New Model for CDF
Prepared by: Leadership Roundtable Small Working Group on Process Evaluation
Membership of Small Working Group: Leslie McDiarmid, Melanie Bania; Gillian Keefe; Wanda MacDonald, Abid Jan, Anita James, Brian Gilligan, Clara Freire, Nicole Ward, Maria Matthews/Jenn Wilks, Paul Sauve, Colleen Hendrick, Lisa Petch, Nancy Jackson
Brackground
The Community Development Framework (CDF) has been operating in five Ottawa neighbourhoods for approximately 3 years. In the winter of 2010/11 a process evaluation exercise was undertaken to assess the CDF process to date. A consultant report was produced and its recommendations were provided to the City of Ottawa.
After consideration by the CHRC Coalition and the Leadership Roundtable, a new model was agreed upon and a Sub-group of the Leadership Table was struck to detail the new model.
The New Model
The new model identifies that a new table be established, called “the Steering Table’, to serve as the primary central table of the CDF going forward. This table replaces the former Community Table and is housed within the Community Health and Resource Centre (CHRC) Coalition. It will be comprised of the CHRC coalition members and the members of the former Leadership Roundtable. Other partner participants will be invited to the new Steering Table as needed. The full Steering Table will meet quarterly.
The new CDF model will no longer be limited to the five current CDF neighbourhoods, rather it will be up to the Steering Table to determine, going forward, which areas to focus CDF attention on. This will be determined with the participation of the CHRC Coalition serving all 14 CHRC catchment geographies.
The CDF will be supported by a “Secretariat” body. This Secretariat will report to, and be directed by, the Steering Table.
Neighbourhood Tables will continue to exist as currently structured with a renewed focus on their Action Plans and ensuring mechanisms resident connection and participation. The Municipal Services table will also continue as currently structured.
The new model is simplified, has fewer ongoing ‘tables’ and envisions the work of CDF being formed around ad hoc issue-focused work groups. In this manner the new model is a more nimble and responsive structure that aims to ensure that meetings happen efficiently and with focus. Work Groups for specific issues can be struck at the neighbourhood or the systems level.
The Knowledge Transfer Table (KTT), the Resource Table, and the Community Table will not continue as distinct tables within the new model. The work of the KTT will be conducted through Working Group tables, the Resource Table work will take place at the pre-existing Grantmaker’s Forum, and the Community Table is replaced with the Steering Table.
The transition to the new model will be overseen by the CHRC Coalition. Transition will occur through the fall of 2011, with January 2012 marking the start of the new CDF model. Prior to implementation, the new model will be presented to all current participants of the CDF for review and input. This will be done via a series of meetings September 2011.
The following is a graphic depiction of the new CDF model structure following by a detailed listing of the key elements of the new model which the sub-group hereby recommends.
Steering Table
- One central table for CDF. This table is to be called the Steering Table
- The Steering Table will be housed and coordinated by the CHRC Coalition
- The Steering Table’s membership will include the 14 Executive Directors of the CHRC’s (the CHRC Coalition). Senior management representatives from each of the CDF partners.
- CHRC Coalition
- Ottawa Community Housing
- Funders: CFO, United Way, Community Funding
- City of Ottawa
- School boards
- Ottawa Police Service
- Representative from academic community
- Crime Prevention Ottawa
- The full Steering Table will meet quarterly, holding a minimum of 4 meetings per year. These meetings will be in addition to the regular monthly CHRC Coalition meetings.
- Secretariat structure and funding
- Structure and mandate of CDF
- Leveraging own organizational capacity towards CDF goals
- Determining priorities for advocacy and promotion with elected officials
- City-wide learning initiatives
- Implementing the CDF Transition plan (including conducting a visioning exercise across CDF);
- Determining secretariat make up and function
- Developing criteria for selection of neighbourhoods
- Providing leadership as needed toward successful implementation
- Championing the CDF as a community development approach/service
- Informing, influencing and leveraging resources
- Leveraging organizational capacity
Working Groups
- Actions of the CDF will occur via time-limited ad hoc working groups which are struck based upon issues arising. Some will be short-term, others may be longer term.
- The working groups can provide status update reports in to the Steering Table as a standing item on the Steering Table meeting agenda via the Secretariat Staff.
- Currently there are existing working groups in the model: Safety and Security Working Group, CBCE Working Group, the CDF/OCH Working Group.
- City’s Municipal Services Table will be an internal City structure supporting the CDF
- New working groups may be struck by the Steering Table. Some possible future working groups could include: CD Network, Evaluation Working Group, Communications Working Group.
- The CDF will be an agenda item on the existing Grantmakers Forum agenda and funders will be invited to attend “steering table” meetings whenever an opportunity exists to benefit CDF
- Striking an Evaluation working group is a high early priority.
Secretariat:
- A secretariat office will be established and housed with the Steering Table.
- The secretariat staff will have the following responsibilities:
- Capitalize on opportunities. Advocate for things to happen. Liaison (linking) with organizations/neighbourhoods and helping move action forward
- Ensure and facilitate ongoing monitoring and evaluation (survey development; bi-annual summary; common indicators / performance measurement across CD initiatives)
- Support ongoing communication between neighbourhoods and systems partners
- Manage website
- Support capacity building :
- at local tables
- organizing learning forums around emerging issues
- sharing promising practices
- Liaise with City, OPS, OCH, CPO, Universities and other complimentary city wide initiatives and leverage what’s already happening
- Facilitate and support thinking about strategic and operational direction
- Support and resourcing the “Steering” Table (agendas, minutes, logistics, communications, work plan)
- Act as “CDF ambassadors” (promote the approach; attend events; consistent messaging / strategic support / reporting for elected officials; advocacy)
Funding
2011 Funding Plan:
- CHRC Coalition will receive 125K from the City’s 250K (representing ½ year), plus 15K for the reflection sessions
- CFO will contribute up to 50K from their donor (for community-based activities)
- Focus in 2011 will be on supporting the 5 neighbourhoods; solidifying transition plan; and reflection forum/visioning exercise
- Community Action Grants (UW and City) may be available for small activities in neighbourhoods
- South-East Ottawa CHC will contract with City on behalf of the Coalition
- There will be specific deliverables and indicators
- Contract will be signed in August and money out right away
- CHRC Coalition will receive 250K from the City
- CFO will contribute up to 50K from same donor (for community-based activities)
- Opportunity existing to apply to UW for agency capacity building call for proposals (this Sept.) for funding for Secretariat (starting in April)
- Community Action Grants (UW and City) may be available for small activities in Neighbourhoods
- Focus will be on implementation of transition plan; secretariat; criteria for selection of Neighbourhoods and how to distribute $ among 14 CHRC’s, etc.
- More deliverables and indicators – reflecting a year’s worth of work
- New contract to be created with CHRC input before end of 2011
Dissemintation and Transition
- All current tables of the CDF (systems and neighbourhood) will be provided with an executive summary of the Process Evaluation report.
- All current tables of the CDF will be invited to a meeting to be presented with the process evaluation findings and proposed new model. These meetings will be held to receive feedback from all participants.
- The transition plan will be finalized following on these input meetings.
- Transition will begin in October 2011 through to January 2012
- In January 2012, the CDF will be operating according to the new CDF model.
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