Letter template for you to use - Manager

Dear MLA Brad Rutherford,

My name is Lasha Robert, and I work at a Non-Profit agency that has a large Outreach program (Supported Independent Living) that receives funding from Community and Social Services, PDD program. This program alone employs 40 Staff and supports 123 people with developmental disabilities. I have been working in this sector for 14 years
The skill set that we look for in employees who work in this program is varied. We hire staff who can:

• Work independently
• Manage up to 8 people on their caseload
• Have a good understanding of community resources
• Have good written and verbal skills
• Connect individuals to natural supports and help maintain existing relationships
• Advocate for the people they serve
• Have inner city knowledge and how to safeguard themselves
• Problem solves quickly
• Is available to work during days, evenings, and weekends.

Outreach for people with disabilities is complex work. Historically, work tasks focused on Independent Living skills such as budgeting, banking, and grocery shopping. Since the criteria for PDD has shifted to prioritizing individuals with Immediate, Critical and Urgent needs, the type of support often shifts to crisis management. Many of these individuals are suspected or diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Often individuals require support with more than one of the following challenges:
• mental health – finding and attending appointments with psychiatric support.
• addictions – alcohol, prescription drugs and/or street drugs.
• maintaining housing – negotiating with landlords to support the individuals to avoid
eviction
• homelessness where finding housing is critical to basic health and safety. There are very
few supportive housing opportunities available to adults who live with FASD.
• wayfinding
• financial support
• in-home support
• navigating the justice system including attending court appearances, incarceration,
probation and/or parole orders.
• safeguarding strategies against other community members who exploit their
vulnerabilities. Including gang membership and/or affiliations. 

It is often a real struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff can do this complex and valuable work. Those of us who work in the disability sector need to feel valued and not forgotten and our work needs to be recognized as essential, not only for the individuals we support but also for the greater good of society. When I graduated from Disability Studies, there were only eight people in my class. For several years there were very limited post secondary options and none in Edmonton until NorQuest brought the program back a few years ago. It is making it increasingly problematic for us to recruit qualified staff. Our Baby Boomers are retiring, we are not only losing their wisdom and experience, but we are unable to replace them with qualified candidates due to the low wages paid in this sector.

In conclusion, our sector is in trouble. We are hiring bodies to fill positions, not quality support staff. We haven’t received any funding increase since 2014. Staff have not received a cost-of- living increase, let alone annual raises. Many staff are working more 40 hours per week and several positions to make a living wage. We are tired and burnt out which is how people get hurt. We have been ignored and forgotten for way too long, it’s time for change! I am open to a phone conversation if you want to know more about the problems I discussed in this letter.

Thank you. I look forward to receiving your response.
Sincerely,
Lasha Robert