Board with really long acronym pulls city contract for social services

NEWS RELEASE

SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BOARD

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The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB) has taken a significant step towards strengthening Board governance and effectiveness. 

On October 7, 2015 the DSSMSSAB passed resolution #15-097 paving the way for restructuring from the current contracted-services organizational structure to a direct employment structure effective September 25, 2016. 

As a result the DSSMSSAB has given notice to the City of Sault Ste. Marie that they will no longer be contracting with the Corporation to provide services on the DSSMSSAB’s behalf. 

The Sault Ste. Marie DSSAB is the last of the 10 District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) in Northern Ontario that contracts with the municipality to provide services. 

All other District Social Service Administration Boards are direct employers.

“The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board is mandated by provincial law to be accountable to the people of Sault Ste. Marie, Prince Township and the defined unincorporated areas. As a result, we need to reduce conflict of interest and risk in order to increase the effectiveness, governance and accountability of our organizational model,” stated DSSMSSAB Chair, Janet Gawne.

It is important to note that the change in organizational structure should be revenue neutral for local tax payers and that Social Services and Emergency Medical Services clients will not be affected by this transition.

The focus of this transition is the staff and management personnel providing DSSAB mandated work. 

All employees currently hired through the City of Sault Ste. Marie will need to convert to becoming DSSMSSAB workers.

“The DSSMSSAB is fully committed to make this transition as seamless as possible,” says Gawne. “We will offer employment to all affected staff members. We need them. There is a spot for each and every one of them.”

The DSSMSSAB will work diligently in conjunction with the City of Sault Ste. Marie Human Resources department as well as CUPE and Unifor Union representatives in an effort to maintain current union contracts, seniority, benefits and pensions.

“The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board would like to acknowledge the successful working relationship they have had with the City of Sault Ste. Marie. We appreciate their contributions as a partner,” declared Janet Gawne. “Thank you to the City of Sault Ste. Marie for the high level of service provided over the past 15 years.” 

Background

The District Social Service Administration Boards (DSSABs) were created in 1999 to manage and ensure efficient delivery of programs and service systems.

Under the District Social Services Administration Boards Act, Ontario contracts with the DSSMSSAB to deliver the following:

• Ontario Works
• Social Housing
• Child Care
• Land Ambulance EMS

The DSSMSSAB geographical catchment area includes the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Prince Township and the 31 unincorporated townships north of Sault Ste. Marie up to the Montreal River.

Since devolution in 1999, the DSSMSSAB has contracted the delivery / administration of services to the City of Sault Ste. Marie (third party contract).

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