NILA will need to look at organizational capabilities if they are going to implement some of these research recommendations. NILA is currently working diligently to establish roots and a foundation and continues to struggle with consistent government financial support. With a new government and a focus on Aboriginals as the new workforce, this is the right time for NILA to step up and take their place as the voice for Aboriginal job seekers needing literacy training as a pre-cursor to employment. The true workplace literacy needs for Aboriginals in rural and northern regions of Canada is not known, and NILA is the right organization to continue research to determine appropriate and integrated strategies. Jarvis (2006) presented evidence that indicates the kind of impact NILA can have at the national level of the system. Jarvis stated, “If the integration of social services saved even one percent, Canada would save 1.5 billion annually”
(p. 3).
NILA’s health and well being as an organization can also be seen on an integral spiral and presents one way of determining their ability to implement, while looking at organizational impacts for each level. There are benefits for the EC described at each level as well.
NILA must continue to secure a stable office, adequate staffing, and core funding. The organization experienced a temporary shut down due to financial supports being withdrawn through the transition of the new Federal government. NILA is not well served by current funding processes, and their growth and stability is jeopardized by year-to-year project funding. Ensuring financial firmness for NILA takes a lot of the attention away from the mission of the organization. The cost of non action is high due to the gap in resources available and the needs of the lower skill level job seeker. If awareness is raised regarding the clear message that literacy is a pre-cursor to job success, the EC will begin to see clients with a better understanding of their needs and an important increase in the availability for pre-employment programming.
NILA is nearly ready to launch their National web site and new resources available; this will help the organization take their place nationally as requests for partnership and information come forward. Being approached by a National Human Resource Sector Council is a positive step for NILA, as they work toward achieving their place as a national group with an important message. With partnerships that work in First Nations communities, NILA will also develop as a credible voice for literacy in the Aboriginal communities. The amount of funding currently being allocated is not sufficiently addressing the demands for literacy and pre-employment training. The EC will benefit from NILA’s activities, as services begin to reach the right client group and more First Nations communities begin to partner and share resources for employment related programs.