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Terms of Reference for the Task Force to Develop
a Strategy for Issues of Concern to the Elderly
The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team recommends the adoption of the Terms of Reference for the Task Force to Develop a Strategy for Issues of Concern to the Elderly, embodied in the following communication (February 25, 1998) from Councillor Anne Johnston, Chair, Task Force to Develop a Strategy for Issues of Concern to the Elderly:
I am pleased to forward for your Committee=s consideration the Terms of Reference for the Task Force to Develop a Strategy for Issues of Concern to the Elderly.
Terms of Reference
Task Force to Develop a Strategy for Issues of Concern to the Elderly
Origin:
The Task Force on Seniors was established by Council adopting Report No.1 of the Striking Committee at the Council meeting held January 2, 6, 8, and 9, 1998.
Introduction:
We are extremely fortunate in the city of Toronto to have many seniors who are willing to help the new City establish new structures and initiatives. Toronto has approximately 300,000 seniors and many who are willing to share their experience and wisdom in this time of change.
Seniors wish to have input into issues that affect their special concerns but also wish to be included and consulted about a broad range of issues. The Seniors= Task Force is a mechanism which can begin to shape a process to involve seniors and seniors= groups as partners on issues which effect them and the community.
As identified in the Toronto Transition Team report: "The Task Force should bring together seniors from
across the new city.... to identify the key issues for seniors in the new city and develop a
plan for the City=s future actions to address these issues.@
Duration:
The Seniors= Task Force is intended to be of limited duration with a report to Council by year end.
Mandate:
The mandate of the Task Force is to identify emerging needs of senior residents in the City of Toronto and to develop a seniors= strategy to address priority issue areas, which are to:
(a) develop structures to advise City Council on issues affecting seniors and to involve seniors in this process;
(b) ensure that policies, programs and services developed and delivered by the municipality meet the needs of seniors;
(c) value the involvement of seniors in the life of the City;
(d) identify a role for the City in the International Year of Older Persons - 1999; and
(e) provide a process for rationalization of all previous municipal seniors committees.
Membership:
City Council has appointed Councillor Anne Johnston as Chair of the Task Force.
The Task Force will be composed of six City Councillors to ensure geographic representation and a Seniors Reference Group consisting of representatives of coalitions, networks and individuals with special expertise.
The members will be as diverse as possible, in terms of geography, gender, race/ethnicity. Barriers to attendance will be eliminated.
Input is being sought from the Community Councils and includes a request for lists of all seniors groups in their areas.
Staffing and Resources:
An interdepartmental staff team has been developed, drawn from the Healthy City Office (lead), Social Development and Management Services Division and Public Health.
In order to assist the task force, staff from the following areas will be included as needed:
(i) TTC/Wheeltrans;
(ii) Parks and Recreation - Seniors Programs;
(iii) Housing - Homes for the Aged and Metro Toronto Housing Company;
(iv) Public Library; and
(v) others as appropriate.
Budget:
Through the budget process, a fund has been requested to cover those costs of the four interrelated Task Forces falling under the Community and Neighbourhood Services area, including the Seniors Task Force. These are additional funds to those that can be absorbed by the relevant departments.
Task Force Process:
General Principles:
The Fask Force meetings will be open to the public. Further more focussed community consultation will be important in order to maximize effectiveness, build partnerships and to increase access to good ideas and solutions.
The Task Force will utilize a full range of consultation processes including, focus groups, surveys, community public meetings at a variety of locations, information on various way to reach task force members or staff for input, partnering with community organizations for inclusion at conferences, meetings or events and other mechanisms.
At a minimum, individuals and community organizations should be consulted at these points in the process:
(i) issue identification;
(ii) information gathering;
(iii) vision; and
(iv) review of draft report
Steps in Process:
(1) Information Gathering:
(i) literature review, including recommendations contained in relevant reports from the former municipalities;
(ii) research on best practices i.e., service delivery, models for citizen input, etc.
(iii) inventory of existing resources in the corporation and in the community, i.e. an inventory of seniors= services, programs and supports; and
(iv) relevant demographics and statistics.
(2) Issue Identification:
(i) in consultation with the community, identify priority issues.
(3) Vision:
(i) development of short and long term solutions that would address the major issues identified by the stakeholders; and
(ii) what would be a Ahealthy city@ for seniors.
(4) Analysis:
(i) gap analysis by issue, demography and geography. Identify best policies, practices and programs for the city;
(ii) assess duplication. Identify resource implications in terms of human, organizational and financial; and
(iii) ensure opportunities for community partnerships, including funding partnerships are explored.
(5) Draft Report:
(i) develop draft issue paper and recommendations and implementation work plan;
(ii) develop performance indicators and outcome measures that will help to evaluate success; and
(iii) ensure full consultation of draft report by the community and appropriate staff, seniors agencies and relevant groups.
(6) Final Report to Council:
(i) prepared and reviewed by Committee and Reference Groups including key comments from stakeholder groups.
Opportunities for Youth
One of the priorities for the City of Toronto is to develop training and job opportunities for young people. The Seniors= Task Force offers an opportunity to connect with youth through ongoing intergenerational projects that currently operate in a number of communities. The Task Force will examine this possibility.
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