Background

Twelve years ago the Needs Project (funded by Human Resources Development Canada) developed a strategy to integrate, coordinate and target the employment service needs of Persons with Disabilities. The federal and the provincial governments in 1997 made it clear that Persons with Disabilities would be strongly encouraged and supported to enter or re-enter the labour market in Nova Scotia. Out of this research, community not-for-profit agencies were created to provide services that fit the needs of Persons with Disabilities seeking employment. In 1999, Human Resources Development Canada put in place an implementation plan for the Nova Scotia Partnerships for Persons with Disabilities. The impetus for changing the approach to addressing employability issues for Persons with Disabilities was driven by an acknowledgement that government needed to empower communities to manage their future.

The outcome of this policy commitment led to the official launch of the Collaborative Partnership Network (CPN) in 2001.

Mandate

Subsequently incorporated in 2006 as the Collaborative Partnership Network Society of Nova Scotia, the CPN is a non-profit, community based, non-government organization, developed in partnership with Service Canada, acting as an advisory body for ‘best practice’ employment programs and services for Persons with Disabilities. This partnership between government and community based agencies recognizes that design and delivery of services and programs is best driven at the community level in collaboration with and support from government. Reflecting back on the Needs Project of 1997, the CPN became the guiding voice of the community of Persons with Disabilities and the intention of the government to provide full employment support for this target group. The CPN became the driving force of the community agencies and the community to bring this initiative to where it is today. Since 2001, Service Canada has recognized the CPN as the single expert voice on issues related to employment for Persons with Disabilities in Nova Scotia.

Expertise

The CPN is registered with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies and is currently in the process of applying for Charitable Organization status. It is a formal network of 10 non-profit organizations sharing the responsibility of providing employment assistant services throughout the province of Nova Scotia. Its projects are coordinated by community-based organizations and institutions with a demonstrated expertise in the delivery of employment programs and services. Its membership has adequate client and budget tracking systems in response to funders at the federal and provincial levels, and the CPN has the necessary internal capacity, knowledge, and community partnerships and support to ensure quality and appropriate programming and activities for unemployed Persons with Disabilities throughout the Province. The CPN is currently in negotiations with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to put in place a multi-year agreement for the province-wide provision of specialized Employment Assistant Services for unemployed Persons with Disabilities that will provide a continuum of existing and emerging services in this area for unemployed Persons with Singular and Cross-disabilities.