February 21, 2000

 To:Budget Advisory Committee

Community Services Committee

From:City Clerk, Children and Youth Action Committee

Subject:City of Toronto Operating Budget

Recommendations:

The Children and Youth Action Committee recommends that:

(1)at least $1 million be added to the appropriate budget category for the 2000 Operating Budget to stabilize the funding for family resource centres and special needs resourcing; and

(2)the following stakeholders be requested to co-ordinate and explore ways of sharing services, support and stabilize existing services, plan for equitable distribution of services, and to clarify the financial investment to adequately support this system for families and children:

-Toronto District School Board;

-Toronto Catholic School Board;

-City of Toronto (including the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department, Toronto Children's Services Division, and the Medical Officer of Health);

-Metro Association of Family Resource Programmes;

-Toronto Special Needs Network;

-Child Welfare;

-Family Day Board members; and

-other interested parties

The Committee reports, for the information of the Budget Advisory Committee and the Community Services Committee, having requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to report on Recommendation No. (1) above to the Budget Advisory Committee for its meeting to be held on February 22, 2000, and to the Community Services Committee for its meeting to be held on March 22, 2000.

Background:

The Children and Youth Action Committee on February 18, 2000 gave consideration to a slide presentation by Ms. Marg Cox and Mr. David Rew, on provider rates, family resource programs and special needs consultation services.

The Committee also had before it two charts from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, setting out a schedule for implementation of the Children's Action Plan, and highlighting the action plan recommendations from the Children's Report Card.

Ms. Fiona Nelson gave a verbal update on the Provincial Pre-budget hearings and the Chair gave an overview of the City of Toronto Budget Process.

The Committee's recommendations are noted above.

    City Clerk

Children and Youth Action Committee

B.Bains

c:Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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