Sponsoring Organization

• The sponsoring organization should have experience in facilitating community–based initiatives. They should be familiar with working with other community groups/ government departments and taking a team approach to implement programs. They use their own policy and procedure guide but also incorporate the requirements from the funding agency and what the funding agency gets.
• If Bridging the Gap is implemented in the future, it is important that the sponsor organization fully understands the Bridging the Gap concept and are open to sharing responsibilities in implementing Bridging the Gap model.

Financial Partners & Financial Support to Participants

• Human Resources & Employment clients to negotiate training stipends with counselors instead of receiving one set amount. In this pilot, Human Resources & Employment clients are receiving $306.25 per week. This should also include travel, childcare. This money is coming directly from the Department of Human Resources & Employment. (Financial Manager's comment: The amount $306.25 does include travel and childcare. Under Human Resources and Employment $306.25 is more than normal of what they would give for training. Therefore, they would not be able to cover anything else. That is my understanding of how HRE operates)
• It is recommended when Human Resources & Employment clients are identified and selected, local/regional Human Resources & Employment offices be contacted and funding sent to the regional/local Human Resources & Employment office to negotiate and dispense funds (if referable). Right now, sponsor organization informs Random North Development Association is administering pan provincially on behalf of the Department of Human Resources & Employment and they are distributing the funding to local partnering sponsors if they have selected Human Resources & Employment clients. The sponsor (Bridging the Gap Coordinator) is responsible to pay Human Resources & Employment clients/participants every pay period. Because Human Resources & Employment clients are being treated differently than Human Resources Development Canada clients, it has caused some initial conflicts and more questions relating to negotiations of assistance. If Bridging the Gap continues, funding to be administered through local offices. Meeting to be set up with Human Resources & Employment and Human Resources Development Canada to negotiate similar assistance.