An effective performance management system can allow us to take control of the results our agencies achieve by proactively planning and working towards meeting goals and objectives that we determine and that are realistic and relevant for our agencies.
Literacy agencies fulfill an important role in our society and a primary benefit of CIPMS is that it allows agencies to showcase results in a quantifiable manner. In the past this has not always been easy for literacy agencies to do. In today’s competitive market for government funding, corporate dollars and private donations, it is vital for us to be able to clearly and effectively prove that the services our organizations provide actually make a difference and have a positive impact on the lives of adult learners. We want to be able to showcase our results to our learners, our funders and our communities. CIPMS can help us do that.
It is also important to note that literacy agencies are now part of the Employment Ontario Network. Through Employment Ontario, over 1 200 third-party service providers are offering labour market and training services at approximately 900 locations across the province. Employment Ontario represents a combination of 20 programs and services offered by the Ontario government. Total public investment in Employment Ontario amounts to nearly one billion dollars. Third party service providers include community-based organizations, colleges, school boards, union training centres and private trainers. For more information about Employment Ontario, be sure to visit the Employment Ontario Partners’ Gateway at www.eopg.ca.
…CIPMS will allow literacy programs to clearly demonstrate the results they have achieved and the difference their programs make.
The Employment Ontario network exists to deliver quality programming and to obtain concrete, measurable results. Literacy and Basic Skills programs are part of the Employment Ontario network and therefore are expected to achieve these goals. It is extremely important that results can be demonstrated to stakeholders outside of the relatively small world of literacy. Government will now be looking at the performance results of all delivery agencies, and a functioning CIPMS will allow literacy programs to clearly demonstrate the results they have achieved and the difference their programs make.
Government funds adult literacy agencies to deliver a service. It is up to agencies themselves to demonstrate that the funding they receive is put to good use and that adult learners in literacy programs are reaching their goals. Being able to clearly showcase results will increase the odds that adult literacy programs will continue to receive the support they need from both government and key stakeholders.