Understanding Ontario's Delivery System
OVERVIEW
In Ontario, a very sophisticated delivery and infrastructure has evolved over the past fifteen years to support the success of Ontarians who return to adult programs to improve their academic and personal management skills. Students may be seeking to improve their employment opportunities, to improve their access to further training or education, or to improve their ability to function in society. In 2008-2009, more than 45,000 people participated in the Literacy and Basic Skills/Academic Upgrading program funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. It is delivered by community colleges, school boards and community-based programs. Participants in this program do not pay tuition. Their books and learning materials are provided free of charge. They may also qualify for Training Support dollars to assist with the costs of transportation and child care.
A chart depicting this infrastructure follows.
HOW TO READ THE CHART
The best way to begin is to start at the bottom of the chart with the Delivery Agencies.
DELIVERY SECTORS
Delivery Agencies fit into three delivery categories or sectors. These three sectors are Community-based, School Board and Community College. Each of these sectors is supported by a provincial body which are described as Provincial Sectoral Networks. For Community-based programs the provincial sectoral networks are Community Literacy Ontario (CLO) and Laubach Literacy Ontario (LLO). Ontario Association of Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA) supports School Board programs. The College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading (CSC) is the Community College organization. The Provincial Sectoral Networks are identified above the Delivery Agencies on the chart.
These Provincial Sectoral Networks provide information, research, training and communication specific to the unique needs of each sector. They enable programs to discuss issues, share best practice and develop learning materials and strategies which are specific to their sector.
REGIONAL SUPPORT
Moving to the middle of the chart, Regional Support Agencies are identified. The province of Ontario has been divided into 16 regions each of which has a Regional Network. These Regional Networks bring together programs from all the delivery sectors (Community-based, School Board and Community College) to discuss issues and situations specific to each community. They share information and co-ordinate the delivery of local programming.
UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONS
Moving to the top of the chart, four delivery streams are identified. Ontario recognizes that the cultural differences of four distinct groups must be taken into consideration in the design and delivery of effective programming. These four delivery streams are Anglophone, Francophone, Native and Deaf/Deafblind. Each of these streams is represented by a provincial umbrella organization. Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) represents Anglophone programs, La Coalition for Francophone, Ontario Native Literacy Coalition for Aboriginal (ONLC) and Deaf Literacy Initiative (DLI [formerly GOLD]), for the Deaf and Deafblind.
There are also two provincial organizations providing Support Services, primarily the publishing of stream-specific resources; Ningwakwe Learning Press for Aboriginal programs and Centre FORA for Francophones. AlphaPlus Centre provides resource support for programs in all streams.
Hopefully the following chart will clarify a very sophisticated delivery system which takes into consideration the provision of appropriate supports and coordination of programs which have unique perspectives based on which sector, region and stream they belong to.
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