Services ThemeMid-Term ReviewServices Theme

Mid-Term Review

Greg HalsethGreg Halseth

University of Northern British ColumbiaUniversity of Northern British Columbia

halseth@unbc.cahalseth@unbc.ca

250-960-5826250-960-5826

http://nre.concordia.cahttp://nre.concordia.ca

2

OutlineOutline•Context:Context:

rural services, capacity, new economyrural services, capacity, new economy

•2 Projects2 Projects Examples of FindingsExamples of Findings

policy implicationspolicy implications knowledge mobilizationknowledge mobilization trainingtraining

3

Rural Services ContextRural Services Context• Large distances & low population densityLarge distances & low population density

• Linked with population / market change

• Service standards based on ‘urban’ modelsService standards based on ‘urban’ models specialized services rarely justified by rural demandspecialized services rarely justified by rural demand

• Challenges obtaining resourcesChallenges obtaining resources human & financial / limited voluntary sectorhuman & financial / limited voluntary sector

• Demographic change adds pressuresDemographic change adds pressures newcomers, urban commuters, youth, elderlynewcomers, urban commuters, youth, elderly social exclusionsocial exclusion

How can rural communities best reorganize How can rural communities best reorganize services for these new conditions?services for these new conditions?

4

Services and CapacityServices and CapacityServices function within each of 4 types of capacity Services function within each of 4 types of capacity

“relations”:“relations”: bureaucratic - public sectorbureaucratic - public sector market - private sectormarket - private sector associative - voluntary sectorassociative - voluntary sector communal - family and kinshipcommunal - family and kinship

• It’s about change:It’s about change: service ‘eras’ have shifted capacity relation emphasis service ‘eras’ have shifted capacity relation emphasis assessing changes / and adjustments are part of capacity assessing changes / and adjustments are part of capacity

analysisanalysis shifting roles and functions of relationsshifting roles and functions of relations social, political, and economic restructuringsocial, political, and economic restructuring

5

Research Questions and StrategyResearch Questions and Strategy• How has service organization and delivery changed in the New How has service organization and delivery changed in the New

Economy?Economy?

• How does the context enhance or inhibit their effectiveness?How does the context enhance or inhibit their effectiveness?

• How are adjustments related to capacity and change?How are adjustments related to capacity and change?

• What innovations do we find?What innovations do we find?

StrategyStrategy

• Site Profile SeriesSite Profile Series General, longitudinal changesGeneral, longitudinal changes Context effectsContext effects

• Innovative ServicesInnovative Services Case studiesCase studies Processes and challengesProcesses and challenges

6

Site ProfilesSite Profiles

• Site Profiles: 1998, 2000, 2003Site Profiles: 1998, 2000, 2003

• 2003 Site Profile: 22 sites2003 Site Profile: 22 sites 6 sites in Atlantic Canada6 sites in Atlantic Canada 4 sites in Québec4 sites in Québec 4 sites in Ontario4 sites in Ontario 8 sites in Western Canada8 sites in Western Canada

• Conducted together with the Conducted together with the Communications Research InstrumentCommunications Research Instrument

• Next iteration planned for 2005Next iteration planned for 2005

7

Examples of Findings [Profiles project]Examples of Findings [Profiles project]

• Few services available in a majority of sitesFew services available in a majority of sites 24 / 116 services in more than 50% of sites24 / 116 services in more than 50% of sites Limited in: health, legal, child & elder careLimited in: health, legal, child & elder care

• Service provision is decliningService provision is declining 63.5% of services previously tracked declined63.5% of services previously tracked declined Larger declines: health, protection, financialLarger declines: health, protection, financial

• Service declines in metro-adjacent sites:Service declines in metro-adjacent sites: health, protection, & community serviceshealth, protection, & community services

• Over 90% of services accessible within 30 minutesOver 90% of services accessible within 30 minutes

• Some services are growing:Some services are growing: 911, ATMs, food banks911, ATMs, food banks

8

Policy Challenges [Profiles project]Policy Challenges [Profiles project]Messages: ‘Service changes’Messages: ‘Service changes’

• Changing services demandsChanging services demands population numbers/structurepopulation numbers/structure

• Changing services delivery optionsChanging services delivery options must be suited to rural context must be suited to rural context E.g. Non-Metro-adjacent sites use more communal E.g. Non-Metro-adjacent sites use more communal

supports than Metro-adjacentsupports than Metro-adjacent

• ‘‘Scale’ at which they are made available within Scale’ at which they are made available within places/regionsplaces/regions Smaller places cannot support specialized approachesSmaller places cannot support specialized approaches

9

Innovative and Voluntary Services Project

Innovative and Voluntary Services Project

• To explore the changing capacity and roles of To explore the changing capacity and roles of innovative / voluntary services, including the innovative / voluntary services, including the implications for vulnerable populationsimplications for vulnerable populations

4 NRE Sites:4 NRE Sites: Mackenzie, BCMackenzie, BC Wood River, SKWood River, SK Tweed, ONTweed, ON Springhill, NSSpringhill, NS

10 services in each site10 services in each site

10

Examples of Findings [Innov. project]Examples of Findings [Innov. project]

•Most feel they make a major contribution to Most feel they make a major contribution to local well beinglocal well being outcome of delivering services to people (?)outcome of delivering services to people (?)

•Service delivery to site and surrounding areaService delivery to site and surrounding area achieve through partnershipsachieve through partnerships

•Under stressUnder stress staff / volunteer timestaff / volunteer time fundingfunding

11

Policy Challenges [Innov. project]Policy Challenges [Innov. project]

Messages: ‘Links to social cohesion/ capital & Messages: ‘Links to social cohesion/ capital & community capacity’community capacity’

• Services related to community capacityServices related to community capacity Contribute to social capital, facilitate social cohesionContribute to social capital, facilitate social cohesion but, must consider the human capital limitsbut, must consider the human capital limits

• Tradeoffs between market/bureaucratic capacities Tradeoffs between market/bureaucratic capacities and associative/communal capacitiesand associative/communal capacities Bureaucratic and Communal most often jointly usedBureaucratic and Communal most often jointly used Market and Associative low compatibilityMarket and Associative low compatibility Communal and Associative are stressedCommunal and Associative are stressed

12