August 19, 1998

To:Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

From:Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Subject:Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network

Purpose:

To report on the recommendations from the Children and Youth Action Committee regarding a proposal to establish a Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Toronto Public Health Department made a presentation to the June12,1998 meeting of the Children and Youth Action Committee regarding the significant implications of the effects of the environment on children's health, and on a current initiative underway to develop a national network devoted to the protection of children from environmental health hazards.

The Children and Youth Action Committee adopted a series of recommendations for approval by Council, which were forwarded to the July 16, 1998 Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and to the Board of Public Health. The Board approved the Children and Youth Action Committee recommendations at its July 27, 1998 meeting. The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee requested that the Commissioner report on these recommendations. This report is in response to that request.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

As a result of a growing concern within the academic health sector, government and community-based health organizations and the general public over environmental health and the development of children/fetuses, there is substantial interest in the development of a national Children's Environmental Health Network. In 1996, the Canadian Institute for Child Health (CICH), an Ottawa-based non-governmental agency focussing on children's environmental health issues, undertook a needs assessment through a national survey of approximately 1,000 individuals and organizations with an interest in the relationship between the environment and children's health. In the following spring of 1997, the CICH hosted What on Earth?, the first National Symposium on Environmental Contaminants and the Implications for Child Health. The institute has, also, initiated a series of six regional consultations across Canada, the first of which was held in Toronto in November 1997 focusing on air quality issues. Appendix I provides a more detailed outline of the CICH and its work.

Instrumental in facilitating the development of a Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network has been the Toronto Public Health Department, who conducted a survey of diverse Ontario-based agencies and groups to determine their interest in piloting the network in Ontario. The responses were overwhelmingly in support of the creation of such a network and guiding principles were developed based on the survey results. These guiding principles included:

(1)that the mission of the national network should be to protect the environment, and to protect the fetus/child from environmental hazards;

(2)that the network should focus on advocacy, education, public awareness and some research-related activities;

(3)that the network should be housed in the non-governmental sector, but that it should be based on a partnership with national, regional and local agencies/groups in diverse sectors; and

(4)that the network should develop a website and use computer-based technology to connect its partners and to disseminate information to a broad audience.

Based on its mandate and work in this area, the CICH has emerged as the non-government agency with a strong national base and a willingness to house the emerging national network. The institute is recognized internationally and is Canada's representative on the Child Watch International Network.

Over the past year, the CICH has been in discussions with Health Canada and Environment Canada on forming the national network, and has been encouraged by the support of these two federal departments toward establishing the network. A funding proposal is currently being developed for submission to both of these federal departments for the network's development. Staff of the Toronto Public Health Department have provided input on the organizational structure of the network, and are participating on a working group, along with a representative from the Children and Youth Action Committee, Fiona Nelson, on developing the pilot proposal for Ontario.

It is anticipated that once the network has secured funding, the Toronto Public Health Department will continue to participate in an advisory capacity as part of the network's proposed advisory committee structure. The Children and Youth Action Committee has also shown a keen interest in playing an active role at a national and provincial level with the implementation of the network.

Consistent with other children's environmental health initiatives through the Environmental Protection Office (EPO) and research-related activities through the Public Health Research Education and Development program (PHRED), the Toronto Public Health Department continues to work in partnership with other health organizations and the community to promote environmental health through its research, policy, education and advocacy roles. Appendix II provides an overview of the work of the Public Health Department's children's environmental health activities. Any project-specific initiatives that the Public Health Department may undertake to support the work of the Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network, will require no additional funding from Toronto Council and attempts to secure funding from senior levels of government or foundations will be pursued.

Conclusion:

Children's health is uniquely and directly affected by our environment. The Toronto Public Health Department has been an active participant in establishing a Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network to raise awareness of environmental health issues and to place these issues on the national agenda. The Board of Health has recently reaffirmed its commitment to Toronto's participation in developing a national network.

The Children and Youth Committee has endorsed the Canadian Institute of Child Health in taking a leadership role in housing the emerging national network and the guiding principles for the its development. The Public Health Department, the Children and Youth Action Committee, health academics, and community-based health organizations all recognize the importance of advancing children's health and the impact of environmental stresses on the health of children. With the establishment of a national Children's Environmental Health Network, linkages to children's environmental health activities and related research initiatives are strengthened across Canada and internationally.

Contact Name:

Nancy Matthews (Tel: 392-8614/Fax: 392-8492)

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services