March 24, 2023
Dear St.Amant Families,
I hope everyone heard the good news announced in the Manitoba budget: an increase of $81 million to the service providers of Community Living disABILITY Services and Children’s disABILITY Services to raise wages. This is a huge leap forward in compensation for direct support workers across Manitoba. Although we are still waiting for details on what the new funding means for St.Amant specifically, we are confident it will help us recruit and retain staff who are passionate about supporting inclusion and quality of life.
St.Amant is currently running a recruitment campaign for direct support professionals. Please be sure to send anyone looking for meaningful work our way.
All people have a right to dignity, fair treatment, and to have their gifts and abilities recognized. That is why some of our work is focused on Truth and Reconciliation, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and accessibility. We know that providing person-centred supports means looking at the whole person and their whole experience. We also need to ensure that all of our employees feel safe, valued and well supported, no matter their identities or lived experiences.
So far, we have created training on rights and advocacy, staff committees devoted to social justice, DEI and accessibility projects, and a Truth and Reconciliation action plan. Our Beyond Limits conference organizers are working hard to bring us training and education around the intersection of disability and other aspects of identity. Very soon, we will be ready to share our Truth & Reconciliation action plan more broadly. We have already started reaching out to friends and colleagues from Indigenous communities for advice and support.
We know that we have a lot of work to do and that there is no straight line to get there. This is not a box-checking exercise. The journey is as important as the destination. Our goal is to take the time to listen, engage, and readjust the plans as we go.
We recently submitted two grant applications to the Réseau Compassion Network’s Inspiration, Exploration and Green grant opportunities. With the potential for funding of up to $50,000 for some grants, this is one of the many benefits of belonging to the Network. In past years, successful grant applications allowed us to fund Go Baby Go, a power mobility program for children; develop the Inspiration Suite, a space for assessment and trial of technology that can help people be more independent in their homes; and support people to learn more about their Indigenous roots and cultural practices. The Compassion Network also offers Mindful Self-Compassion classes open to all families and staff. Check out their offerings and sign up for their newsletter.
The River Road Housing construction is well underway, with three new homes facing River Road, next to Action Marguerite. We expect construction to take about a year. The homes will be operated by the Community Residential Program and will mainly support people moving from Health & Transition Services and the Manitoba Developmental Centre.
Within Health & Transition Services, the $4 Million Stabilization renovation is nearly complete and will be open and occupied by end of April.
Our next strategic planning process will begin in just a few months. We are in the final year of our current (extended) plan. Now is the time to listen to our stakeholders, monitor trends in services around the world and to dream big dreams. We hope that every one of you will engage in this process. You know what will make a difference in people’s lives and communities. You know how we can improve inclusion and participation for people with disabilities. I look forward to learning from you. We will share more information as the process is finalized.
We can’t quite get away from COVID-19 updates, but we’re getting closer. Provincial COVID funding ends on March 31 and we are making some additional changes in the next few weeks and months. As of May 1, River Road Child Care and Autism Programs will not require staff to wear masks. Staff can choose to wear a mask until supplies run out. If staff want to continue to wear a mask once supplies are gone, they will supply their own.
Health & Transition Services staff and many clinicians must use PPE and masks are still required within Health & Transition Services.
After three years of the pandemic and a focus on safety, now is the time to recommit to quality in every sense as we care for people’s physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health, honour their rights, and support them to live their best lives. In each service area, there will be conversation and work related to quality: what it is, how we measure it and what it looks like, in real life, for the people we’re supporting. Doing this work well means bringing compassion, kindness, and great skill with you every day.
Spring signals a renewal: new beginnings and a return of the light. I hope that everyone is welcoming spring- through ceremony, a spring break holiday or just by getting back outside!
Ben Adaman
President & CEO