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1. CHILDREN
AND YOUTH AGENDA - UPDATE PROGRAMME DES ENFANTS ET DES ADOLESCENTS – MISE À JOUR |
Committee RecommendationS
That Council:
1.
Endorse the Children and Youth Agenda Framework for
promoting healthy child and youth development; and
2.
Endorse the creation of a Children and Youth
Community Leadership Table in the City of Ottawa to champion the Children and
Youth Agenda.
RecommandationS du Comité
Que le Conseil:
1.
appuie
le Cadre conceptuel du Programme des enfants et des adolescents pour favoriser
le développement sain des enfants et des adolescents;
2.
appuie
la création d’une table du leadership communautaire pour les enfants et les
adolescents dans la Ville d’Ottawa pour parrainer le Programme des enfants et
des adolescents.
Documentation
1. Deputy
City Manager's report Community and Protective Services and Vice-President,
Community Services, United Way, dated 30 August 2008
(ACS2008-CPS-DCM-0009).
2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 16 October
2008.
Community and
Protective Services Committee
Comité des services communautaires et de protection
30 August 2008 / le 30 aôut 2008
Submitted by/Soumis par:
Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur
municipal adjoint,
Community and Protective Services/Services communautaires et de
protection
and / et
Eileen Dooley, Vice-President – Community Services, vice-présidente –
Services communautaires, United Way/Centraide Ottawa
Contact Person/Personne ressource:
Steve
Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager / Directeur municipal adjoint,
Community
and Protective Services/Services communautaires et de protection
(613)
580-2424 x, 25654, Steve.Kanellakos@Ottawa.ca
Eileen
Dooley, Community Services, vice-présidente
- Services communautaires,
United
Way/Centraide Ottawa
(613) 228-6704, edooley@unitedwayottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
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OBJET :
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REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Community and
Protective Services Committee recommend that City Council:
1.
Endorse the Children and Youth Agenda Framework for
promoting healthy child and youth development; and
2.
Endorse the creation of a Children and Youth
Community Leadership Table in the City of Ottawa to champion the Children and
Youth Agenda.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande
que le Conseil municipal :
1.
appuie le Cadre conceptuel
du Programme des enfants et des adolescents pour favoriser le développement
sain des enfants et des adolescents;
2.
appuie la création d’une
table du leadership communautaire pour les enfants et les adolescents dans la
Ville d’Ottawa pour parrainer le Programme des enfants et des adolescents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Children and Youth Agenda was one of 12 Priority Initiatives within the Community and Protective Services (CPS) 2005-2007 Strategic Plan, and is one of 5 current strategic foci for the United Way/Centraide Ottawa (UW/CO) Child and Youth Impact Council.
The City and United Way/Centraide Ottawa partnered to act as the catalyst for the creation of the Children and Youth Agenda with the goal being to transfer leadership to the community via the creation of a Community Leadership Table.
Research shows that each developmental stage is critical to children and youth successfully transitioning into adulthood. Investments in our children and youth are essential to their well-being and to the future health and prosperity of our City. Based on the recent Census Data, children and youth make up 24% (up to and including youth 19 years of age) of the City's population.
The Framework for Promoting Healthy Child and Youth Development is based on research and on what is important to the residents and child and youth serving organizations in Ottawa. The four key elements reflect evidence-based research into what is essential to achieve healthy child and youth developmental outcomes: safe and caring environments, meeting fundamental needs, opportunity to develop competencies, and stable and nurturing relationships. Additionally, the Framework contains community-identified outcomes at a systems level as well as outcomes linked to the key elements, creating the opportunity for the community to work collectively and collaboratively to make Ottawa a great place for kids to grow up in.
Le programme des enfants et des
adolescents était l’une des 12 initiatives prioritaires du Plan
stratégique de 2005‑2007 des Services communautaires et de protection
(SCP) et il est l’un des cinq axes stratégiques actuels du Conseil d’impact des
enfants et des jeunes de Centraide/United Way Ottawa (CO/UW).
La Ville et Centraide/United Way Ottawa se sont
associés pour devenir un catalyseur de la création du Programme des enfants et
des adolescents, dont l’objectif est de transférer le leadership à la
collectivité par la création d’une table du leadership communautaire.
La recherche laisse entendre que chaque étape
du développement est déterminante pour la réussite du passage des enfants et
des adolescents à l’âge adulte. Les investissements dans nos enfants et nos
adolescents sont essentiels à leur bien-être, ainsi qu’à la santé et à la
prospérité futures de notre Ville. Selon les récentes données du recensement,
les enfants et les adolescents représentent 24 % (jusqu’à l’âge de
19 ans inclusivement) de la population de la Ville.
Le cadre conceptuel pour favoriser le
développement sain des enfants et des adolescents est fondé sur la recherche et
sur ce qui est important pour les résidents et pour les organismes qui
desservent les enfants et les jeunes à Ottawa. Les quatre principaux éléments
reflètent la recherche fondée sur des données probantes et orientée sur ce qui
est essentiel à la réussite du développement sain des enfants et des
adolescents : un milieu sécuritaire et bienveillant; la satisfaction des
besoins fondamentaux; des occasions de développement des compétences; et des relations
stables et enrichissantes. En outre, le cadre contient des résultats relevés
par la collectivité à l’échelle des systèmes, ainsi que des résultats liés aux
aspects essentiels, ce qui donnera l’occasion à la collectivité de travailler
en groupe et en collaboration afin de faire d’Ottawa un milieu formidable où
grandir.
In September 2005 Council approved the CPS Department's Three Year Strategic Plan, which incorporated 12 Priority Initiatives. One of the 12 Priority Initiatives was a Children's Agenda, which was expanded to include 'youth' by council motion.
The key deliverables for the Children and Youth Agenda were to:
- develop project teams for the three target age groups: early childhood (0 - 6 years), middle years (6 - 12 years), and youth (12 - 18 years);
- conduct an environmental scan and literature review relating to children and youth in Ottawa and healthy child development; and a review of programs receiving UW/CO investments;
-
host a Community Forum with relevant stakeholders;
- create a Framework for promoting healthy child and youth development, from pre-natal to young adulthood, including priority areas for action;
- create an inventory of Community and Protective Services' programs, services and resources for children and youth;
- develop tools and resources to educate and support service providers and/or various professionals working on behalf of children and youth in both the City and the community on the Framework for Promoting Children’s Healthy Development to:
o apply the Framework in their day-to-day work planning for and / or delivering services for children and youth; and
o to
explore potential areas for collaboration, integration and partnerships;
-
develop a Framework for documenting and reporting on the
progress under the Children and Youth
Agenda; and
- create a community leadership structure to continue to promote the Children and Youth Agenda.
The attached Framework for Promoting the Healthy Development of Children and Youth has a solid foundation in evidenced-based research and demonstrates a high level of support by the Ottawa community – both child and youth service providers, children, youth and parents. This Framework builds on the Middle Childhood Matters Framework created by the Middle Childhood Matters Network in 2005 for children aged 6 - 12.
A few examples are listed below to demonstrate how the Framework for Promoting Healthy Child and Youth Development can be applied.
§ Program planning – policy and program staff can enhance the experience of children and youth participating in their programs by referencing the Framework and assessing how they can improve their program(s) to address other aspects of healthy child and youth development to provide a more holistic service.
§ Strategic planning – the Framework can serve as a tool to ensure that the strategic plans around services for children and youth are holistic in nature – encompassing all four aspects of healthy child / youth development.
§ Collaboration / Partnerships – the Framework with its four key elements, influencing factors and priority outcomes, establishes a common language among child and youth service providers and thus can help to focus the community’s collective and collaborative efforts.
§ Parental decisions re: programs for their children – parents can refer to the Framework’s four key elements and influencing factors when assessing the merits of programs in which they would like to enrol their children.
§ Youth advocacy – The Framework can help youth who are asking for services that promote their healthy development.
In order to help make the Framework ‘real’ for people, the Project Team has developed materials and tools to build the capacity of both the City and the community working with children and youth to utilize the Framework when developing policies, and / or planning, designing and delivering programs for children and youth. The workshops and tools will be made available to City staff, Community staff, City Councillors and their staff this Fall.
One of the goals of the Children and Youth Agenda as articulated in the Agenda’s Project Charter is to create a community-led vision for children and youth. In light of this goal, work is currently underway to establish a Children and Youth Community Leadership Table. The intent is to have this Table operational by Fall 2008. The proposed mandate of this Table is to champion the Children and Youth Agenda by:
§ Facilitating the alignment of the Framework for Promoting Healthy Child and Youth Development in the work of policy makers, program planners, service providers, networks / coalitions, funders, etc.;
§ Promoting strategic directions for influencing public policies, system-level changes and service delivery for children and youth; and
§
Facilitating collaboration / partnerships to maximize
resources to the benefit of children and youth.
Membership of the Table will include leaders
who are decision-makers and carry influence within their organizations and / or
in the community.
Implementation of the Community and Protective
Services strategic foci relating to the Children and Youth Agenda's Framework
will be met within the current approved CPS budget.
CONSULTATION
The attached Framework is founded in evidence-based research, as well as having solid support and endorsement from child and youth serving organizations in Ottawa. Additionally, it reflects what is important to children, youth and parents/caregivers as evidenced by their input.
The Framework was created following: a review of the research literature with respect to healthy development of children and youth; input from child and youth service providers; input from children aged 6 – 12, youth and parents; and in consultation with the City’s Health and Social Services Advisory Group and United Way’s Child and Youth Impact Council.
The initial consultation phase, seeking input into the creation of the Framework, occurred in the first half of 2007 and comprised the following elements:
- 75 service providers giving input via an on-line survey,
- 65 service providers providing comment through a number of Network meetings,
-
350 participants at a Community Forum representing 120
different organizations
The second consultation phase occurred over the Fall / Winter 2007-08 and sought feedback on the proposed Framework via the following mechanisms:
- 161 service providers provided feedback via an on-line survey,
- 50 service providers provided feedback via Network meetings,
- 165 children aged 6 – 12 years told us what was important to them,
- 545 youth completed surveys with the assistance of the Ottawa Youth Commission and the UW/CO Youth Action Panel, and
- 318 parents either participated in focus groups or completed surveys.
The participants in the resident engagement process reflected a mix of Anglophone, Francophone and cultural / ethnic groups.
The City’s Health and Social
Services Advisory Committee provided an in-depth response to the
Framework. To quote from the response –
“The Committee applauds the progressive vision guiding the C&YA priority
outcomes, and considers the outcomes to reflect a broad range of priority
areas.” In addition to this statement of support, the Committee raised
several items for consideration which are being included in the future work of
the Agenda. These include:
- adoption of measurement strategies and the availability of baseline data;
- ensuring that the voice of children and youth will be included in the Agenda on an ongoing basis; and
- ensuring that the C&YA is embedded within the City’s long-term framework and Strategic Directions.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications associated
with this report.
CITY STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
The Children and Youth Agenda supports the City’s Service Priority – Sustainable, Healthy and Active City – by focusing the collective efforts of the City and the Community on common priorities to make Ottawa a better place for children and youth to grow up in.
Document 1: Framework for Promoting the Healthy Development of Children and Youth
Initial
Consultation Phase Summary Reports:
Document 2: “Community Forum Discussion
Document” – resource document informing discussions at Community Forum – On
file with City Clerk’s office
Document 3: “Summary of What Was Said” – report
summarizing what was said during Community Forum – On file with City Clerk’s
office
Second
Consultation Phase:
Document 4: “Summary – What Children, Youth
and Parents and Caregivers Had to Say to the Children and Youth Agenda Project
Team” – Highlights from resident engagement consultation – On file with City
Clerk’s office
The Community and Protective Services Department will action any direction received as part of consideration of this report by Committee and Council.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGENDA – UPDATE
PROGRAMME DES ENFANTS ET DES ADOLESCENTS – MISE
À JOUR
ACS2008-CPS-DCM-0009 CITY WIDE / À
L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE
Mr. Steve Kanellakos stated that he would be joined at the table by Eileen Dooley, Vice-President of the United Way and Pauline Daling, Program Manager, Children and Youth Agenda. A short presentation would be given since this project has engaged thousands of people in the community around what is wanted for the children and youth of Ottawa. There has been incredible feedback from a variety of agencies and groups. The presentation will give a framework of what has happened and what the next steps will be.
Ms. Dooley and Ms. Daling give the PowerPoint presentation and a copy of their presentation is held on file with the City Clerk.
Mr. Kanellakos thanks all the staff and agencies for all the hard work done on this report. The next step will be bringing all these tools out to the community. An important feature was the partnership with the United Way and to note that this is not just a City of Ottawa of Ottawa services or leading this and the United Way brought the credibility needed. He said that this was not the end but the beginning of a lot of work that needs to be done in the community.
Councillor Holmes had a specific question with regards to the families and children of Ottawa Community Housing and their needs since they cannot afford the costs involved in any City sponsored recreation services.
Ms. Dooley stated at the United Way they have tried to focus on after school programs in Ottawa Community Housing. This work needs to be identified in the future. Specific issues have not been addressed yet since they are working in getting the leadership table together and developing a plan of action.
Mr. Kanellakos stated that soon the Community Development Framework will be presented and 4 neighbourhoods have been identified and introduce the notion of “No Communities Left Behind”. These 4 neighbourhoods are heavily populated with OCH residences.
In response to Councillor Holmes’ question if a priority setting exercise will take place as part of the framework Mr. Kanellakos responded by saying that the leadership table will be the beginning developing an action plan of where the priorities will be placed. We know that access to recreation is a key point and critical priority. The challenge of course is during budget deliberations the discussion will be around user fees and the drive for more revenue, subsidization, etc.
Councillor Bédard thanked those present and all involved in the work well done. He noted that in Vanier a program has been started for pre-schoolers, which takes a family and work with them regarding the child who is about to enter the school system. He wondered if they were aware of the program.
Ms. Daling responded by saying that they had heard of many successful initiatives throughout the City. She clarified a point that the Children & Youth Agenda is from pre-natal through to young adulthood.
Councillor Bédard asked if the leadership table would have a francophone composition.
Ms. Dooley responded saying definitely. The francophone school boards have been notified and represented as well as the coalition of community health and resource centres and a diverse group including the aboriginal community and immigrants.
Councillor Feltmate thanked the group for the presentation and realizes that there is lots of work yet to be done but there is still a frustration in the community that youth are out of control. She hopes that this project will help the community deal with the various issues of troubled youth.
Mr. Kanellakos appreciated the comments and frustration. He described a meeting a few years back with Police Chief Bevan where people were describing problems with youth and the Chief stated that the youth were not coming from outside the community but the youth of the parents who were at the meeting and in the local community. The question posed: what is the role of the parents?
Councillor
Feltmate commented that the frustration is there doesn’t appear to be enough
services or places that are safe for kids.
We are not engaging the kids.
People are needed who are prepared to work with youth and engage
them. Everyone needs to work together,
the parents, the community, the City and the agencies.
That the Community and Protective Services Committee
recommend that City Council:
1.
Endorse the Children and Youth Agenda Framework
for promoting healthy child and youth development; and
2.
Endorse the creation of a Children and Youth
Community Leadership Table in the City of Ottawa to champion the Children and Youth
Agenda.
CARRIED