Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the Recommendation of the Budget Committee embodied in the following communication (May26,1999) from the City Clerk:

Recommendations:

The Budget Committee on May 25, 1999, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report (May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

Background:

The Budget Committee had before it a communication (May 19, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 19, 1999, recommended to the Budget Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report (May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, wherein it is recommended that:

(1)City Council authorize the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to enter into a funding agreement with Human Resources Development Canada for expansion of Toronto Youth Job Corps for the period April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000, the total cost of the agreement not to exceed $1,256,370.00 gross, and the City of Toronto's contribution to the program not to exceed the approved 1999 operating budget for Job Corps of $156,370.00;

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services identify and contract with an appropriate non-profit organization to deliver the program in the Jane Finch area;

(3)the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department be authorized to budget for the $74,000.00 net impact for the year 2000 budget;

(4)Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto program management and administration be immediately transferred from the Social Services Division to the Social Development Division; and

(5)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

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(Communication dated May 19, 1999, addressed to the

Budget Committee from the City Clerk)

Recommendation:

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 19, 1999, recommended to the Budget Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report (May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto.

Councillor Prue, at the meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May19, 1999, declared his interest in the aforementioned report, in that his wife is an employee of Human Resources Development Canada and is involved in determining grants that may be awarded to various groups, including the City of Toronto.

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(Report dated May 5, 1999, addressed to the

Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee from the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services)

Purpose:

This report recommends a number of changes to the Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto programs. In conjunction with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), creation of a new Job Corps site in the Jane Finch area is recommended. Reflecting recent changes to the mandate of the Ontario Works program, transfer of responsibility for program administration from the Social Services Division to the Social Development Division is proposed. Finally, authorization is sought to begin discussions with HRDC regarding the future cost-sharing arrangements for the programs.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications in 1999 beyond the approved operating budget for the Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto programs and $74,000.00 net implication for the year 2000.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)City Council authorize the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to enter into a funding agreement with HRDC for expansion of Toronto Youth Job Corps for the period April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000, the total cost of the agreement not to exceed $1,256,370.00 gross, and the City of Toronto's contribution to the program not to exceed the approved 1999 operating budget for Job Corps of $156,370.00;

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services identify and contract with an appropriate non-profit organization to deliver the program in the Jane Finch area;

(3)the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department be authorized to budget for the $74,000.00 net impact for the year 2000 budget;

(4)Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto program management and administration be immediately transferred from the Social Services Division to the Social Development Division; and

(5)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto programs were initiated in 1983. Both programs are designed to help severely employment disadvantaged youth in the City of Toronto. Since their initiation, the programs have operated as a partnership between the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and HRDC.

Youth Outreach Toronto is designed to assist youth who are reluctant to access mainstream programs and services, and especially those who have given up in their frustrated efforts to find training, education and job opportunities. Generally speaking, these youth have few skills, low educational achievement and a host of other barriers including health issues, lack of stable housing, high levels of illiteracy and extremely poor or non-existent work histories. Staff work on the streets and through community agencies to provide counseling, information and referral services. Clients are linked to services that will help prepare them to approach the labour market.

Toronto Youth Job Corps is recognized by youth serving agencies within Toronto as being the program most able to work with Toronto's most barriered youth. Community agencies do not have the resources available to work with this needy group and these agencies refer their hard to serve youth to this program. Two agencies currently deliver Job Corps, namely St. Christopher House and West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre. The program is designed to help disadvantaged youth secure and maintain employment through counseling, life skills training, work experience and job placement.

Discussion:

Addressing Service Needs in Toronto:

At this time, reflecting an analysis of service gaps, HRDC has indicated their willingness to commit $400,000.00 in new funds to cover the cost of program expansion in the Jane Finch area of Toronto. City staff concur with HRDC regarding the need for a Job Corps program site in this part of the City.

The Jane Finch area is a high need area with limited youth services for "at risk" youth.

The inclusion of Job Corps in this area will provide services to a group of youth who desperately need support in gaining employment.

The City is not being asked to contribute any new program funds in 1999 to cover the proposed expansion. HRDC further acknowledges that the expansion of Job Corps will place additional program administration demands on City staff. Given these added responsibilities, it is mutually agreed that effective program delivery requires increased resources directed to program co-ordination. For this reason, HRDC has offered to provide the City with funds to cover two-thirds of a Co-ordinator's salary through to March 31, 2000. City funding exists within the 1999 approved budget to cover the remaining one-third portion of the salary.

Rationalizing Program Management:

Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto are currently managed by the Social Services Division. The programs have traditionally served a substantial number of unemployed youth who are not in receipt of social assistance. Under the Ontario Works Act, passed in 1997, Toronto Social Services (TSS) mandate is now focused on delivering services to Toronto residents who are eligible for social assistance. Thus, the continued delivery of these programs falls outside of the Division's mandate. In addition, youth on social assistance who would have been served by these programs in the past, are now primarily assisted by Toronto Social Services caseworkers who have responsibility for delivering employment services directly to these clients.

At the same time, continued City involvement in the management of these programs is critical. The Social Development and Administration Division within the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department, is well positioned to assume responsibility for these programs. Social Development has the corporate lead on a number of initiatives aimed at vulnerable and unemployed youth, and also works with a wide range of community organizations delivering a range of programs to Toronto youth. The addition of the Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto complements these responsibilities, and will allow for more effective co-ordination of youth programs within the Division. It should also be noted that the proposed program co-ordinator position will be responsible for a range of youth employment initiatives including Job Corps, Youth Outreach Toronto, squeegee diversion, and Youth Employment Counseling Centre funding.

Future Funding Issues:

Currently, the two existing Job Corps sites are funded 90 percent HRDC, employer's contributions, and the Province of Ontario. The remaining 10 percent is provided by the City of Toronto. While covering the costs of program expansion in 1999, HRDC has requested that the City contribute to the new Job Corps site in Jane Finch at the same cost-sharing level as the two existing Job Corps programs, beginning April 1, 2000. At this date, the City's 10 percent contribution for the new site will be $60,000.00 net.

As noted, HRDC has also agreed to cost-share a City program co-ordinator position providing two-thirds of the salary in 1999. However, beginning in April 2000, HRDC is proposing that this salary be shared on a 50/50 basis with the City, requiring an additional annual City commitment of approximately $14,000.00. The total funding commitment from the City in 2000 will thus rise by $74,000.00 net. In conjunction with HRDC staff, the City will negotiate final funding arrangements for the period beginning April 1, 2000, in an effort to ensure that necessary program supports continue to be available to vulnerable youth in the Jane Finch area.

Conclusion:

Aligning the range of current youth related initiatives in one program area will facilitate increased consistency and co-ordination in the provision of youth services. The expansion of Job Corps to add a third delivery site will increase the availability of employment related services to disadvantaged youth in a high need area of the City of Toronto. City staff will continue to meet with HRDC officials to review our mutual objectives and co-ordinate youth programming and initiatives. Staff will report on the implications of the revised cost-sharing arrangement for these programs as part of the year 2000 budget cycle.

Contact Names and Telephone Numbers:

Ms. Heather MacVicar, General Manager, Tel: 392-8952, Mr. Chris Brillinger, Manager, Community Resource Unit, Tel: 392-8608.

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(Communication dated May 17, 1999, addressed to

Ms. Dianne Bradley, Director General, Service Delivery,

Human Resources Development Canada from the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services)

Thank you for your letter dated April 20, 1999. I too am pleased with the long standing working relationship between the City of Toronto and Human Resources Development Canada. In particular, I appreciate your support in the amalgamation of youth services within the City of Toronto.

A report will be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 19, 1999, outlining the program administration changes for both Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto. The report will also outline the agreement between Human Resources Development Canada and the City of Toronto with respect to funding for the management position.

Funding for the City of Toronto is determined one fiscal year at a time, and as such approval for funding arrangements beyond 1999 cannot be approved at this time. The Community and Neighbourhood Services Department is committed to the current funding arrangement and to supporting the continuation of our relationship with Human Resources Development Canada in this area in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of Human Resources Development Canada's ongoing support and commitment to the City's youth employment initiatives.

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or alternatively Ms. Carol Williams at 397-7301.

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(Communication dated April 20, 1999, addressed to the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

from Ms. Dianne Bradley, Director General, Service Delivery,

Human Resources Development Canada)

I would like to open by saying how pleased I am with the quality of the working relationship which exists between Human Resources Development Canada and the City of Toronto.

Our collaboration of longest standing is certainly our joint activity in support of youth employment, namely the Toronto Youth Job Corps, the Youth Outreach Program and, more recently, Mayor Mel's Youth Initiative and the Squeegee Diversion Initiative. As you know, Minister Claudette Bradshaw announced on March 26, 1999, the addition of a third site to the Toronto Youth Job Corps program to provide services in the northern area of the City. I particularly appreciate the support of your staff in helping us get this site in operation as soon as possible. The federal government will be fully funding this site for its first year of operation (1999-2000). At this time, I would like to request the City of Toronto to begin to participate financially in the operation of the third site in the same proportion (10 percent) as the City's support for the current two sites in the fiscal year 2000-2001. We will also be encouraging the third site to develop positive and productive relationships with the Ontario Government's Job Connect program and with private sector partners.

My staff have had several positive meetings with your staff on the best way to offer organizational support to our jointly funded youth activity. I do support the proposal of amalgamating all youth employment focussed activity within the Social Development Division. I do understand this move will require the support of a full time manager. This position is currently funded one third through your contribution to the Toronto Youth Job Corps Program. Human Resources Development Canada is willing to fund the remaining two thirds of this position for the current fiscal year (1999-2000).

Our preference over time, however, is to move to a 50/50 share of this position by the next budget year.

I appreciate your consideration of these requests. Please contact myself or Ms. Lesley Buresh at 462-7310, for additional information you might require. Thank you, again, for all your support to date.