March 22, 1999
(Executive Council)

BACKGROUNDER
Strategic Social Plan

A number of key objectives have been established for the coming year in support of the Strategic Social Plan, as well as $2 million to facilitate this work. These include the commencement of implementation in the first region of the province; the establishment of a flexible initiatives fund ($1.2 million) to support demonstration projects province-wide; the development of a framework that will outline the parameters for the Social Audit; and, the development of appropriate linkages among and between government departments in support of coordinated approaches to social and economic development. Other funding has also been identified for the development of a new Strategic Economic Plan that will complement the Strategic Social Plan and further strengthen the links between social and economic planning.

The Strategic Social Plan speaks to government's commitment to the importance of continuing to strengthen our social, educational, health and cultural policies in order to ensure that the environment in which the people of this province live, work and play reflects diversity and opportunity. Investment in social programming is recognized as an important building block in a strong, vibrant economy. The Strategic Social Plan is about using our available resources wisely to achieve a balanced approach to social and economic development, understanding that one is not possible without the other.

The plan's implementation will be phased in at the regional level, with the Central Region having been selected as the initial region. Regional implementation will be phased in over the next year, with the initial region serving as a site for exploring the most effective approaches to the implementation process. The goal of regional implementation is to support a coordinated approach to resolving the region's social and economic challenges, with a particular emphasis on developing policies that support local decision-making and maximize the use of available resources.

Currently, through publicly funded regional boards in the areas of health, education and economic development, a wide range of planning activities, programs and services are undertaken with provision for community input. The issues addressed by these boards often reflect common and overlapping concerns that would benefit from combined effort and sharing of expertise and resources. Under the plan, in cooperation with government, regional joint sessions will be instituted with all boards participating, to develop regionally-based strategies for development. These sessions will also include representatives from other government departments, the College of the North Atlantic, federal agencies and, over time, representatives of community agencies.

Funding in the amount of $1.2 million is being provided for flexible initiatives consistent with the Strategic Social Plan. Under this fund, province-wide demonstration projects will be initiated that support the goals of prevention, early intervention and community capacity building. Application guidelines will be available shortly.

Community groups submitting proposals under this fund will be required to demonstrate a compliance with the goals of the Strategic Social Plans, particularly with respect to the use of partnerships with other groups and agencies and the use of coordinated strategies that support social and economic development. Funding for these demonstration projects is tangible evidence of government's support for the Strategic Social Plan and of its desire to work cooperatively with community groups to develop more flexible programming approaches.

Another area of significant work being funded under the Strategic Social Plan is the development of the Social Audit. The Social Audit will act as means of reporting to the general public on the degree to which the plan's directions have been accomplished and on the evidence for or against the effectiveness of key programs. The Social Audit can also be an important vehicle for disseminating information on key social and economic indicators on a regular basis to a wider public to support regional and community-based planning. Developed with direction and support from the Premier's Council on Social Development, this province's commitment to a Social Audit emphasizing system-wide public accountability places it at the leading edge of work in this important area.

Media contact: Lynette Oates, Communications, (709) 729-4023.

1999 03 22