MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
November 5 2010
Project Summary
The research project titled “Livable and Inclusive Communities for Seniors with Disabilities and All Citizens: Model and Tools for Action” is being conducted by the Canadian Centre on Disabilities Studies (CCDS). The overall purpose of the research project is to develop a more integrated and holistic planning framework to help government, and other stakeholders, in planning communities that are livable and inclusive, especially for people aging into disability and people aging with a disability. CCDS will engage participants through collaborative workshops to share best practices for planning, look at the barriers to holistic and integrated planning, and co-develop a planning framework for livable and inclusive communities. As part of the research, CCDS will support participant working groups who are willing and have an opportunity to apply the planning framework to a project, policy, program or planning process.
Purpose of MOU
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the two parties involved in coordinating a working group for the Canadian
Centre on Disabilities Studies (CCDS) research project titled “Livable and Inclusive Communities for Seniors with Disabilities and All Citizens: Model and Tools for Action”.
The two parties are:
SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC)
4445 Norfolk Street, Burnaby, BC V5G 0A7
C.A.N. BC (Citizens For Accessible Neighbourhoods)
7017 Werks Drive, Vancouver, BC V5S 4M7
The goal of the relationship between the two parties is to recruit and coordinate a working group of 5 to 10 participants who meet the criteria for participation in the research.
The research team at CCDS have defined that participants for this study must be interested in participating in the research, as well as have an impact on current planning for people aging with and into disabilities (i.e.,organizational mandate), or are affected by current planning processes for people aging with and into disabilities (i.e., a consumer of a support service).
Roles and Responsibilities
SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC):
SPARC BC is responsible to support the formation and participation of working groups for the
CCDS research project. SPARC BC will work in partnership with C.A.N. BC in supporting the working group. Johanna Mazur is the lead staff person for SPARC BC and will act as the ‘Local Coordinator’ of the working groups in British Columbia for the CCDS research project
Specifically SPARC BC is responsible for:
Supporting the Working Group Leader during the outreach to potential Working Group
Members, providing information, answering questions and addressing concerns about the research.
Providing a brief orientation about the research project to the Working Group Leader/Convener and Members.
Providing administrative support to the Working Group Convener or to Working Group
Members.
Collecting research paperwork (e.g., consent forms, surveys, research outputs, etc.)
From the Working Group Leader/Convener and/or Working Group Members to deliver to CCDS
Providing honorariums to the Working Group Leader/Convener for the Working Group
Leader/Convener and Working Group Members once participation in the research is finished, as agreed upon and stated within this MOU.
Reimbursing pre-approved CCDS workshop expenses and working group meeting expenses when not covered by an honorarium to the Working Group Leader/Convener and Working Group Members, as agreed upon and stated within this MOU.
Communicating between the Working Group Leader/Convener and the CCDS Research Team to organize the research workshops
Organizing research workshops run by CCDS Collecting updates from the Working Group Leader/Convener and reporting quarterly on the status and achievements of working groups to CCDS
Working closely with C.A.N. BC on other related matters
C.A.N. BC (Citizens For Accessible Neighbourhoods)
Heather McCain, Executive Director of C.A.N. BC, is responsible for recruiting and coordinating a Working Group of approximately 5 to 10 people for the research project.
Heather McCain will ensure that C.A.N. BC is responsible for:
Recruiting Working Group Members and supporting a Working Group within the responsibilities listed below.
Sending out invitations and the research outreach documents to potential research participants (Working Group Members) and responding to their questions or directing their questions to SPARC BC when needed.
Distributing honorariums to the Working Group Members once participation in the research is finished, as agreed upon and stated within this MOU
Compiling a working group contact list (name, phone numbers and email addresses) for SPARC BC and CCDS for the purpose of this research project.
Communicating to Working Group Members to read, sign and turn in the Ethics Consent Form prior to participation in the research, and to complete the CCDS survey prior to Workshop #1
Organizing, facilitating and documenting working group meetings, with the support of SPARC BC.
Proving SPARC BC with brief updates of the Working Group about member participation,
general accomplishments and challenges, and documentation.
Collecting itemized receipts from Working Group Members for reimbursement for pre- approved expenses and honorariums and providing them to SPARC BC for CCDS financial records for the project.
Working closely with SPARC BC on other related matters
Honorariums
Honorariums are available to participants who contribute their time to the CCDS Livable and
Inclusive Communities research project in a volunteer capacity, and in cases when the participating organization cannot cover the costs associated with attending the workshops and meetings.
Honorariums will be distributed by SPARC BC to the Working Group Leader/Convener so they can distribute the honorariums to the Working Group Members, upon completion of their participation in the research.
An honorarium of $1000 will be paid by SPARC BC to the Working Group Leader/Convener. $500 will be paid after the first workshop and $500 after completion of the research project.
An honorarium of $300 will be paid by SPARC BC to each Working Group Member (maximum 10 people) for their participation in the Working Group for the research project.
Expenses
Expenses for Working Group meetings for the CCDS Livable and Inclusive Communities project
will be covered by SPARC BC. Reimbursements for expenses will be made through the Working
Group Leader/Convener (or paid to Working Group members) when an invoice with individual/itemized receipts are provided to the Local Coordinator at SPARC BC, as per the budget below. This funding is available on a needs basis, as it depends upon the length of time the Working Group participates in the research.
A total of $200 is available per meeting, for a maximum of 6 working group meetings, to cover the costs of food, space, printing, and travel. Individual/itemized receipts for each purchase will need to be collected by the Working Group Leader/Convener and submitted to SPARC BC. Working Groups who ap ply the framework in the Spring of 2011 will need this funding, otherwise the Working Group may only need to meet once.
The Working Group Leader/Convener should discuss their plans for Working Group meetings with SPARC BC.
Expenses for the CCDS Workshops will be paid out by SPARC BC to the Working Group Leader/Convener and the Working Group Members at each workshop attended, as per the budget below. Food and Drinks will be provided at the workshops.
Travel: Up to $25 per Working Group Member and Working Group Leader/Convener is available
to cover the costs of travel and parking per workshop. Up to $20 is available per Working Group
Member and Working Group Leader/Convener is available to cover the costs of travel and parking per Working Group meeting. Receipts need to be submitted to get reimbursed for these expenses.
Any additional costs for the Working Group need to be pre-approved by SPARC BC (ex: childcare and disability accommodations for workshops and meetings).
Term of Agreement
The parties will work together between the period commencing November 1, 2010 and ending March 30, 2012.
Living Nature of this MoU
It is recognized that amendments to this MOU may be required as the outreach to potential working group members (research participants) is undertaken and the research progresses. Significant changes and adjustments will need to be agreed upon by the parties affected.