CLEC celebrates $104k in OTF funding for “Future Proof” project

Community Living Essex County (CLEC) celebrated $104,000 in Ontario Trillium Grant funding last Friday. From left: CLEC executive director Corey Dalgleish, OTF volunteer Tony Francis and CLEC board chair Chad Sutherland.

A local developmental services (DS) agency is celebrating funding received under the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Resilient Communities fund.

Community Living Essex County (CLEC) received $104,000 in OTF funding, with that being the focal point of an announcement last Friday morning at CLEC’s head office in Essex. 

The proceeds went towards the agency’s “Future Proof” project, one that is designed to help the organization adapt, innovate and continue delivering high quality supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.

OTF volunteer Tony Francis read a statement from Essex MPP Anthony Leardi, noting the agency is working to ensure people with intellectual disabilities have the choices, support and opportunities “today and well into the future.” 

Francis also outlined the grant application was well written and will allow for a more modern delivery of service.

Corey Dalgleish, executive director of Community Living Essex County, said the concept of “Future Proof” arose about 18 months ago and has been worked on since then. CLEC with worked the consulting firm People Minded Business (PMB), a well-respected firm in the DS sector. 

CLEC is working with the province’s “Journey to Belonging” framework and aligning with that, he said, and with a shifting DS sector and funding model, the “Future Proof” project. He said the project is a method to deliver supports in a sustainable way.

“We’re strengthening what really matters,” he said, “to serve people today and tomorrow.”

With funding being directed more towards people with intellectual disabilities and their families, Dalgleish indicated the agency wants to adapt and make sure they are meeting the needs of people they support and those looking for supports.

“When people think about resilience, they think about recovery,” said Dalgleish. “For us, it’s about reimagining.”

There is a “paradigm shift,” he added and the organization needs to be flexible, innovative and adapt services for what those supported want.

“We want to ensure we are as person-centric, person directed and individualized as possible,” he said. “If families are going to be empowered with direct funding it puts them in a new light,” said Dalgleish. “They’re now a customer and a customer doesn’t spend their resources somewhere that doesn’t meet their needs.”

CLEC board of directors chair Chad Sutherland thanked the OTF, the province and “everyone who contributed to the success of this project.”

CLEC celebrates $104k in OTF funding for “Future Proof” project

By RTT Staff