HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-14-102 - Agreement with the Region of Waterloo - Public Health Department - Community Based Sexual Health Clinic for Youth Staff Report
I rTC'.�► t .R Community Services Department wmkitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 10, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director— Community Programs and Services,
519-741-2200 ext. 7687
PREPARED BY: Fabienne Prior, District Facilitator, 519-741-2200 ext. 5071
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward(s) 9 and 10
DATE OF REPORT: October 17th, 2014
REPORT NO.: CSD-14-102
SUBJECT: Agreement with the Region of Waterloo— Public Health
Department— Community Based Sexual Health Clinic for Youth
RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an
agreement with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, relating to community
based sexual health clinics for youth at the Downtown Community Centre, to the
satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further
That the Deputy CAO of Community Services be authorized to execute renewal
agreements with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, relating to community
based sexual health clinics for youth at the Downtown Community Centre, to the
satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
BACKGROUND: As part of the Region of Waterloo's Sexual Health Strategy, the
Region of Waterloo - Public Health Department has been trying to secure host locations
for their sexual health clinic for youth. The Downtown Community Centre ("Community
Centre") has been approached and chosen as the Kitchener location for this part of the
initiative. Weekly, a Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner would be on hand at the
Community Centre to provide sexual health supports for youth in a private setting. As a
host, the Community Centre would be providing space on a weekly basis and having
the clinic at the Community Centre would enhance the services that the City provides
youth in the community. All of the services will be provided directly by the Region and
their staff.
REPORT: The Waterloo Region Sexual Health Youth Strategy is an initiative led by
Region of Waterloo Public Health in partnership with a number of community agencies.
This strategy was developed in 2012 by community agencies with a direct mandate to
provide sexual health services to youth. The strategy was developed in response to
local statistics, in addition to findings from a survey of students, teaching professionals,
and community agencies, related to the sexual health of youth in Waterloo Region.
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As part of this initiative, there have been efforts to establish community-based sexual
health clinics for youth strategically located throughout the Region of Waterloo. A
workgroup consisting of representatives from Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region,
Reaching Our Outdoor Friends (ROOF) and Region of Waterloo Public Health began
work on this initiative early in 2013.
The first step undertaken by the workgroup was to identify where these services should
be located. A number of indicators that relate to the health, social, and physical
environment were taken into consideration and the group worked through a decision
making process to identify possible areas. Through this process, four neighbourhoods,
including downtown Kitchener were identified as being potential neighbourhoods in
which to offer a community-based clinic.
Region of Waterloo staff connected with Supervisory staff at the Community Centre to
determine interest in being part of this initiative and how viable the location was based
on the facility itself and access for youth to this particular setting.
Through this consultation, it was determined that the Community Centre was well
positioned and interested in being a host location. Youth are already engaged in the
centre, using existing recreational and social services. The downtown location is ideal
for youth to access because of its central location and closeness to bus routes. Other
youth serving organizations are also close by, within the downtown core, and this would
work well where referrals might be made. The initial term of the agreement will be one
year, and if successful, the plan is to renew the agreement annually with the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The City's involvement in this project is one of the many ways that the Community
Centre can improve quality of life for our citizens as stated in the Strategic Plan.
Partnering with the Region to provide this clinic shows our investment in providing key
services to our community and in this particular case to youth specifically.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City of Kitchener is not being asked to contribute dollars to this partnership. The
City's contribution will be to provide space at no charge. It is not anticipated that this
will have any effect on existing budgets.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Through the consultation that the Region of Waterloo has done, stakeholders have had
input in determining appropriate locations for the clinic. From a City perspective, some
key stakeholders at the Community Centre have been informed of our intent to pursue
this partnership, i.e. the Seniors Advisory Council. This report has also been posted to
the City's website with the agenda in advance of the council meeting. As we move
forward and the clinic becomes a reality, we are committed to continuing to inform our
community of the service and invite them to help us in the promotion of this new service.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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