January 4, 2000
To: Economic Development and Parks Committee
From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Subject: Follow-up on the Action Plan for the Children's Report Card 1999 Arising from the Children's Report Card 1999
All Wards
Purpose:
To seek Economic Development and Parks Committee's (EDPC) adoption of the Toronto Report Card on Children 1999
and the Children and Youth Action Committee's (CYAC) Action Plan as related to the Parks and Recreation Division's
2000 Operating Budget .
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funding will be required in the base Operating Budget of the Parks and Recreation Division for 2000 in the amount of $1.5
million to support investments in the Action Plan.
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial impact statement.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that:
(1) this report be submitted to the Budget Advisory Committee and the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration in
the 2000 Operating Budget process.
Background:
The Report Card on Children for 1999 is part of the mandate of the Children and Youth Action Committee, which assesses
the health and well-being of children in our City. The Report Card focuses on younger children, and is complimented by
the 1999 Youth Profile.
The report has been developed through the co-operation of the staff of all the City of Toronto Departments and Divisions
serving children, as well as the Toronto Public Library, the Police, and the Child Welfare Agencies and School Boards in
the City of Toronto.
The CYAC has developed this Action Plan in response to the Report Card's findings, identifying areas for investment,
service co-ordination and advocacy.
Comments:
The following Parks and Recreation initiatives outlined in the Action Plan have been endorsed by the CYAC and by City
Council.
Preschool Recreation Programs
Research has confirmed the critical importance of recreational activities for the health and development of young children.
It also reinforces the value of involving parents and caregivers in these activities.
There is a need to develop more preshool programming for young children in Toronto. Many programs are not available
citywide. High-need communities, in particular, need to address local challenges by expanding parent and tot programs and
conducting specific outreach efforts in concert with Public Health and other partners. It is particularly critical to increase
opportunities for parents and children to participate together in family programs and parent and child programs.
The CYAC proposes the creation of new, and the expansion of existing preschool programs, (including parent and tot
programs, drop-in-play programs, specialized preschool programs, swim programs and tiny tot programs) by 5 - 6%, and to
provide an additional 11,000 program hours, serving 14,000 more children, especially in identified high-needs areas.
Recreation Programs For School Age Children
City Council has already identified a concern about latch key kids. The City's goal of reducing their number by half cannot
be reached without increasing the programs available for children after school. Many school-aged children receive
programs through licensed childcare; however, all children can benefit from enrichment and skill development
opportunities available through recreation programs. The need for high quality before and after school activities is
particularly acute in the identified high-needs areas.
The CYAC proposes increasing before and after school programs for children by 2.5% in order to provide additional
14,000 program hours, serving 21,000 more children, especially in identified high needs areas, and incorporating more
enrichment and skill development opportunities in these programs.
Improve Children's Physical Fitness
Sixty percent of Canadian children do not meet average fitness standards, and childhood obesity has doubled since 1980.
Physical inactivity is a key factor in a range of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and Type II
diabetes. The Rainbow Fun program is a partnership between Public Health, Children's Services, Parks and Recreation, and
community groups. It has already increased physical activity for thousands of children in child care and recreation
programs.
The CYAC proposes expanding the delivery of Rainbow Fun to all licensed child care programs (increasing the number of
children involved by 15,000) and to 40,000 more children through Parks and Recreation. Specific activities include
expanded training of children's program workers and the development of a program model that is based on best practices
and is appropriate to ethno-racially diverse communities.
Conclusions:
The Report Card on Children 1999 has shown that many children are exposed to increasingly severe risk factors. The
CYAC believes that the changes to the City's policies, investment strategies and advocacy work proposed in the Action
Plan can play a role to effectively counteract some of the risk factors. These are the steps that the City has the power to take
now, in the 2000 budget year to work toward achievement of the Children's Charter.
Contact:
Claire Tucker-Reid
General Manager of Parks and Recreation Division
Telephone: 392-8182
Facsimile: 392-8565
ctucker@mta1.metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
