January 4, 2000

To: Economic Development and Parks Committee

From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Subject: Follow-up on Initiatives Addressing Youth Violence Arising Out of the Mayor's Action Plan on Youth Violence and Gang Activity

All Wards

Purpose:

To seek Economic Development and Parks Committee's (EDPC) adoption of the Toronto Youth Violence Prevention Initiatives and funding for the Parks and Recreation Division's 2000 budget.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funding will be required in the Parks and Recreation Division base Operating Budget for 2000 in the amount of $800,000.00 to support this initiative.

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 Budget Advisory Committee and the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration in the 2000 budget process.

Background:

In March 1999, responding to the issue of youth gang violence in schools, the City adopted recommendations from the Mayor's Youth Violence in Schools report. Although the majority of the recommendations were directed to the school boards and the police, the report identified a number of program areas where the City plays a significant role in serving youth.

A committee including representatives of the Toronto School Board, Police Services, Libraries, Social Development, Parks and Recreation, Youth Police Action Committee, and the TTC is currently working together to further the common goal of youth violence prevention.

The Youth Sub-committee and Youth Cabinet held focus groups throughout the summer. The focus groups were intended to look at young people's perception of youth violence and get their ideas for solutions to this issue. It was recognized that the issue of youth violence is a complex one and in order to get some reasonable solutions, a wide range of stakeholders need to be consulted. The groups looked at violence occurring in schools, how police might be integrated in schools, barriers to programs, and services and suggestions on alternative justice models to address youth violence. The Youth Committee will be considering the specific recommendations from the focus groups in the new year.

In addition to the focus groups, the Youth Committee requested Departments to identify specific initiatives that would support youth violence prevention.

The recent death of a young man as a result of youth violence against youth highlights the need to move quickly and provide the appropriate resources and initiatives to reduce violence in our communities.

This report identifies some immediate actions that this City can take to address this issue. It is anticipated that additional, long-term programs will come forward to various standing committees in the future in the context of departmental service planning. However, this report includes "quick-start" programs that can be implemented now.

Comments:

Recognizing the need for an immediate response to the issues of youth violence, City Departments have worked together to propose the following programs to ameliorate the problem. These programs have been selected with regard to their costs, location, effectiveness and ability to implement quickly.

Youth Worker Program

Parks and Recreation has successfully implemented youth workers in a few communities to date. Youth workers have successfully increased access to existing facilities for youth. Youth are engaged in the constructive use of leisure time in a safe environment and are encouraged to participate in recreational opportunities. Potential at-risk youth are allowed an opportunity to run programs. This approach has been a very successful model in the Malvern community where more than 200 youth are active in recreation and youth development after school and in the evenings.

The recommended locations for the youth work program are Flemingdon and O'Connor Community Centres (North District); Mid Scarborough Community Centre (East District); Runnymede High School/Rockcliffe Middle School (West District); St. Jamestown/Rose Avenue Community Centre (South District); and John Innes Community Centre (Central District).

The estimated cost is $45,000.00 per year per youth worker per location.

Police Youth Basketball

The Police-Youth Basketball program, a program for 13 to 15 year old youth, has been very successful in six locations in the City. The program addresses the lack of long-term, constructive programs to encourage positive-youth police relationships and the need for life-skills development for youth.

The recommended location for expansion of this program for the year 2000 is Flemingdon Community Centre in the North District. This expansion site has the support of the Toronto Police Unit Commander in 54 Division.

The estimated costs are $5,000.00 for uniforms, trophies, T-shirts and supplies and $1,700.00 for part-time staff who act as score keepers, referees and substitute coaches.

TTC Youth Outreach Project

The TTC Youth Outreach Project has operated with great success at the Kennedy Subway Station and in various stations across the Bloor Street subway line. The youth outreach worker provides information and referral service to youth and other customers about community programs and services during peak hours for youth. The worker and TTC security work together to head off problems during peak hours. The youth outreach worker provides non-traditional counselling to youth regarding employment, housing, health and recreation.

Some of the key benefits of this project are increased safety for TTC ridership, decreased vandalism, fewer altercations between riders, youth development, counselling and education.

The estimated costs for the expansion to the east (Warden, Victoria Park and Main stations) and to the west (Kipling, Islington and Royal York stations) is $45,000.00 for each of the two locations.

Mall-based Youth Resource Centres

Two programs at Dufferin Mall and Scarborough Town Centre have proven the success of these non-traditional youth programs. Youth gain access to education, employment, housing, fundraising, leadership training, mentoring, and tutoring resources through the partnerships between Parks and Recreation, community agencies, local government and local businesses.

The benefits expected from these programs include cross-cultural learning and awareness, more female programs, reduced vandalism, violence and gang activity, positive role modelling, peer mentoring programs, improved relationships between youth and mall merchants and staff, and youth leadership development.

The recommended locations are Gerrard Square (South District); Woodbine Mall (West District); Eaton Centre (Central District); Sheridan Mall (North District); and Morningside Mall (East District).

The estimated costs for each of the five mall-based programs are $45,000.00 per location.

Late-Night Youth Drop-Ins

Three locations in Scarborough have successfully operated late night youth recreation opportunities. Youth 16 years and older have access to structured and non-structured activities until midnight. Local Councillor Duguid and The Police are supportive of expanding the late-night hours until 2 am in the existing three Scarborough locations. Additional expansion to other areas within the City is recommended.

This program offers a safe, supervised program for youth. Programs offer a variety of options for youth that include social, physical, creative, and educational activities. Youth have asked for expanded hours of operation to meet the needs of youth.

The estimated costs for this program include $16,000.00 per location for full-time and part-time staff wages for 40 weeks of programming, 2 nights per week, and an additional 3 hours per night.

The recommended locations are:

South District - Regent Park Community Centre

- Masaryk Cowan Community Centre

- Trinity/Bob Abate Community Centre

- Wallace Emerson Community Cente

- Joseph J. Picinnini Community Centre

Central District - John Innes Community Centre

North District - Chalkfarm Community Centre

- Driftwood Community Centre (Summer Only)/Flemingdon Community Centre (Fall, Winter & Spring)

- Antibes Community Centre

East District - Mid Scarborough Community Centre

- Malvern Community Centre

- L'Amoreaux Community Centre

West District - Yet to be determined

Conclusions:

The City of Toronto has a significant role to play in addressing the issue of youth violence. The Youth Committee and Youth Cabinet have been exploring actions the City can take in this regard. It is critical that the City act now. This report identifies a number of quick start programs with a proven track record of success. It is recommended that these initiatives be implemented as quickly as possible. The Children and Youth Action Committee encourages Council to support these initiatives and provide the funding for them in the 2000 budget process.

Contact:

Claire Tucker-Reid

General Manager of Parks and Recreation Division

Telephone: 392-8182

Facsimile: 392-8565

Email: ctucker@mta1.metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

Joe Halstead

Commissioner Economic Development Culture and Tourism

List of Attachments:

Attachment No. 1 - Follow-up Initiatives Addressing Youth Violence arising out of the Mayor's Task Force on Youth Gangs