Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI)
The Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI) is a pan-Canadian project of the Future Skills Centre and Blueprint, focusing on helping community service organizations across Canada to better use their own data, in order to improve their decision making and enhance service delivery to their communities.
More than ever, data is critical for organizations to drive strategic decision-making and program improvement, but community service organizations need resources and technical assistance to build their data capacity. Building data skills is essential to helping these organizations serve their clients more effectively and efficiently, respond to changing needs and economic contexts, and demonstrate impact.
Impact
The PDI advances practical skills that can support the social services sector to better design and deliver interventions based on a deep understanding of their clients and the communities they serve. Our nine partner organizations work to improve their skills in collecting and analyzing data and using results for decision-making.
The initiative provides a unique combination of supports that meet each organization’s data goals through direct funding, strategic support and technical assistance.
Over the long term, the initiative will strengthen the services offered by our community services partners and enhance the quality and efficiency of programming, leading to a more resilient Canadian workforce.
With the right tools, training and support, we can make evidence informed decisions.
Learning
We are committed to learning from our investments, and as part of this initiative, FSC and Blueprint will develop case studies and lessons learned about the use of data in service delivery. The lessons will explore the necessary tools, resources, and skills needed to collect and analyze data and use results for decision-making. We share a commitment to evidence, learning, and developing insights to inform policy and practice. The Practitioner Data Initiative contributes to FSC’s strategic commitment to strengthening labour market information and data systems.
Partners
Meet the partner organizations who were selected for the Practitioner Data Initiative:
TEAM Work Cooperative
TEAM Work Cooperative is a non-profit organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. TEAM Work Cooperative provides client-centered case management and facilitates inclusive employment and workplace opportunities for all people.
Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
EMCN is a newcomer settlement organization that helps newcomers thrive in all areas of life: learn about life in Canada, learn English, find work, succeed in school, and connect with community.
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association
CIWA (Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association) supports immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. It has more than 50 programs that assist with settlement needs, language and employment training, family matters and more.
WoodGreen Community Services
WoodGreen Community Services (WCS) is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto, Ontario. WCS provides Canadians and newcomers with housing, employment and training, and mental health supports.
Douglas College
Douglas College is a public, non-profit college in New Westminster, British Columbia. Douglas College’s Training Group offers employment, training, and language programs for employers.
Futureworx
Futureworx is a non-profit organization based in Truro, Nova Scotia. They offer an expansive range of employment, educational, and training programs for their community and partners.
Immigrant Employment Council of B.C.
The Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (IEC-BC) is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia. IEC-BC provides services to help newcomers better understand how to access the labour market.
The Neighbourhood Group
The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) is a multi-service charity serving low-income people across multiple locations in Toronto, Ontario. TNG provides youth, senior, newcomer, childcare services, conflict resolution training, and homelessness services.
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS)
The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) is a multi-service charity serving low-income people across multiple locations in Toronto, Ontario. TNG provides youth, senior, newcomer, childcare services, conflict resolution training, and homelessness services.
Saint John Community Loan Fund
Saint John Community Loan Fund (Loan Fund) is a non-profit organization based in Saint John, New Brunswick. They specialize in skills development, financial literacy training, and creating innovative and affordable spaces to rejuvenate neighbourhoods.
Saint John Learning Exchange
Saint John Learning Exchange (Learning Exchange) is a non-profit organization based in Saint John, New Brunswick. Learning Exchange provides education programs, work skills development, employment assistance, and mental health supports.
Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology (MITT)
MITT provides certificate, post-graduate, and diploma-level technical training for career-oriented post-secondary and secondary students in six clusters of specialization: skilled trades, design and manufacturing technologies, applied business, information and communication technology, health care, and human services.
Rise Calgary
Rise Calgary supports low-income individuals and families with access to basic needs supports, advocacy, financial empowerment opportunities, and parenting, employment and life skills programming from convenient locations.
Calgary Economic Development (CED)
Promoting Calgary as the location of choice for people, investment and business, Calgary Economic Development is rooted in positioning Calgary for long-term economic success and shared prosperity for all.
Centre for Newcomers Society of Calgary
Centre for Newcomers (CFN) is a key resource for immigrants and refugees of all nationalities in Calgary. A social profit organization, CFN views the integration of newcomers as a two-way process of experience, influence and impact between newcomers and the communities that welcome them.