HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-017 - Youth NavigatorsStaff Report
I rTC'.�► t .R Community Services Department wwwkitchener.ca
REPORT TO:
Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING:
February 9, 2015
SUBMITTED BY:
Mark Hildebrand, Director Community Programs and Services,
(519) 741 -2200 ext 7687
PREPARED BY:
Debbie Campbell, Manager, Community Resource Centres,
(519) 741 -2200 ext 7077
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 6
DATE OF REPORT:
January 28, 2015
REPORT NO.:
CSD -15 -017
SUBJECT:
Agreements for Youth Navigators
RECOMMENDATION:
Notwithstanding Chapter 170 of the Municipal Code, that the Mayor and Clerk be
authorized to execute agreements with Carizon Family and Community Services,
Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and the Region of Waterloo for the
provision of youth navigators; said agreements to be satisfactory to the City
Solicitor.
REPORT:
The Chandler Mowat Community Centre acts as a hub within the Chandler Mowat
neighbourhood. The neighbourhood acts as a primary settlement area for newcomers
to Kitchener. In the past several years, the City of Kitchener has progressively
harnessed the support of local agencies and organizations to bring programs and
services to the Centre to serve the local community.
A large number of families, children and youth reside in the Chandler Mowat
neighbourhood. Through the City of Kitchener, and partners such as House of
Friendship and Pathways to Education, a variety of programs and services geared to
children and youth are provided at the Centre. These programs, which are largely
recreational, social and /or educational, have been well received by community
members and are very well attended.
Through community engagement initiatives, residents and service providers have
identified that children and youth in the neighbourhood are in need, and would benefit
from access to additional supports, to foster relationships, create opportunities for
*This information is available in accessible formats upon request. Please call 519 - 741 -2345 or TTY 1 -866-
969 -9994 for assistance.
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youth, encourage positive decision making and access the community supports
available to them.
Carizon Family and Community Services, Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council,
and City of Kitchener staff have developed a joint proposal to implement a youth
engagement navigation service within the Chandler Mowat community. This initiative
will leverage existing knowledge, skills and experience to respond to need within the
community. Two youth outreach workers, or youth navigators, will be hired and
supervised by Carizon Family and Community Services to engage youth in the
community. The youth navigators will encourage youth to build on their strengths,
interests and abilities in order to develop to their full potential, and promote and support
positive youth participation in the community. Through the support of the youth
navigators, young people will be connected to resources and services relevant to their
needs.
The youth engagement navigation service will be a component of the overall support to
children, youth and their families in the neighbourhood, enhancing existing program and
services that currently exist, and informing the development of new initiatives.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The youth engagement navigation workers respond to and reflect quality of life,
leadership and engagement and diversity as strategic priorities within the city. Youth
engagement is the concept and practice of meaningfully engaging youth in decisions
that affect them, their peers and their communities. Youth engagement ensures that
young people become an integral part of the work of organizations and communities
and that their voices help shape the future.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo will each contribute $50,000 to this
initiative. City of Kitchener funds will be drawn from the 2015 Community Programs and
Services general provisions account. Two projects planned for 2015 will be reprioritized
to 2016 in order to accommodate for this project. The project will take place over a
twelve month period, during which time sustainable funding options will be sought.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Consultation has occurred with community members in the Chandler Mowat
neighbourhood regularly over the past two years, through structured community
meetings and focus groups, and informally through conversation with partners and city
staff. Consultation with community partner organizations has and continues to take
place both formally and informally. Collaboration exists with key stakeholders who
provide programs and services in the neighbourhood.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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