Announcement of Closure

After celebrating 20 years delivering Specialized Employment Services in Simcoe County, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Careers for Inclusion Inc.

Due to the lack of operational funding in the new IESD Service Delivery Model, and after several attempts to amend the current contract, we are forced to close the doors. The last day of service is August 28th, 2024, and we will not be scheduling any new intakes or receiving new referrals as staff are working at capacity serving clients.

It has been a pleasure to work with all our Network partners in assisting persons with disabilities to locate meaningful employment. Together, we have made a difference in the lives of many!

Below is a portion of the ODEN, (Ontario Disability Employment Network) newsletter which reflects on what is happening in the Specialized Employment Services Sector.

With Sincerity and Sadness,
Peggy Crane
Director, Careers for Inclusion Inc.

ODEN Town Hall with MLITSD – The Crisis in the Sector

On Tuesday May 28 over 90 members of the ODEN Network came together to speak with the Ministry of Labour Immigration Training and Skill Development about the Integrated Employment System and the challenges and problems plaguing specialized services. The members were Employment Service Providers (ESPs) from across the province, who are united in the mission to increase employment for job seekers who have a disability. They represented all disability populations.

This Town Hall meeting was called to highlight the urgency for finding solutions to the challenges and shortfalls of the current integrated employment service system in Ontario.

There is a crisis occurring in the sector that delivers specialized services. The unique and important supports delivered to job seekers by the ESPs in the disability sector is at high risk of disintegrating. The ESPs are trying their best to operate in a system that is not working well, and many are exiting the system – a number already have. The Integrated Employment System cannot lose the specialized sector, because there is no structure or system in place to serve clients with complex or specialized needs.

During the Town Hall it was emphasized to MLITSD that they cannot allow this crisis to continue. If it does, job seekers who have a disability will have lost access to the programs and organizations that provide essential services which enable them to identify, secure, and retain employment in their communities. It also will mean that MLITSD will lose the expertise of the sector, which is going to be essential to help solve the challenges Ontario is facing for moving those furthest from the labour market into stable employment.

Four member organizations provided strong testimonials about the challenges being faced by the sector.

The three key themes discussed with MLITSD, via the testimonials and a group discussion, were:

1. The under resourcing of the Employment Service Sector
2. Increased client volume requirements which are unsustainable and will impact quality of service for job seekers and,
3. The administrative burden experienced by the ESPs operating in the integrated employment system

We believe that this Town Hall needs to be the first of many discussions in the coming days and weeks.

The disability employment service providers in Ontario have decades of experience in effective service delivery and are asking to be ‘brought to the table’ with MLITSD, in order to identify and implement program improvements and solutions that are key to re-stabilizing the sector and ensure the ongoing success of job seekers who have a disability in Ontario.

ODEN is committed to securing the seats at that ‘table’ for the members.