Collaborative Action For Non-profit Sector Paid Workforce Research & Strategy Development

Introduction

In 2008, the Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations in collaboration with the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, Competitiveness, Training and Trade established a process to engage other provincial government departments (Health, Family Services and Housing, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, etc), and their agencies, and the Winnipeg Foundation, the United Way of Winnipeg, the non-profit sector Manitoba Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Sector Association, Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, and other organizations. The result was the formation of the Steering Committee for the Non-Profit Labour Market Initiative.

Vision

The Manitoba non-profit sector future paid workforce is sustainable and renewable and community-based organizations are able to replenish (recruit, retain, and develop) a talent pool of skilled, diverse, and engaged individuals in communities throughout the province.

Mission

Through a collaborative effort between the non-profit sector and government, we will facilitate relevant paid workforce research, provide for a sustainable sector-wide outreach strategy and activities, share and exchange labour market knowledge within Manitoba and with others across Canada; and guide the development of paid workforce strategies to meet current and future non-profit sector organizational requirements.

Goals

1. To commence this workforce strategy development by focusing on health and social services sub sector of the non-profit sector and positioning other sub sectors for later engagement and research.
2. To engage the partners of this workforce initiative, non-profit sector organizations, government departments and agencies, and funders of the sector in long-term planning for replacement, renewal, and transformation of the non-profit sector labour market as baby boomers increasingly leave the sector.  The aim is to positively influence the labour supply.
3. To focus, especially on recruitment and retention of First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities, and immigrants and refugees as a component of this planning.  This is an essential strategy to avoid future labour skill shortages in the sector and may enhance the relevance of the goods and services provided by the sector.
4. To establish the relationships among the partners of this workforce initiative, organizations and departments to implement the plans.  This may involve engagement with post-secondary educational institutions, professional associations and career guidance personnel.
5. To create and share new knowledge related to the overall workforce requirements  of Manitoba’s non-profit sector. Such is to provide immediate and long-term strategies to enhance forecasting and planning to meet skill requirements of sector organizations delivering services on behalf of the Manitoba government

Steering Committee - Working Principles

• The steering committee will include the Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations (originally called VNPSOM)  as the representative body for the non-profit sector organizations and the Province of Manitoba represented by the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics (MBS) and Family Services and Housing
• The committee will be co-facilitated by Martin Itzkow (MFNPO) and Wilf Falk (MBS).
•  MBS will act as the secretary of the steering committee.  As secretary, MBS will be responsible for taking the minutes at all meetings, maintaining a roster of steering committee members, notifying members of upcoming meetings and communicating pertinent information to the steering committee.
• The steering committee shall meet at least once every five weeks.  The meetings will last no longer than two hours.  The meeting space will be shared and should be large enough to contain 15 individuals. 
• The reference group will meet on a quarterly basis. (will be implemented in the future)
•  The co-facilitators will call meetings; establish meeting agendas with input from other members of the steering committee, act as chairpersons and guide in the planning process.
• Decisions will be made by consensus unless there is a stalemate at which point a more formal method of decision making will be employed.
• Each steering committee member is responsible for communicating information to his or her constituents/departments.
• Every six months a review of the steering committee and reference group will be undertaken.  This review may result in changes to membership and the principles outlined in this document.

Initial Initiative:

Conduct a Health & Social Services Survey in the Non-profit Sector

There has been a great deal of activity in the non-profit sector recently.  Nationally, the HR Council of the Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector of Canada has conducted a three part study on issues, employers and employees and recommendations for a labour force strategy.

In June of last year, the HR Council, the Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations and The Winnipeg Foundation sponsored a provincial forum that explored issues and challenges facing this sector within the province.(point to this report and the others from across Canada.)

Recently, the Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations in collaboration with the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey of the non-profit Health and Social Services subsector in Manitoba.

(See elsewhere in this Section of the website the Report and Fact Sheets issued early 2010)

Second Initiative:

Conversation Cafes

The intention is to hold a series of 'community cafes' across the Province focussed on the themes coming out of the survey of non-profit Health and Social Services organizations.  Each 'cafe' will be limited to 12 people reflective of the non-profit health and social services sub-sector, and the focus will be on furthering our understanding of the themes.   As well, the focus will be in gaining input in the development of a labour market strategy so that MFNPO can take the next step in the development of long-term workforce development strategies and activities.

(See elsewhere in this Section of the website for details of locations, times and contact information.)