Yellowknife — June 10, 2020
Minister of Justice Caroline Wawzonek released a third-party program evaluation and social return on investment (SROI) study on the Integrated Case Management Pilot Program in Yellowknife.
The goal of the study was to determine the social value created by the ICM pilot program and how we might apply the lessons learned from it to how we continue to provide services to residents of the Northwest Territories, as well as providing those lessons to other service providers. The study undertook a rigorous methodology of data analytics along with a careful review of case files, interview data, frontline service provider data and program participant testimony.
The conservatively calculated ratio concluded that for every dollar the GNWT invested in the ICM Program, it resulted in at least $4.50 of value. Most of this value is returned to ICM participants (56% or $2.52) but a significant portion is returned to the GNWT as well (29% or $1.31), with additional value generated for children and families of ICM participants (14% or $.66) as well.
The ICM Program funding has been included as an on-going budget in the 2020/21 Main Estimates before the 19th Legislative Assembly for review. The program will continue to work with its community and government partners to support program participants out of crisis and towards greater self-sufficiency.
The outcomes from this study reinforce that much of the program’s success lies in the way that service is provided and how people are treated rather than solely on the availability of Pathfinders. Evidence from this study and many others show that equity, flexibility and person-centered service make up the foundation to effectively support people living with complex social challenges.
The Department of Justice, along with support from GNWT partners, is committed to making the move towards Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) a priority. For the past four years, an inter-departmental group within the GNWT has been working on ways to move ISD forward in the territory, with a focus on the principles of person-centered service delivery. In collaboration with its social envelope partner departments, the Department of Justice has recently staffed a Territorial Director of Integrated Service Delivery position to lead the initiative.
Quotes
“As Minister of Justice, I fully support Integrated Case Management. This program is integral in supporting the individuals and families in our community struggling the most to access the supports they need. It is not enough that government services are available; they must be accessible and delivered in a timely and flexible manner that recognizes that not everyone starts from the same point, and ensures all members of the community are treated with dignity and respect.”
-Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Justice
Quick Facts
· What is an SROI? An SROI is a methodology that determines the outcomes associated with a program, and then assigns values for these program outcomes to determine how much the social value has created . The goal is to calculate a ratio, or the “social return on investment”; for instance, a 3:1 ratio would indicate that for each dollar invested in the program, 3 dollars’ worth of social value are being created.
· It was determined that for every $1 spent on ICM, $4.50 worth of social good is created, with 29% of this value returned directly to the GNWT.
· Demographics of participants (248 active program participants):
o 54% female/46% male
o Medium age 44 years
o 55% from Yellowknife (either born and raised or been in Yellowknife more than five years)
o Self-identified identity:
§ 20% Inuit or Inuvialuit
§ 52% First Nations
§ 6% Metis
§ 14% non-Indigenous.
· The study provided data to support several successes of the program so far, including: flexibility and availability of support to participants building trust between Pathfinders and program participants and increased self-sufficiency of participants.
· The study found that program participants feel that ICM support has been the cause of positive changes in their lives.
· The study found that the majority of other service providers found that ICM alleviated pressure from their workload.
· All interviewees for the study were randomly selected by the contractor by using a statistical technique to ensure the interviewees were part of key clusters of similar program participants. This helped to ensure a balanced cross section of perspectives.
· Of the 217 participants that had significant interactions with the ICM program, 80% are
· Indigenous, 54% are female, the median age is 44, and 99 have children (with a total of 203 children of participants).
· ICM participants face significant challenges when they enter the program—80% are unemployed, 65% are residential school survivors or had family that attended residential schools, 70% experience mental health issues, and 53% struggle with substance use.
Media Contact
Sue Glowach
Senior Communications Advisor
Department of Justice
Government of the Northwest Territories