January 28, 1998
To: Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee
From: Children's Advocate
Subject: Proposed Composition and Mandate of the Children's Action Committee
Purpose:
As directed by Toronto Council at its meeting January 8, 1998, this report outlines the proposed composition and mandate of the Children's Action Committee, a Sub-committee of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Support for this Sub-committee will be provided by a staff team assembled from the various program areas providing services to children within the City. The staff team includes representatives from the Children's Services Division, the Social Development and Management Services Division, Public Health, Parks and Recreation and the Libraries. Other resources necessary to support work identified on the children's agenda will be negotiated as part of the budget review process.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the proposed composition and mandate of the Children's Action Committee be approved as outlined in this report and appendix A;
(2) the Children's Action Committee develop and submit a detailed workplan, schedule and outline of its resource needs to the March meeting of Community and Neighbourhood Services;
(3) a copy of this report be submitted to the "Miller" Review Committee; and
(4) the appropriate City Officials take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The report of the Metro Task Force on Services to Young Children and Families, "The First Duty" recommended the creation of a Children's Advocate and Children's Action Committee to develop and implement a Children's Strategy within the new City of Toronto. The Transition Team concurred with these recommendations and reiterated them in its report "New City, New Opportunities". Toronto City Council at its meeting on January 8, 1998 approved the Striking Committee's recommendations and appointed Councillor Olivia Chow as Children's Advocate and directed her to report to Council on the proposed composition and mandate for the Children's Action Committee established to assist her. This report provides these terms of reference.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
It is proposed that the Children's Action Committee have up to eight City Councillors who have indicated their interest in children's issues and who are able to represent the geographic breadth of the new City. The Committee will be chaired by the Children's Advocate, Councillor Olivia Chow. To assist them in their deliberations and to provide expert advice, the Children's Action Committee will also include a community reference group which will work with the main committee or on specific working groups, which will be established. A staff team has been identified to support the work of the Children's Advocate and the Children's Action Committee. A list of the confirmed Children's Action Committee members is provided as an appendix to this report.
The work of the Children's Advocate and the Children's Action Committee will be based on the principles contained in "The First Duty" report and the report "Child Poverty - A Public Health Perspective". These reports pointed out that an increasing number of Toronto children are suffering the adverse effects of poverty. In order to ensure the future economic and social health of this community, they recommended that investment in young children should be a top civic priority. The reports also identified the need to increase cooperation and coordination between the various sectors providing services to children and families.
The mandate of the Children's Action Committee, working under the leadership of the Children's Advocate, is to demonstrably improve the well-being of children in the City of Toronto. This will be accomplished by developing a civic Strategy for Children, which will include:
(a) promoting investment in children as a strategic priority within the city
(b) evaluating the impact on children of the city's policy and budget decisions
(c) ensuring that the City's range of services for children is accessible, adequately funded and effective
(d) promoting inter-sectoral coordination and integration of service planning and delivery
(e) seeking resources from other funding sources to match or supplement the City's financial commitment to children
(f) undertaking research to assess and improve outcomes for children
(g) promoting public understanding and support for a children's agenda
(h) involving children in the development of a more child-friendly city
(i) establishing a Civic Commission on Children and Youth
The Children's Action Committee is developing an action plan outlining how it will organize and schedule its work during 1998 and throughout this term of Council. In addition to the Annual Report Card on Children's Wellbeing, which it hopes to release in the fall of 1998, the Children's Action Committee will report at least semi-annually to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on its activities and accomplishments.
Conclusions:
This report outlines the proposed composition and mandate of the Children's Action Committee and suggests a semi-annual reporting of progress to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee. A further report providing more detailed information about the committee's workplan, schedule and resource needs will be provided. Support for the proposed composition and mandate of the Children's Action Committee is requested. With the concurrence of the Standing Committee, this report will also be submitted to the "Miller" Review Committee for information.
Contact Name:
Marna Ramsden
General Manager of Children's Services
Tel: 392-8128
Fax: 392-4576
E-mail: ramsden@csis.csis.csd.metrotor.on.ca
Councillor Olivia Chow
Children's Advocate
Appendix A
Proposed Composition of the Children's Action Committee
Members of Council:
Councillor Pam McConnell - Don River Ward
Councillor Sandra Bussin - East Toronto Ward
Councillor Bruce Sinclair - Rexdale Thistletown Ward
Councillor Irene Jones - Lakeshore Queensway Ward
Councillor Joan King - Seneca Heights Ward
Councillor John Filion - North York Centre Ward
Councillor Olivia Chow - Downtown Ward
Councillor Brad Duguid - Scarborough City Centre Ward
Community Representatives:
Caroline DiGiovanni - Private Citizen
Fiona Nelson - Private Citizen
Martha Friendly - University of Toronto Child Care Resource and Research
Cheryl MacDonald - Coalition for Better Child Care
Spyros Volonakis - Child Care Advisory Committee
Peter Clutterbuck - Community Social Planning Council
Metro Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition
Metro Association of Family Resource Centres
Campaign 2000
Toronto Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Planning and Implementation Committee
Toronto District School Board
Toronto Catholic School Board
Parents for Education
Staff Support:
Dr. Jack Lee - Public Health
Gary Stoner - Parks and Recreation
Ken Setterington - Libraries
Nancy Matthews - Social Development and Management Services
Marna Ramsden - Children's Services
