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More Frequently Asked Questions
How are the three parts of the funding system related?
The Request for Funds lays out the goal: Canadian/Military Family Resource Centres (C/MFRCs) describe what they would like to accomplish in the next fiscal year and the funds they request to meet these goals.
The Service Delivery Agreement describes the plan: C/MFRCs project how they will spend the funds allocated, what services and activities they will provide and how many families are expected to participate. This is the most important of the three funding documents because it details C/MFRCs’ commitment to DMFS, and to the families they serve.
The Quarterly Reports are the reviews: Each quarter, C/MFRCs report actual financial and program data throughout the year. The total “actuals” for the year inform the next year’s planning and funding cycle.
Why emphasize the Service Delivery Agreement and not the Request for Funds?
The shift in emphasis aims to ground the funding system in real rather than projected information. Through the revamped Service Delivery Agreement, DMFS will receive more meaningful information on the plan for service delivery for the funds provided. The information should also aid Centres in developing corporate priorities and business plans.
Why all the statistics? Is this the National Information Database all over again?
We sincerely hope not! DMFS has been careful to ask for meaningful statistics which are pertinent to each program component, and which will help us determine how the Military Family Services Program (MFSP) evolves over time. These statistics will allow DMFS and C/MFRCs to validate our work, and speak more definitively about the strength of the services we provide for CF families.
Will training be required for the new funding system?
DMFS has tried to make the funding system as self-explanatory and user-friendly as possible, and does not anticipate that formal training sessions will be needed. Every section will incorporate “Help” options to receive more information, and examples will be given for clarity. As always, Field Operations Managers will be available to support C/MFRCs as they adjust to the new system.
If there are issues with the new system, will there be an opportunity for changes?
Yes. DMFS has already incorporated feedback from the C/MFRC review panel to make sure the system will represent Centres’ services and activities. When all C/MFRCs use the new system for the first time, additional feedback will be encouraged and changes may be made as required.
Will the new funding system create more work for C/MFRCs?
To be frank, the first year may require more work. However, DMFS has designed the new system to use checkboxes and dropdown menus wherever possible to reduce workload. DMFS is confident that once established, in future years the funding process should take no more time than it currently does – hopefully, the process will be even shorter.
Will it be hard to find the data DMFS is requesting?
Hopefully not. The review panel felt that most of the information is already captured at C/MFRCs, so the revamped funding system is just asking Centres to report the information in a new way.
How is the information gathered through the new funding system going to be used?
The information collected through the eBusiness Centre will provide C/MFRC staff, Boards of Directors and DMFS with consistent data which will enable us to understand, justify and enhance the work being done in the field. The data gathered will strengthen the accountability of the MFSP by allowing DMFS to share information with the Chain of Command in a meaningful and complete way.
