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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-02 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2017 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Chair – Mr. D. Witmer Councillors S. Marsh and D. Schnider, Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. A. Venner, Ms. T. Smith, and Mr. G. Albert Staff: M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs D. Keelan, Manager, Aquatics & Volunteer Services L. Korabo, Committee Administrator 1.PARENTING NOW WEBSITE Ms. Diane McGregor, Manager - Parenting Now Project, shared information regarding the K-W Counselling Services’ newly launched ‘Parenting Now’ (PN) pilot project. This pilot is a parenting-education program based on more formal programming models (e.g. use of workshops, etc.) where people physically attend at a location and participate in facilitated sessions. However, the PN project looks to be responsive to the community’s emerging needs through the use of online access and digital media. Outreach undertaken prior to the development of the website uncovered that while parents turn to sources such as books, courses and websites for information, they turn to other parents for learning. Work to develop website content included stakeholder interviews and surveys (both online and in person) and served to gather information on how parenting skills and knowledge are acquired. The gathered data has created an online parenting education system that is meant to give parents inspirational moments and provide connections with others. Ms. McGregor advised the website has been live since October 21, 2017 and has already seen success with approximately 400 users / day identified within its first five days. One of the main features of the website is the use of a team of experienced parents who have been trained and hired for their experiences. These individuals provide live online support to respond to questions 7 days a week between 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. The Committee was advised that staff connected with the PN website will be making presentations throughout the community to raise awareness about this new parenting support resource. Committee members asked questions regarding: the use of the website by both partners of a parenting relationship and were advised that outreach is ongoing on ways to connect with more fathers as they currently make up only a small percentage of users; how topics of conversation are selected and content is developed. Ms. McGregor advised any concern or problem raised by a user could evolve into a topic to be further developed and posted as information on the website; and, screening of comments by the administrator was confirmed prior to any comments being released / posted on the site. Mr. M. Hildebrand inquired regarding planned goals for moving forward on the PN website and Ms. McGregor responded that the main objectives are to encourage use of the chat line by parents; to continue sharing information about this new resource; and, to continue to develop more content for the site. Members of the Committee were encouraged to submit parenting stories which could be posted. 2.CHAIR/VICE-CHAIR ROLES Mr. D. Witmer advised that, due to the recent resignation of the Committee Chair, he has agreed to step up from the Vice-Chair role into the Chair role immediately rather than waiting to assume the duties in January, 2018. Mr. M. Hildebrand noted that this necessitates the Committee selecting a new Vice-Chair for the remainder of the current appointment term (expiring November 30, 2018). SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2017 - 23 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2.CHAIR/VICE-CHAIRROLES (CONT’D) Mr. G. Albert offered to assume the Vice-Chair role and, in the absence of any other nominations, was accepted by the members of the Committee. 3.MIDTERM SURVEY Mr. M. Hildebrand reminded Committee members of the survey completed at the beginning of the current appointment term in which questions around participant expectations as advisory committee members were posed. Staff has now developed a follow-up survey to gauge mid- term evaluations and this was circulated to members for completion. 4.WORKPLAN UPDATES On behalf of the CPTED subcommittee, Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that Mr. B. Page has made arrangements with staff to commence the community centre audits in January 2018. The Downtown Community Centre and the Breithaupt Centre have been selected for the first two audits; and staff is now working on a process which can be used for all audits going forward. Mr. Hildebrand advised the Chandler Mowat Community Centre has already been audited and will not require another; however, all other centres will have their internal / external spaces reviewed. Each audit will also include interactions with staff during daytime and evening hours to gain a full understanding of the facility. Ms. T. Smith reported the Support to Community Centres – Relationships with Schools subcommittee has scheduled a meeting with Mr. Steve Roth, Manager of Community Centres. This meeting will be held prior to the next Committee meeting; therefore, more information will th be shared at the December 7 meeting. The Accessibility and Inclusion – Support to LGBTQ Community subcommittee reported that Council recently unanimously endorsed the ‘Breaking the Silence’ report. In addition, Ms. A. Venner advised the subcommittee is continuing to gather policy best practice information from various municipalities and organizations as they work towards developing a recommendation regarding a City of Kitchener policy on trans-inclusive change rooms (RCC Item #3) and gender inclusive washrooms (RCC Item #8). The Committee was circulated with a summary chart grouping common themes and also providing sample policy descriptions: self- identification; choice; maps; complaints; wheelchair accessibility; unavailable private change rooms; responsibility to prevent discrimination; harassment; and signage. Mr. M. Hildebrand thanked the subcommittee for their work to date and advised there is quite a bit of corporate interest in this topic. As a next step, he suggested the Committee consider making a recommendation to refer the work to staff to allow internal discussions on how to develop a work plan and implement this policy. He further advised a meeting of interested staff has been scheduled for December and it may be possible for him to report back to the Committee’s February meeting with a proposed work plan, for its review. Ms. D. Keelan provided an update on meetings which have taken place to identify the location of all single-stall washrooms in City facilities. She commented that changing signage to identify them as ‘general inclusive / neutral’ could be a ‘quick win’ as a signage change is quite easy and could be completed by the end of November, 2017. In response to this information, Ms. Venner requested that consultation / input regarding the proposed signage be obtained from the transgender community. On motion by Ms. A. Venner – it was resolved: “That staff be directed to develop a work plan to implement the recommendations of the Accessibility and Inclusion Sub-committee of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee in the matter of inclusive and safe washroom access including but not limited to updates to any existing Corporate policies and updating signage on existing single stall washrooms in City facilities; and further, That a status update be brought back to a future meeting of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee.” SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2017 - 24 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator