meet other youth,” Cousins said.
And the Housing First program addresses the needs of homelessness, and those with precarious housing, in a market that regularly sees a lack of affordable housing and soaring rents. The program is open to anyone, at risk of homelessness, and works with both landlords and tenants to find housing solutions.
“We don’t use addiction or mental health as a barrier. We tackle the housing first, and then look at the other issues,” Cousins explained. “Housing is a determinant of health.”
Empower Simcoe operates the EarlyON Centre and Infant Development Program in Bradford, and has local families that participate in the Family Home Program. Other services, including Youth programs and Housing First, may be provided locally through CONTACT South Simcoe.
“Bradford is a growing area, so the expectation is that services need to grow,” said Cousins. “When people can find services in their area, service improves.”
Empower Simcoe has a five-year strategic plan that includes expanding services in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
In particular, Cousins said, “we’re looking to partner with developers,” to provide affordable housing options, especially for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Right now, there is new federal funding for housing initiatives. “We know the funds are available. We just have to partner, and take advantage,” Cousins said.
She is also hoping to increase outreach in the community, to let Bradford West Gwillimbury residents know what services are available, and link up with families interested in participating in the Family Home Program, for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We would love to have a wait list of families, who would be willing to participate,” she said.
Beside name recognition, Empower Simcoe does face another challenge, and that is funding. There has been no increase in funding over the past decade – not even for cost of living – and now there are concerns that funding will be cut by the province.
“They are cutting everywhere,” said Cousins, noting that the Ford government has announced a 2.1 percent cut to overall funding for Children’s and Social Services.
As of April 1, the agency still had not received a budget or allocation. “We haven’t heard anything.”
Right now, she said, “we are operating on last year’s budget” which, although balanced, still included a deficit from previous years.
The CEO said that the agency is attempting to be proactive, and find new ways to deliver its services, “to work smarter, to use technology… We really can’t sit on our hands. We have to be proactive.”
At the same time, she said, “We don’t want to reduce front-line services.”
Empower Simcoe has been looking for savings on the administrative side, but has already made significant cuts, to the point where a single administrator is currently overseeing 41 group homes in Simcoe County, something Cousins calls “an impossible situation.”
She warned that although the programs may continue, quality could be impacted by lack of staffing and money.
Helping to bridge the funding gap are fundraisers like a June 14 golf tournament coming up in Orillia, and a fashion show in October, and the Empower Simcoe Foundation.
“They’re a Godsend,” said Cousins. “They help us bridge the gaps.”
Even without facing potential budget cuts, the agency is hard-pressed to pay for services.
In an aging population, the needs of clients may change, reflecting reduced mobility, and an increase in dementia and other conditions that require additional support and staffing. Yet the per person funding “doesn’t change.”
For more information on Empower Simcoe, located at 39 Fraser Court in Barrie, see empowersimcoe.ca, or contact [email protected] or 705-726-9082.
Community partner CONTACT South Simcoe is housed at BradfordWorks, 95 Holland St. West, and can be reached at 905-778-9058 or see www.contactsouthsimcoe.ca.
Cousins encourages those needing community supports and programs to connect with Empower Simcoe.
“There’s no wrong door when coming to Empower Simcoe,” Cousins said. If a service isn’t provided by the agency, it will make referrals to the community partners and agencies that do.
As the new motto says, “Empower Simcoe. Be. Belong. Thrive.”
