Mayor's Initiative on Youth Violence in Schools

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (February 19, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval for the recommendations contained in the report "Action Plan on Youth Violence in Schools" prepared for the Mayor's initiative on Youth Violence in Schools.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The City's $6,000.00 contribution to the Anti-Gang Awareness Campaign can be accommodated within the Community and Neighbourhood Services 1999 Operating Budget. The Parks and Recreation Department will identify any funding implications arising from the strategy for serving youth at risk in its 1999 budget submission.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)Council approve the recommendations in the attached report on youth violence in schools;

(2)the report be forwarded to the Boards of Education, the Chief of Police, the Attorney General, and the Minister of Education and Training with the request that these recommendations be endorsed and acted upon immediately; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

In November, Mayor Mel Lastman, responding to reports of increasing concerns over youth violence in schools, called together a meeting with the Chairs of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Chief of Police, the Attorney General, Councillors Chow, Duguid, Davis and Fotinos, and others involved in working with youth and their families. The purpose of the meeting was to begin exploring how to work together to meet two objectives: to ensure that youth are safe in schools, and to ensure that parents feel confident their children are safe in schools. The Mayor requested that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services bring together senior staff from the relevant jurisdictions to identify strategies to meet these objectives, and to report the findings back to the Strategic Policy and Priorities Committee early in the new year.

Immediately following this initial meeting, senior staff from the various jurisdictions met to begin outlining the issues, identifying existing gaps in programs and services and proposing strategies to address these issues and service gaps. Since then, Community and Neighbourhood Services staff have been working cooperatively with staff from the City Parks and Recreation Department, Public Health, Healthy City office, the TTC, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Police, the Province, and representatives from youth-focused community-based organizations. Their participation and cooperation in this initiative has been greatly appreciated.

This initiative has also been informed by the work of the Mayor's Task Force on Young Offenders, chaired by Councillor Dennis Fotinos, the Task Force on Community Safety, chaired by Councillors Brad Duguid and Rob Davis, and the Children and Youth Action Committee, chaired by Councillor Olivia Chow.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The appended report, "Action Plan on Youth Violence in Schools", focuses on defining the issue, identifying the range of existing programs and services, and proposing actions that can be taken to address youth violence in schools.

The following recommendations are proposed:

Meeting with Youth on Violence in Schools

It is recommended that the Children and Youth Advocate and the Youth Cabinet convene a meeting on Youth Violence in Schools. The Youth Cabinet should assist in bringing together a diverse and representative group of youth from across the City. Particular attention should be paid to reaching out to youth who have been involved in gangs or violence in schools. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the issue of youth violence in schools and the actions proposed in this report, with the aim of developing an action plan endorsed by youth. This meeting should be convened for May 1999.

Police and Education Partnerships:

In order to respond to specific incidents of violence in schools, the City encourages the Boards of Education and the Police Department to complete the preparation of the Protocol on Police Involvement in Schools and requests the Boards of Education and Police to implement this protocol at the beginning of the fall 1999 school year.

It is recommended that the Police, the Boards of Education and the Public Health Department immediately begin working on a new Violence Prevention Partnership Strategy focusing on involvement in elementary and high schools, that would be implemented this fall. The strategy must identify the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners, and demonstrate a commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure that violence prevention and police awareness programs in schools are better coordinated and more equitably distributed across the City.

It is recommended that the Police and School Boards immediately identify 3 priority areas across the City that would benefit from increased police presence in schools, and pilot violence prevention programs. This would include providing the adequate police resources to be involved in the program and a commitment from the Boards of Education to allow curriculum time and teaching support for this initiative. It is proposed that the pilots run for one year with the evaluation to include the cost implications of extending the program beyond the pilot phase, and an assessment of the effectiveness on the program in responding to youth violence issues.

Peer Programs, Role Models and Mentoring:

It is recommended that the Mayor endorse the Raptors' Slam Dunk Youth Violence initiative as one positive example of a multi-sectoral partnership with a major sports organization to respond to the issue of youth violence.

Anti-Gang Awareness Campaign:

It is recommended that the City, the Police Department, and the Province, under the leadership of the TDSB, endorse and support the Anti- Gang Awareness Campaign. Specifically, each of the partners should contribute $6,000.00 toward this initiative. The City should also participate in the distribution of the poster through Parks and Recreation centres, and other City sites frequented by youth and their families.

Recreational and Skills Development Programs for Youth :

It is recommended that a full audit of existing City- funded community-based programs and City Parks and Recreation programs for youth, and youth at risk be undertaken as part of the Youth Profile initiative of the Children and Youth Action Committee.

It is recommended that access to recreation programs for youth at risk, and developing appropriate programs for youth at risk be a priority for the Parks and Recreation Department. To that end, it is recommended that the Department propose a feasible strategy for improving access and services for youth at risk, to be implemented in the fall programming schedule. This will require that funding implications be identified during the 1999 budget process. It is critical that this strategy also include a process for involving youth in identifying, designing and evaluating programs.

Monitoring Youth Safety in Schools:

It is recommended that an annual monitoring report on youth safety in schools be developed by the Boards of Education and the Police. A questionnaire would be administered to high school students each fall beginning in 1999, to monitor student perceptions of safety in schools.

Safe Schools Policy:

It is recommended that the City encourage the Ministry of Education and Training and the Boards of Education to bring forward and implement anti-violence policies in schools as quickly as possible. These policies must make it clear that violence, weapons, and gang activity will be met with immediate and substantive consequences, but also recognize that meaningful strategies and alternative programs must be available to support youth and respond effectively to meet their needs.

It is recommended that staff awareness and training be a key component of implementing Board policies related to safe schools, with an emphasis on ensuring that staff are equipped to deal effectively with violent incidents as they arise.

Mediation as a First Response:

The Attorney General, in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Boards of Education should evaluate existing initiatives, identify opportunities for expanding alternative sentencing options, and establish a protocol on the respective roles and responsibilities of the community-based agencies, and the schools involved in these initiatives.

Changes to the Young Offenders Act:

It is recommended that the Federal Minister of Justice act quickly to make changes to the Young Offenders Act, and that she consider the comments and suggestions identified in the Report of the Mayor's Task Force on Young Offenders in amending the Act.

Critical to the success of these initiatives will be a strong partnership between the City, the Boards of Education, the Police, the Provincial government and local communities. It is recommended that City Council endorse and approve these recommendations, and commit to continue working in partnership to effectively implement these changes.

Conclusions:

The Action Plan on Youth Violence in Schools proposes recommendations for action to reduce youth violence in Toronto schools. While the incidence of serious violence in schools is low, schools must be safe and welcoming environments for all students. The initiative reveals that there are many excellent program services and initiatives currently in place to respond to these issues. As well, there is a strong commitment on the part of the Boards, individual school, the Police, the City and the Province to deal with this issue. The recommendations proposed in the Action Plan on Youth Violence in Schools identify some immediate actions that can be taken. Their success will depend to a large part on the continuing cooperation and partnership across sectors.

It is recommended that Council endorse the direction and recommendations in this report and call on our Civic partners to continue working together to reduce youth violence in schools.

Contact Name:

Nancy Matthews: 392-8614

________

Action Plan on Youth Violence in Schools

Prepared by

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

for Mayor's Initiative on Youth Violence in Schools

February 19, 1999

Defining the Issue:

Recent reports of gang activity and youth violence in schools have brought attention to the concerns that youth and their parents feel regarding safety in schools.

Responding to these concerns, Mayor Mel Lastman called on political leaders from the City, the Boards of Education, the Police, and the Province to work together to meet two key objectives: to ensure that youth are safe in schools, and to ensure that parents feel confident their children are safe in schools.

Though incidents in schools involving serious forms of violence are rare, safety in and around schools can never be taken for granted. In 1997, Metropolitan Toronto Police reported 4,646incidents in city schools, a nine per cent decrease over the previous year. Although property related crime in schools fell, incidents of assault increased by four per cent. In 1997, criminal incidents on school premises were 20 per cent below their 1991 level, when 5,790 incidents were reported. This is due to steady declines in the reported number of thefts, break-and-enters and cases of mischief. Over the same period, however, incidents of assault on school premises peaked in 1995 before beginning to decline. In 1997, 1,198 non-sexual assaults were reported in Toronto schools, 1 ½ times the number in 1991.

Among young offenders, the overall crime rate has declined between 1991 and 1997 from 65.8 per 1,000 persons to 48.5 per 1,000 persons. This reflects a year over year drop in the property crime rate, but little change in violent crimes. In this regard, the violent crime rate for young offenders in 1997 was 14.3 per 1,000 persons, down somewhat from its peak of 16.6 per 1,000 persons in 1995.

According to the police, there are 70 to 80 youth gangs operating in Toronto with 20 being identified as "hard core". It is estimated that approximately 2,000 individuals, 1 per cent of City youth overall, participate in gangs at some level. A recent survey and series of public meetings undertaken by the Toronto Community Safety Task Force identified youth crime, and gangs as a priority concern for City residents.

Violence in schools takes many forms including bullying, harassment and gang- like activity. One of the impediments to responding to this issue has been the difficulty in sustaining consistent attention to the issue, or even agreeing on what the focus for response should be. The result is that it has been difficult to maintain a focus on the issue, to identify the gaps in service or to fundamentally change some of the things that are not working.

The opportunity afforded by this initiative is for the various civic partners to work together, with the common commitment to reduce youth violence, regardless of its form, in and around schools. Schools must provide a safe and welcoming environment in order to educate our children and youth. Violence, in any form, undermines the ability of teacher to teach, of students to learn, and reduces the confidence of the community in their schools.

City staff, in cooperation with the Boards of Education, the Police and the Province, and drawing on the valuable work of the City's Children and Youth Action Committee, the Community Safety Task Force and the Mayor's Task Force on Young Offenders, have explored the issue of youth violence in schools. This report proposes a series of actions to ensure that our schools are safe from violence.

Responding to the Issue:

Most serious forms of violent incidents in schools are committed by a small group of young people who typically have long histories of life problems and challenges. Learning disabilities, mental health problems, abusive home environments, marginalized social status, ineffective parenting and chronic long term stress related to living in poverty or unsafe community environments are common in the backgrounds of these troubled youth. They resort to violence and aggression and gravitate to gangs often as a way to meet needs or cope with overwhelming negative life experiences.

However, only responding to the issue once an incident occurs ignores the warning signs that are often apparent much earlier in a child's development. Responding to the incident after the fact is not, in and of itself, adequate. Early identification and prevention is critical.

Efforts to prevent or address early problems must be designed to support families and communities to provide what is necessary to give children the best possible start in life, and enhance school readiness. Programs like Healthy Babies, Healthy Children and nutrition programs, access to quality child care, preschool recreation programs, effective parenting programs, remedial preschool programs are all examples of supports that can help reduce stress in families, and contribute to the healthy development of children.

Children must also be given the tools to develop appropriate ways of resolving conflict and expressing anger and upset. At the preschool age, speech and language is one critical tool that the youngest children can employ. For older children and youth, conflict resolution and peer mediation training can help them learn to avoid or defuse volatile situations; and recognize, understand and deal with the dynamics of group or peer pressure. As well, there must be alternative forms of support for students with learning difficulties or behavioural problems.

In order to prevent violence, a range of activities is necessary to combat the powerful sources that promote it. To positively shape the attitudes and behaviours of students, approaches must be supported that will help them to recognize the negative and destructive nature of all violent behaviour and to develop appropriate ways of resolving conflict and expressing anger and frustration. To have the greatest impact, violence prevention and intervention efforts must be comprehensive. Programs need to address any contributing factors in the physical environment, positively enhance the overall social relations among students and staff in the schools.

There must also be strong linkages and coordination between the prevention/ intervention efforts at the community levels and the schools. Efforts must include focused and sustained interventions; consensus regarding the definition of the problem, participation of local communities; working partnerships between the various social agencies, schools, police, business, recreation programs; and some attention to larger structural or systemic factors, such as high youth unemployment, child poverty, and access to community resources/ life.

Recent focus groups with youth by University of Toronto researchers working on the relationship between violence, victimization and leisure activities reinforce the importance of social and recreational opportunities for youth to keep youth off the streets and involved in organized activities. It is also critical to involve and engage youth in the discussion and to make them part of the solution - especially those youth who are most directly affected. The strategies that are developed must be relevant to youth, and reflect the issues young people feel are necessary to tackle in order to reduce youth violence in schools.

Who needs to be involved in reducing violence in schools?

Clearly, the Boards of Education are central to ensuring that schools are safe, however this is not just a school issue. Violence in and around schools is an issue that affects, and is influenced by the community. Solutions to issues of youth violence in schools must also involve the community, the Police, the City of Toronto, community based service providers, and the provincial government, working together with the Boards in a collaborative and cooperative way.

What is being done already?

Boards of Education:

Both the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) have a broad range of policies, programs and initiatives to respond to the issue of violence in schools. (See Appendix 1). Programs range from curriculum-based prevention programs that are tailored to the various age/grade levels across the system, specific intervention programs such as anger management, program involving the Police, Public Health or Parks and Recreation as well as specific alternative programs for youth-at-risk. As well, many schools are involved in School Watch and Crimestoppers and have begun piloting peer mediation programs.

The TCDSB currently has three policies approved by the Board to deal with issues of violence: Violence Prevention Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy and Guidelines and the Conflict Resolution Policy, Regulations and guidelines. The Sexual Harassment Policy and guidelines for employees is being updated and a policy for students is in draft form.

With amalgamation, the TDSB has currently drafted a new Safe Schools policy that will apply across the newly amalgamated board. The Board will release the policy for consultation concurrent with the release of the provincial safe school policy guidelines.

A unique issue facing the TDSB, which has both policy and program implications, is the impact of amalgamating the six local boards and the former Metro Board of Education into one. Amalgamation means that existing policies from the previous boards must be reviewed, and new board policies developed and implemented. Programs that were offered only through one board or differently across the boards must be assessed and decisions made about where consistency is necessary, which programs should continue and how they should be implemented. The enormity of the amalgamation should not be underestimated. It will take a concerted effort over time before all of the amalgamation issues are sorted through.

In addition to amalgamation, schools and boards of education are also responding to provincial changes in the funding formula for education, and are introducing a new provincial curriculum. Some of the implications of these changes are that teachers are now expected to direct more of their attention to the classroom and are not available to spend as much time in the playground and monitoring the halls. As well, changes in the funding formula may impact on communities ability to access schools .

Police:

The Police Department is also actively involved in working in schools and communities to address issues of youth violence. The Toronto Police Service consists of 17 Divisions located throughout the city. Within a division there are five uniform platoons, an investigative branch and the community response unit. A Youth Bureau within the investigative branch is responsible investigating criminal offences involving young offenders and incidents of child physical and sexual abuse. The Community Response Unit , which has a complement of 20 - 50 officers depending on the size of the Division, is most involved in issues related to youth violence in schools. Within this unit, Community School Liaison Officers and the Street Crime Unit have most involvement with schools.

Community Liaison Officers are responsible for working in partnership with local schools, maintaining a visible uniform presence in and around schools, coordinating school lectures, education and crime prevention, facilitating and delivering educational programs to schools, liaison with the Street Crime Unit and with Boards of Education, parent and teacher groups and the communities, performing police duties while in the schools, and identifying resources to support School Watch and Student Crimestoppers programs. Each Division has one Community school Liaison Officer assigned with the exception of 41 Division, which has 3, 42 Division which has 2, and 52 Division that currently has no Community School Liaison Officer.

The Street Crime Unit may have a complement of approximately 2 - 8 Constables per Division. They are responsible for youth crime investigation in relation to violence; enforcement with special attention to youth gangs; providing education to school boards and students regarding youth issues; providing education to community groups; developing and implementing proactive strategies to deal with youth crime within the Division; preparing and assisting in the prosecution of cases; and providing information services for the judicial system in regard to youth gangs.

Assigning personnel for community response and school liaison is the responsibility of the unit commander for the Division. As a result, the level of police involvement in schools varies significantly from school to school, and from district to district. It is often difficult to compare among Divisions as the numbers of schools and the student populations vary significantly across Divisions. For example, there are currently only 2 community response officers for over 150 schools in Scarborough, as opposed to 1 community response officer for 15 - 18 schools in Etobicoke.

The kind of involvement that Police have in schools also varies considerably. For example, 23Division in Etobicoke has piloted the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in some elementary schools. Other Divisions have implemented the Values, Influence and Peers (VIP) program. As well, the Police have developed the Never be a Victim video and teaching manual, which is available for schools to access and include as part of their curriculum.

The Police Department also supports the Student Crimestoppers Program. This program has an annual budget of approximately $15,000.00, plus the cost of salaries for police officers attached to the program. It is most effective from Grades 7 on, and currently operates in 54 schools, which is approximately 22 per cent of schools serving Grade 7 children and up. Scarborough, North York and parts of Toronto use a program called School Watch, which has less police involvement.

There are no statistics that specifically address the impact of Student Crimestoppers on crime reduction. This is partially due to an agreement between the police and individual schools to not report data on individual schools. Interestingly, in the history of the program, not one student who has called in to report a crime has accepted the $100.00 reward. Most report that they called in for the benefit of the school and not to receive a cash reward. The police are currently working with the Boards of Education to expand the Crimestoppers program more broadly across the city.

Across the sectors, there is consistent support for increasing community policing in schools. However, the kind of police involvement in the schools will also determine its success. Drawing from the research focus groups conducted by the U. of T.'s Julian Tanner and Scott Wortley, "...students were far less enthusiastic about increased use of the police in schools. They argued that such strategies only angered young people and made them feel targeted. If the police were to be used, however, it was argued that they would have to be friendlier and "learn how to talk to young people." They emphasized that young people need to get to know the police as people and not just see them as "cops" who are looking to make an arrest. It was suggested that if the police did not wear their uniforms to school (or carry firearms), that the youth might be more willing to open up and talk to them."

City of Toronto:

Parks and Recreation:

Toronto Parks and Recreation is a key player in providing programs and services that impact significantly in anti-violence initiatives for youth. All youth in our city should have access to safe, meaningful, enjoyable and affordable recreation programs which will promote healthier youth in our communities, improve youths' chances of success in life, improve social and learning skills in youth and reduce anti-social behaviour, youth crime and violence. Many of the programs provided by Parks and Recreation are offered in school settings, and in cooperation with the Police, schools and community based organizations. Appendix 2 provides a summary of various anti-violence initiatives offered by Parks and Recreation.

Grants:

The City also funds 69 agencies across the City that deliver programs for at-risk youth, including programs and counselling to reduce violence. As well the City supports community-based projects that focus specifically on violence prevention. For example, in 1998 14 grants totalling $133,500.00 were approved for projects focusing on violence prevention for children and youth through the Breaking the Cycle of Violence grants. (See Appendix 3)

Public Health:

Toronto Public Health's policies have espoused the need for effective prevention programs which would focus on education, information and empowerment not only as it relates to violence against women, but also children, and the community.

To this end, public health has played a pivotal role in the area of violence prevention both in schools and community. In schools, Toronto Public Health has a long standing relationship with the school boards in joint program development ventures and resource development.

Toronto Public Health Nurses, Mental Health Nurses and sexual health staff provide case management activities and educational sessions, critical incident debriefing, crisis intervention, group work and community partnerships. As well, staff facilitate groups for teachers, students and parents on decision making, conflict resolution, anger management, relationships (violence); parenting groups; life skills; good touch bad touch; preventing dating violence, suicide prevention; stress management etc. Sexual health education incorporates the issues of violence in relationships (i.e., date rape); bullying, sexual harassment, sexual aggression, homophobia, gender roles; how to respond to violence and aggression.

Since violence is highly correlated with alcohol use (i.e., fights, physical and sexual assaults and aggression) various programs are in place throughout the City - Grade 5/6 Substance Abuse Awareness Program, A Ready or Not parenting program, Parent to Parent Peer Support.

The Drug Prevention Program (DAPP) - provides $500,000.00 annually to community groups for drug prevention activities, many also address issues related to violence. Community Health Officers using a community development approach assist a number of community groups and coalitions in addressing violence and other related issues for children and youth. (See appendix 4 for compilation of programs offered throughout the City.)

Toronto Transit Commission:

The Toronto Transit Commission has been involved in a pilot program focused on the Kennedy station for the past three years to reduce youth loitering in transit stations and on the transit system. In partnership with Toronto Parks and Recreation, East Metro Youth Services, and the YMCA, and with project funding through Human Resources Development Canada and the provincial Solicitor General, 2 FTE youth workers have been working to divert youth from hanging out at subway stations, and to involve them in more appropriate recreational activities. Human Resources Development Canada has recently extended the project funding for January - March 1999 to serve the Bloor, Dundas West, Dufferin, Bathurst and Spadina Stations.

Provincial Government:

The Ministry of Education and Training has the overall funding and policy development responsibility for education in the province. The provincial government in the past year has announced significant reforms to the education funding formula, and to the curriculum. This year the government will be spending $15.4 billion on elementary and secondary education. In November, the Premier announced changes to the proposed funding model that will permanently inject an additional $211 million into the system for school operations and renewal. Eighty-seven million will also be provided to ensure that no school board receives less operating money in 1999/2000 than it receives in 1998/99.

The Ministry of Education and Training has recently begun a consultation process on strengthening the existing Violence Free School Policy for the province. The Ministry's consultation will examine and seek input and examples of best practices on issues such as: what type of behaviour is expected in school; ensuring students feel safe in reporting violence; the need for students to know that there will be meaningful consequences for those who use violence; and the need for students to be supported in developing skills to solve problems in non-violent ways.

As required by the Young Offender's Act, the Ministry of the Attorney General has established a complete justice system for young offenders which is separate from the adult system. The province provides court facilities court staff, judges and prosecutors for these courts. In central Toronto, young offenders appear in a separate building at 311 Jarvis Street; in other parts of the city, young offenders appear in the same buildings as adults, but at specially designated times and in designated courtrooms. The custodial facilities for youth are separated from the adult facilities.

In order to deal more effectively with minor offences, court processes have been established in which youth who acknowledge responsibility for minor offences are diverted from the court process to alternative measures programs operated by Probation Services. The Ministry of the attorney General has also sponsored several peer mediation programs. In 1999, the Province is establishing pilot Youth Justice Committees in an attempt to find better ways to deal with non-violent offenders. These committees will involve community members in developing solutions to deal with youth crime. One of these pilots will be located in the City of Toronto.

In 1997/98, the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services allocated over $600,000.00 in crime prevention grants targeted at preventing youth crime in 20 communities in Ontario, including outreach service for at-risk youth and families in Toronto. Examples of programs in Toronto are the Dufferin Mall Youth Services program, the Children Safety Village and the TTC Youth Outreach program.

Recommended Actions:

A review of the range of initiatives demonstrates that there is significant work underway in many sectors toward reducing the incidence of youth violence in schools. But, change can only happen if there is a concerted political commitment to provide some sustained focus and priority to this issue.

In the short term, it is proposed that there be specific targeted initiatives to address some of the most significant and obvious gaps in the existing system, and to demonstrate some immediate commitment to ensuring youth safety in schools. Over the longer term, there needs to be sustained attention and commitment toward a coordinated set of strategies and interventions.

Meeting with Youth on Violence in Schools:

A consistent message was that youth need to be part of the solution, and in particular, youth that have experienced violence or who have committed violent offences. Often, youth feel they are not listened to, or that their perceptions and views of the issues are different than those of adults. The Children and Youth Action Committee has recently established a Youth Cabinet. The Youth Cabinet is an excellent forum through which issues of youth violence in schools can be discussed. The Mayor's initiative provides an excellent opportunity to begin a dialogue between the City, the boards of education, the Police and youth to discuss the issue and share ideas.

(1)It is recommended that the Children and Youth Advocate and the Youth Cabinet convene a meeting on Youth Violence in Schools. The Youth Cabinet should assist in bringing together a diverse and representative group of youth from across the City. Particular attention should be paid to reaching out to youth who have been involved in gangs or violence in schools. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the issue of youth violence in schools and the actions proposed in this report, with the aim of developing an action plan endorsed by youth. This meeting should be convened for May 1999.

Police and Education Partnerships:

It has already been identified that police involvement in schools is valuable and necessary for reducing youth violence in and around schools. However, the allocation of officers to schools is completely decentralized with little coordination across divisions and inconsistent involvement from school to school and across Divisions. The result is that some school, and student populations are relatively well- served, while others are sorely under-served. There is also no consistent approach to what role the Police play in the schools. At this point, the relationship between the schools and the police is largely dependent on the relationship between the principal and the Division, and on the allocation of police resources at the Divisional level.

There are several aspects to police involvement in schools. At the elementary school level, involvement focuses on familiarizing children with the role of the police and establishing police officers as positive role models and supports for children. At the high school level, police officers continue to play a mentoring role and serve as positive role models, but there is also an enforcement role required when police are called in to respond to incidents. As previously identified, the Police and Boards of Education are working together to expand the Student Crimestoppers Program across the City.

The school boards and the police have recently begun developing a protocol which sets out the agreed upon working relationship and appropriate responses to incidents requiring police intervention or involvement. The protocol is being designed to encourage, enable and maintain a positive relationship between the Toronto Police Service and the school boards, the students, staff and the community. It is expected that a draft protocol will be ready for release this spring. To effectively implement the protocol there must also be a commitment for the appropriate staff training.

(2)In order to respond to specific incidents of violence in schools, the City encourages the Boards of Education and the Police Department to complete the preparation of the Protocol on Police Involvement in Schools and requests the Boards of Education and Police to implement this protocol at the beginning of the fall 1999 school year.

Although the Protocol is one positive step forward, there remain some other critical areas that also need immediate attention. First and foremost, there is no consistency in how School Liaison officers are assigned, what level of support they should be providing or what role they play in schools. At this time, the most prominent program that police are involved in related to preventing violence in schools is the VIP program, which is offered to some schools in three Divisions in the City. In Division 23 in Etobicoke, there is also one officer providing the DARE program to some elementary schools.

A priority must be developing a coordinated strategy between the police and the boards of education that focuses on providing a more equitable and consistent police presence in schools, and also providing models or guidelines for what kind of police involvement there should be and its relationship to the broader school curriculum. The strategy should provide curriculum options that are sensitive to the variation in needs across communities, and that build on existing programs that have already proven effective. The other critical partner in working through both the protocol and the roles is the Public Health Department because of the integral role it presently plays in schools.

As a first step, it is proposed that the Police and Boards of Education commit to piloting violence prevention programs in three underserved (relative to police presence in schools) areas. The initiatives should be focused on prevention strategies and how to respond to incidents of violence and should target children in Grades 6-9. The pilots should be evaluated for their effectiveness, and cost implications of extending beyond the pilot phase. An external agency such as Central Toronto Youth Services should be approached to conduct the evaluation, in cooperation with the Police and Boards of Education.

(3)It is recommended that the Police, the Boards of Education and the Public Health Department immediately begin working on a Violence Prevention Partnership Strategy focusing on involvement in elementary and high schools, that would be implemented this fall. The strategy must identify the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners, and demonstrate a commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure that violence prevention and police awareness programs in schools are better coordinated and more equitably distributed across the City.

(4)It is recommended that the Police and School Boards immediately identify three priority areas across the City that would benefit from increased police presence in schools, and pilot violence prevention programs. This would include providing the adequate police resources to be involved in the program and a commitment from the Boards of Education to allow curriculum time and teaching support for this initiative. It is proposed that the pilots run for one year with the evaluation to include the cost implications of extending the program beyond the pilot phase, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in responding to youth violence issues. These pilots would be one component of the Violence Prevention Partnership Strategy identified above.

Peer Programs, Role Models and Mentoring: Toronto Raptors Slam Dunk Youth Violence Program

In addition to the important role that police and the City play in working with schools, there are also a number of successful programs offered by community-based organizations and the private sector that are available to schools and communities. These range from peer theatre, youth speakouts on anti-violence and anti-drugs, sports celebrities visiting schools, and one-on-one mentoring opportunities. It is proposed that the City and the Boards of Education work together to establish a comprehensive listing of the available programs, who they target and how they can be accessed as a resource for schools.

One specific initiative that warrants attention is the Toronto Raptors Slam Dunk Youth Violence program, a school assembly format being designed to address the issue of youth violence, in partnership with the Canadian Safe School Network. With the abbreviated basketball season this year, approximately five high schools will be visited this spring. Ultimately it is anticipated that 20visits to selected schools can be made in a season. The Police, Boards of Education, City of Toronto are supporting this initiative, with a community reference group with representatives from these jurisdictions, as well as others being established.

(5)It is recommended that the Mayor endorse the Raptors' Slam Dunk Youth Violence initiative as one positive example of a multi-sectoral partnership with a major sports organization to respond to the issue of youth violence.

Anti-Gang Awareness Campaign:

The Toronto District School Board has taken the initiative of developing an anti-gang poster and pamphlet campaign to increase awareness about youth gangs. The campaign will be one important way of informing parents, youth and the public about youth gangs and what they can do about it. This initiative is one opportunity to demonstrate a joint commitment across sectors to addressing the issue of youth gangs.

(6)It is recommended that the City, the Police Department, and the Province, under the leadership of the TDSB, endorse and support the Anti-Gang Awareness Campaign. Specifically, each of the partners should contribute $6,000.00 toward this initiative. The City should also participate in the distribution of the poster and pamphlet through Parks and Recreation centres, and other City sites frequented by youth and their families.

Recreational and Skills Development Programs for Youth:

The need for more recreational and skills development programs, particularly for vulnerable youth was identified over and over again. Youth who have constructive opportunities to participate in recreational and social activities are less likely to commit violent acts or to be victims of violence.

The City provides support to community-based programs youth programs through grants. As well, the Parks and Recreation Department provide a broad range of recreation programs to youth and some specific programs for youth at risk. The Children and Youth Action Committee is currently developing a Youth profile, which will include a preliminary audit of programs for youth provided by the City. An opportunity afforded through this initiative is to specifically identify the range of programs for youth at risk available throughout the City.

(7)It is recommended that a full audit of existing City- funded community-based programs and City Parks and Recreation programs for youth, and youth at risk be undertaken as part of the Youth Profile initiative of the Children and Youth Action Committee.

From the perspective of involving youth in recreation programs, there appear to be two key issues: one is having the resources for youth outreach in communities; the second is ensuring that the youth programs offered in the recreation centres are attractive to and appropriate for youth in the community.

The Parks and Recreation Department currently has one youth outreach worker in the Malvern community in North Scarborough. This position has proven highly effective in encouraging youth participation in recreation settings, and more generally, in linking at- risk youth with other supports that through the Malvern Youth Resource Centre. The youth outreach model has also been effective in diverting youth from hanging out at subway stations, as demonstrated in the TTC pilot project.

The Parks and Recreation Department has identified a number of communities where youth outreach is a particular priority: Kingston Road/ Galloway/ Heron Park area, the former City of York, Jane/ Finch and Falstaff communities, Regent Park and Ward 24 (the downtown core). There are some common characteristics that indicate there are more youth at risk in those communities, or that there is a greater need for more proactive intervention so that youth are aware of the range of programs available to them. These characteristics include: a high incidence of poverty as reflected in low family incomes and numbers of families on social assistance; high densities of public housing; relatively high numbers of youth in relation to the overall population; prevalence of violence and gang related activity reported in the community; and high numbers of families who have recently immigrated to Canada, and for whom English is often not a first or second language. These communities have also been identified because there are existing community service networks for a youth worker to tap into. It is estimated that the annual cost of funding an outreach worker would be $35,000.00.

The second issue is ensuring that the available recreational programming is appropriate for a broad range of youth, and particularly youth at risk. This requires looking at innovative, new approaches to reducing barriers to participation, and making services accessible and relevant to youth at risk. It also requires that youth be involved in developing and evaluating the recreation programs for their use. The Parks and Recreation Department has struck a Youth at Risk Project Team to develop a strategy for improving access to programs for youth at risk. This strategy will be developed for implementation in the fall programming schedule.

(8)It is recommended that access to recreation programs for youth at risk, and developing appropriate programs for youth at risk be a priority for the Parks and Recreation Department. To that end, it is recommended that the Department propose a feasible strategy for improving access and services for youth at risk, to be implemented in the fall programming schedule. This will require that funding implications be identified during the 1999 budget process. It is critical that this strategy also include a process for involving youth in identifying, designing and evaluating programs.

A more targeted group of youth are those involved in street gangs. The Toronto Parks and Recreation Department has initiated discussions with the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department in an effort to learn more about working with youth involved in street gangs. The Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department has successfully used innovative approaches with youth in the Watts area of Los Angeles, and a researcher from California State University, Jack Foley, has written a book based on their work.

Toronto Parks and Recreation are currently arranging for Jack Foley, and a senior staff of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, Glenda Howley, to come to Toronto to share their knowledge and experience with City staff . Accompanying them will be three Los Angeles Parks and Recreation youth outreach workers who will stay in Toronto for a three week period to "hit the streets" with Toronto Parks and Recreation staff - meeting youth at-risk and finding ways to get youth involved in recreation as an alternative to gang activity. Parks and Recreation will also be inviting other City departments, such as Public Health and Community and Neighbourhood Services, and staff in youth-serving agencies to participate in this initiative.

Community Access to Schools:

The recent threat of school closures as a result of changes to the provincial education funding formula and the current discussions between the Boards of Education and the City are highlighting the importance of schools as community buildings. Already 60 TCDSB schools have been closed for community use - which is a warning flag that the role of schools may change in light of the revisions to the school funding formula. Recent deputations to the City's School Tax Committee reflected the concerns that many residents have of the impact of further restricting community access to schools, including the impact on youth violence. Community based organizations, the City, and officials within the Boards of Education have all identified the importance of access to school space in maintaining programs for youth that would keep then engaged and diverted from less desirable activities.

In November, the Premier announced changes to the proposed funding model that will permanently inject an additional $211 million into the system for school operations and renewal. Eighty-seven million will also be provided to ensure that no school board receives less operating money in 1999/2000 than it receives in 1998/99. The Boards of Education and the City are just in the process of examining how the revisions to the funding formula will impact on community use of schools. In light of the funding formula changes, it is apparent that a more strategic approach toward community use may be required. However, the Boards and the City will not be in a position to comment on the specific impacts of the funding changes on school closures or community use until the spring.

Monitoring Youth Safety in Schools:

A key emphasis must be for all sectors to continue working in a sustained and coordinated way to decrease the incidence of youth violence in schools. One important element of this is developing a monitoring tool that can be used in schools and communities to gauge progress in reducing both the incidence of violence and the perception of youth safety in schools.

It is proposed that an annual monitoring report be developed by the Boards of Education Research Departments, with the cooperation of community-based organizations such as Central Toronto Youth Services. The basis for the monitoring report would be a questionnaire administered to youth in high schools in the City, and in a cross-section of community programs, such as parks and recreation. The questionnaire could be used by school principals to monitor student's perceptions of safety in schools.

(9)It is recommended that an annual monitoring report on youth safety in schools be developed by the Boards of Education and the Police. A questionnaire would be administered to high school students each fall beginning in 1999.

Early Intervention Programming:

The importance of positive parenting skills, good nutrition programs, early nutrition, high quality pre-school programs and child care are all essential to support children's healthy development. There are currently a broad range of programs offered by Public Health, Community and Neighbourhood Services, and the Boards of Education. Fraser Mustard is currently preparing a report on Readiness to Learn, which will provide direction for ensuring that children have the appropriate programs and supports available so that they begin school ready to learn. The Children and Youth Action Committee will also be producing a Children's Report Card later this spring that will establish some indicators for assessing children's well-being in the City.

A particular issue that has been identified by the boards of education is the need for enhanced speech and language services in the school system. Research has demonstrated that early speech and language delays are highly related to language learning, academic, social and behavioural problems in the school years. The provincial government has introduced the Toronto Preschool Speech and Language system as part of a province-wide initiative to ensure that all preschool children with speech and language disorders receive services to better prepare them for school. This is a very positive initiative as it is expected to enhance the speech and language services for pre-schoolers and ultimately reduce the long -term need for special education services in schools. However, the benefits of greatly enhanced preschool speech and language will be lost without equally enhanced speech and language services in the school systems to support students further language learning and curriculum development, particularly in their early school years. Speech and language services in the school boards are well below levels required to meet the needs, which is recognized at 10percent of the school population.

Safe Schools Policy:

The Minister of Education has recently invited education stakeholders to participate in consultations on school safety to be considered as the provincial government moves to establishes provincial-wide standards for safety in schools. The Ontario Crime Control Commission, in its Youth Crime report has suggested policies such as zero tolerance for violent or disorderly behaviour, short term placement centres for initial behavioural misconduct, and suspension or expulsion for specified violent or threatening behaviours. The Minister has also identified possible options, such as introducing dress-codes and behavioural standards in schools.

The TCDSB currently has policies in place to deal with issues of violence: Violence Prevention Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy and Guidelines and the Conflict Resolution Policy, Regulations and guidelines. These policies will need to be reviewed once the provincial safety standards are released. The TDSB has currently drafted a new Safe Schools policy that will apply across the newly amalgamated board. The Board will release the policy for consultation concurrent with the release of the provincial guidelines.

(10)It is recommended that the City encourage the Ministry of Education and Training and the Boards of Education to bring forward and implement anti-violence policies in schools as quickly as possible. These policies must make it clear that violence, weapons, and gang activity will be met with immediate and substantive consequences, but also recognize that meaningful strategies and alternative programs must be available to support youth and respond effectively to meet their needs.

(11)It is recommended that staff awareness and training be a key component of implementing Board policies related to safe schools, with an emphasis on ensuring that staff are equipped to deal effectively with violent incidents as they arise.

Programs for Youth in need:

Young offenders often experience tremendous difficulty enrolling in schools, and the demand for programs to serve youth with severe developmental or behavioural needs greatly exceeds the supply. School boards currently provide a range of alternative programs, sometimes in partnership with community-based agencies and treatment facilities to meet the very specialized learning needs for these youth.

An example of a successful model of service is the Metro Program for Expelled Students, a jointly funded program between the Ministry of Education and Training and the TDSB. Funding is provided on a year by year basis. It is a voluntary program that involved parents and community-based agencies. It provides individualized programs for students and is conducted outside of school board property. The Hincks Treatment Centre is involved as part of a support team, which is critical to the model's success.

Funding for programs such as the Metro Program for Expelled Students needs to be incorporated into a long term funding commitment by the Ministry to ensure stability and continuity of programs in both boards of education. The number and range of programs needs to adequately reflect the needs and the demands, as reflected by the number of youth involved in serious incidents of violence on school property or in the community.

Mediation as a First Response:

City of Toronto consultations on the Young Offenders Act led by Councillor Dennis Fotinos and the work of the Community Safety Task Force identified the importance of developing effective alternative measures to the court system. Because young offender cases often involve an exploration of procedural and legal issues and the case processing is dependant upon the availability of defence counsel, it is not unusual for several months to pass between the time of the offence and the disposition. It was identified that it still takes one to three years for first time young offenders to go through the courts - which means that the ability of the system to respond effectively and in a timely manner, where youth are held accountable for their actions is limited.

Alternative justice models are being explored through the school system, as well as in community-based agencies as means of providing a more accountable and effective response to dealing with youth crime. The Ministry of the Attorney General has very recently announced that the City of Toronto will be one of six locations across the province where Youth Justice Committees are piloted.

Boards of Education are also being funded to pilot restorative justice models, including diversionary peer mediation in schools. Restorative measures effectively address a wide variety of issues in school settings including truancy, bullying, harassment, and criminal cases. It offers a means for facilitating change in individuals and allows for referral to services for related problems such as anger management, chemical dependency or abuse counselling. The benefits of Restorative Justice models are: it helps keep youth connected to their schools; it decreases the disruption to the education of offenders and victims; it offers the victim and offender support and resolution to the issues; it strengthens home, school, police and community partnerships; and it reduces the financial, emotional and quality of life costs of crime.

The provincial government's commitment to alternative methods of dealing with non-violent offenders is a positive one. However, in implementing the various pilots, it is critical that there be coordination between the community-based Youth Justice Committees and the restorative justice models and diversionary peer mediation models in schools.

(12)The Province, led by the Ministry of the Attorney General, in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Boards of Education should evaluate existing initiatives, identify opportunities for expanding alternative sentencing options, and establish a protocol on the respective roles and responsibilities of the community-based agencies, and the schools involved in these initiatives.

Changes to the Young Offenders Act:

The Mayor has recently forwarded the Report of the Mayor's Task Force on Young Offenders, a consultation paper on proposed changes to the Young Offenders Act, chaired by Councillor Fotinos, to the Federal Minister of Justice. The report outlines the views of City residents on the Young Offenders Act, and the changes required to improve the Act.

One of the changes proposed in this paper is to reduce the complexity involved in determining whether statements by young offenders can be admitted as rules of evidence. The rules of evidence established in the Young Offenders Act make proof of cases where there are no independent eyewitnesses very difficult. The police and the Ministry of the Attorney General have identified the rigidity in the current system as being a key impediment to getting a statement from youth admitted as evidence.

It was also identified that for a very small number of youth, counselling and rehabilitation is not effective, particularly within the time constraints (3 years maximum sentence) under the YOA. For these few individuals, consideration should be given to increasing their sentences, provided the appropriate supports/ programs are available for the youth while in custody.

(13)It is recommended that the Federal Minister of Justice act quickly to make changes to the Young Offenders Act, and that she consider the comments and suggestions identified in the Report of the Mayor's Task Force on Young Offenders in amending the Act.

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Appendix 1

High Level Summary of the Range of Programs and Initiatives provided by the Boards of Education

Curriculum-based programs address many topics including, but not limited to, anti-bullying, communication skills, decision-making/ problem solving, leadership, team building, violence prevention, social skills development, and anger management.

Diversionary Peer Mediation Pilot Programs

Crisis Prevention and Intervention Programs

Anger Management Programs

Conflict Resolution/ Peer Mediation Programs

School Watch and Crimestoppers

SAVE (Students Against Violent Environments)

Alternate Secondary School Programs such as Metro Program for Expelled Students, SALEP, CAPSULE, ACE and SPACES for youth suspended from school

Resources, such as the booklet, Peacemaking in Elementary Schools are available which identify commonly used

Truancy Officers and Court Liaison Officers (TDSB only)

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Appendix 2

Toronto Parks and Recreation Special Initiatives for Youth

Toronto Parks and Recreation offers many excellent special initiatives for youth and at-risk youth. The following brief inventory illustrates the variety of creative approaches used by parks and recreation staff and youth in many communities across the city.

2.1 Chalkfarm Junior Youth Outdoor Recreation Camp:

Thirty youth ages 11 to 15 attend a summer youth camp at Chalkfarm Community Centre. Youth in the program work with staff to plan a two-night outdoor camping experience at Oba-sa-teeka Scout Reserve near Egbert, Ontario. The youth raise $500 to cover the cost of bussing and accommodation and get food donations so that everyone can go. In the weeks before the trip, youth learn orienteering and camping skills and about nature in the outdoor environment. They plan special outdoor group activities of interest in an outdoor setting. Parents are involved through parent meetings.

2.2Young Women's Soccer at Chalkfarm:

Young women 13 to 15 attend a Young Women's Club program at Chalkfarm Community Centre. As a special component of their summer program, the girls obtained a sponsorship from the Jane/Wilson Mall that covered the cost of joining the North York Soccer League, their team uniforms and some equipment.

2.3FOCUS Against Substance Abuse Youth Drop-in Program:

At the O'Connor Community Centre Toronto Parks and Recreation has a joint initiative with the O'Connor FOCUS Against Substance Abuse, a Community Agency. The Youth Drop-in is a program for youth ages 13-21 yrs. It is a combination of life skills, resume writing, job search skills, discussions on youth related issues, stress management, healthy life style alternatives, education on alcohol and substance misuse, guest speakers and basketball skills development. The program operated during our fall session Saturday afternoons from 3:00p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Short term results included more ownership for the O'Connor Community Centre, rise in youth volunteers in our Snack Bar, Children's Program and community events, youth accepting ownership and responsibility for their actions, increased in the awareness of youth related issues, i.e., basketball scholarships and S. A. T. (Scholastic Assessment Test) and more awareness of the enrolment process of Colleges and Universities in the US and Canada.

2.4Driftwood Substance Abuse Community Action Group:

Children, as young as six, and youth have been found sniffing glue at local schools and community centres. Toronto Parks and Recreation staff have taken the lead role to pull together cultural organizations, such as the Canadian Cambodian Association, public health, drug addiction services, youth clinical services, youth council representatives and many others to learn about the issue of substance abuse by children and youth and to develop community-based strategies to reduce glue sniffing and substance abuse. Many groups are now coordinating their efforts to offer positive alternatives to substance abuse to youth in the community.

2.5Rose Park Community Centre's Young Women's LEAD Program:

Young women participate in a social educational program that they design. The aim of the program is to empower young women through discussion and learning about topics of top priority to them including sexuality, educational opportunities, entrepreneurial skills. In addition, young women from this community have just returned from a young women's conference in Hamilton, Ontario.

2.6Rose Park Community Centre's LEAD Program for Young Men:

Basketball is the draw for male youth in this community centre. Youth play ball and spend time doing homework and learning life skills, as well.

2.7Parkdale Community Centre HYPE (Helping Young People Excel) Program:

Youth in the Parkdale community have some really exciting recreation underway. They are looking at how their recreation interest can be used to develop their professional selves. Some are involved in learning about mural painting and subsequently been employed to paint them in the community. Others have been involved in getting a radio station and a newspaper underway. And yet others are developing films that are letting youth express themselves.

2.8Partners in Prevention:

A collaborative partnership of agencies, volunteers and organizations focuses on the prevention of injury for children and families in the North York District, Parks and Recreation Department. The program has been in place for four years through the support funding from Bloorview Children's Hospital Foundation and North York Public Health. Participation from regional hospitals, Parks and Recreation, Race and Ethnic Relations Committee, schools board, volunteers, Bloorview, public health and other organizations have made the program a real success. Activities are structured through workgroups focussed on road safety, home safety, and violence prevention.

2.9Pro-action Program:

Youth in the Danforth and Coxwell area have benefited from a joint program from Parks and Recreation, Community Health Centre, Toronto Police, Local BIA's and a local City Home Complex. The project was started in response to concerns about youth harassment, bullying and property damage within local schools, housing complexes and surrounding neighbourhoods. Goals were to develop positive relationships between community institutions, reduce reports of delinquency, create positive encounters between youth and business owners and police. Funding was applied through the Crime Prevention Investment Fund. Parks and Recreation played a major role in this project. The creation of Fairmont Community Centre will help to ensure that programming for youth is identified as a priority in this community.

2.10Kennedy Subway Youth Workers:

Parks and Recreation together with the TTC, East Metro Youth Services, and the YMCA have expanded the availability of youth workers at Kennedy Subway Station to deal with youth violence and anti-social behaviour. The program is aimed at youth 13 years of age and older.

2.11Outdoor Recreation Experience

A joint initiative between Bluewater Overnight Camps and the John Innes Community Recreation Centre prepare youth for a 12 day overnight experience on the coast of Lake Huron. Target youth from Moss Park, Regent Park, Cabbage Town, and St. Jamestown participated in leadership development experiences in an outdoor setting. Youth participated in horseback riding, touring coast guard boats, first aid training, nature excursions, a wide range of physical pursuits, and an extensive leadership development course. Short term measurable results included: dramatic increase in the number of youth using the community centre, ownership for youth lounge, reduction in youth related issues at the centre, rise in youth volunteers.

2.12Gardening Opportunity for Youth Aged 16 to 24:

Food Share Metro Toronto, with the support with the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Department and Youth Services Canada, hired 14 staff positions for youth in a 6 month long internship program beginning in the Spring of 1998. At risk youth, often homeless, worked with skilled teachers learning about themselves and gardening, while helping community gardening groups to establish successful gardening plots.

2.13Marshal-in-Training Program:

Offered in the West Region, North York District, Toronto Parks and Recreation at all arenas for youth between 14 and 17 years of age. The M.I.T. is designed to assist youth to develop leadership skills, achieve personal growth and increase their potential for employment. Workshops on safety, customer service, communication and conflict resolution are offered. Volunteer opportunities are also offered where they can apply the techniques and skills they have learned.

2.14Youth Basketball League:

In partnership with the Toronto Police, Toronto Parks and Recreation offers a basketball league for youth aged 13 to 15 at Malvern, North Kipling, Driftwood, Harbourfront and Regent Park Community Centres. Youth participate in life skills workshops in addition to regular league play.

2.15Discovery Walk Program:

The program contributes to the awareness of Toronto's parks and ravines systems, promoting community interaction and safer trails. The target group is mostly children with some representation of the 13-14 age group. Partners include the Boards of Education, Toronto Field Naturalists, Design Development and Maintenance, Parks and Recreation.

2.16Youth Fitness Centre:

At S.H. Armstrong Community Recreation Centre, youth aged 12-15 years are encouraged to participate in fitness training and healthy lifestyles. As well as having a fitness benefit, the program provides the staff with an avenue to work on overall communication and program input from the youth in the community. It also provides an additional constructive outlet for youth involvement.

2.17High Risk Youth Program:

Jimmie Simpson Community Recreation Centre with the support of the Advisory Council offers a youth program from 5-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri. from June 28-Sept 4. and in the Fall and winter Monday and Saturday evenings. The program is geared to high risk youth in the community and provides youth with an opportunity to participate in physical, social, and creative programs. Leadership training and opportunities are provided through a volunteer development program. Approx. 14 males and 16 females between 14-17 years of age attend the program.

2.18York Youth Basketball League:

Toronto Parks and Recreation offers a basketball league for youth ages 7-15. There are 175players and operates out of George Harvey C.I. and Centennial Recreation Centre in the Keele and Eglinton Ave. West area. Sponsorship from local politicians and business was obtained. Volunteer development is a goal of the program over the next few year so that they can assume leadership and administration of the league.

2.19Surf the Net for a Job:

McCormick and Regent Park Community Recreation Centres offer youth an opportunity to gain Internet access through the HRDC program. Youth are provided with information and assistance in job search, resume and interview skills. Older youth are able to book times to use the computers and gain access to the internet.

2.20Youth Physical Recreation Programs:

Staff at St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre and the Advisory Council are exploring options to expand the youth program due to cut backs in the Board of Education Gym time and a rapidly growing youth population. Space and funding are being secured to house ball hockey, indoor soccer, basketball, and roller skating. Volunteer opportunities in youth leadership are also planned as part of the new initiative. An aggressive campaign to obtain funding from corporate sponsors is planned.

2.21Youth Leadership:

The goals of good nutrition, physical activity, and the non-use of tobacco are the goals of a joint program between Toronto Parks and Recreation, School Boards and Toronto Public Health. Various locations throughout the city are being utilized. Target groups are grades6, 7, 8. Components of leadership training will allow the youth to become mentors and promoters of Heart Health to their own peer groups within their schools and communities. Budget for the program comes from the Ministry of Health.

2.22Youth Leadership Camp:

The Scarborough District of Toronto Parks and Recreation offers leadership opportunities at Camp Samac in partnership with Community Services and the Police. Target groups are youth aged 12-18 years of age who may be at risk.

2.23Youth Drop In Programs:

Across the new city, several opportunities exist for youth to drop in to a variety of programs that promote positive use of leisure time and appropriate socialization and health education. There are a variety of partners that include: Community Services, World Churches, Apartment Co-ops, Youth Employment.

2.24Street Buds Hockey Program:

Partners in this successful program include: Nike Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs, Parks and Recreation. Target audience is 13-16 years of age. Hockey skills, role modelling and proper use of leisure time are program goals.

2.25Malvern Youth Resource Centre:

The East District, Toronto Parks and Recreation together with Malvern Family Resource Centre, Public Health and Youth Link offer a successful program to youth aged 13-24 years of age. Program content includes life skills, health and successful use of leisure time.

2.26John Innes Community Recreation Centre:

Provides a variety of programming for youth ages 13-20 years old. In the combined communities of Moss Park, Regent Park, and St. Jamestown, staff have made youth a priority and worked to develop the Teen Leadership Development Program. Program objectives include: increasing participants abilities to work as leaders, role models and team members, job search skills through volunteer opportunities, certification program, drug prevention, and to raise self-esteem. This program operated in the summer months and included a three day canoe trip to McCrae Lake. For many participants this was the first time they had seen stars, cooked over an open fire, or slept in a tent.

2.27Bell Raptor Ball Instructional Basketball Program at Various Locations:

Target ages are for children and youth aged 6-14 and older. Provides after school programming, speciality skill development, role modelling, positive use of free time. Additional goals are to provide youth with the opportunity to learn the skills involved in basketball in a safe recreational setting at no or minimal cost. Locations include: Roding Community Centre, Humber Summit Middle School, Gosford Public School and East York Community Centre, plus various other locations.

2.28Integration Facilitators-in-Training Program:

An advanced leadership program offers youth aged 14-17 in the North District an opportunity to work with children with a disability.

2.29Regent Park and Alexandra Park High Risk Youth Project:

These specific initiatives address violence issues in local communities that are considered high risk.

2.30P.R.I.D.E.(Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education) East York Youth Against Drugs:

This is a self directed program for young people who promote a drug-free lifestyle to their friends through songs, skits and dance. This program helps youth develop their creative and artistic skills, public speaking skills, and builds self-esteem.

2.31Youth Speak Out East York:

This initiative was held in the East York region and gave youth an opportunity to speak-out on a number of issues that affected youth and their lives and to assist them in making wise decisions around staying in school, drug free lifestyles and broader community service.

2.32Bob Abate Youth Cooking for Each Other:

Youth are cooking for one another at the Bob Abate Community Recreation Centre. This program provides a great opportunity to learn cooking skills, nutritional information, and social skills.

2.33North District, West Region Leadership in Training Programs:

Year round opportunities are available for youth ages 14 to 17 to participate in structured leadership programs. In the fall/winter/spring, participants attend bi-weekly workshops on leadership skills, communication, anti-bias programming, conflict resolution, child development and are placed in children=s and youth programs throughout the region. In the summer, a four-level leadership program is offered, starting at the leadership camp level for youth 12 to 13. In leadership camp, participants are offered an introduction to leadership through the group development process. There are several opportunities for youth 14 to 17, including theory and placement program in our summer camps and advanced leadership through our Junior Leader and Integration Facilitator- in-Training Programs.

2.34Playmobile Program:

In the North District, West Region, a van, fully loaded with recreation equipment and supplies, staffed by two qualified, trained leaders, visit local parks and other hang-outs of at-risk youth during the summer. The target audience is youth 10 to 17. Special events are held throughout the summer, including out trips and tournaments. The goal of the program is to reach youth at-risk, youth with a disability, new Canadian youth, and young women, and to provide opportunities to connect them with community centre activities.

2.35Rexdale Youth Resource Centre:

Rexdale Youth Resource Centre is a collaborative community partnership offering employment, education, health, recreation, and personal services to youth. It is a resource centre for Etobicoke youth between the ages of 15 to 24. The centre is designed to assist young people secure and maintain employment while fostering an atmosphere of personal growth and development.

2.36Rockcliffe Youth Centre:

Rockcliffe Youth Centre services the youth living in the Jane/Woolner area. Many of the youth living in this area would be considered at risk due to various socio and economic factors. Currently, Toronto Parks and Recreation is in partnership with Syme/Woolner Neighbourhood Association as well as Toronto Housing Authority in the summer to provide a yearly vibrant, quality recreation drop-in program.

2.37Kesri Foundation Tutorial Program:

This program targets Punjabi youth for whom English is a second language. The intent is to support and encourage children and youth in their school work.

2.38Oriole - Woodbine Junior Youth Leader Program:

An innovative partnership program between a school and recreation centre which provides practical training and peer role models for a lunch time and after school time recreation program for youth.

This initiative is a cooperative venture between the teachers and principal of Woodbine Junior High School and Oriole Community Resource Centre recreation staff. Students who have good grades and who show leadership capabilities are picked by teachers and referred to the recreation centre's leadership program. Chosen students receive training with Parks and Recreation (leadership skills, first aid etc.) and an opportunity to practice their skills by assisting at the youth program which is operated for their peers, while being supervised by senior recreation staff. Through this placement of part volunteer work and part paid, the students learn the craft of recreation leadership and set a good example for their peers. A requirement of the program is that all leadership students must keep up their grades.

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Appendix 3

Grants Programs related to the issue of Youth Violence funded by the City of Toronto

The Community Services Grants Programs (C.S.G.P.) represents a combination of 10 existing grants programs, including East York Community Grants, Etobicoke Community Service and Development Grants, Metro Community Resources Fund, Metro Emergency Support Fund, Metro Special Projects Grants, North York General and Sustaining Grants, Scarborough Grants to Organizations, Toronto General Grants, and York Community Service Grants.

C.S.G.P. funds 69 agencies across the City that deliver programs for at-risk youth, which include programs and counselling to reduce violence. For example, the East Metro Youth Services youth violence prevention program incorporates peer mediation, conflict resolution and anger management training for youth in the former City of Scarborough and former Borough of East York.

The City also provides support to community projects through Breaking the Cycle of Violence grants, Access and Equity grants, Drug Abuse Prevention grants, and Recreation grants. Breaking the Cycle of Violence grants focus explicitly on violence prevention, while the other grants support projects that prevent violence through community capacity building projects.

Breaking the Cycle of Violence grants supports community agencies in working to prevent violence against women and other vulnerable groups in the community. In 1998, 14 grants totalling $133,500.00 were approved for projects for children and youth. Community organizations are engaging youth in violence prevention through a variety of approaches, including peer education, leadership development, and conflict resolution programs. Seven projects have significant connections to youth in school settings. For example, Youthlink Inner City's Peer Education program will train youth Peer Educators who have had difficulties with violence and have successfully completed anger management and violence reduction training. Abrigo will provide violence prevention workshops for 1,000 children aged 12-14 in 12 schools serving the Portuguese community.

(A copy of Appendix 4, entitled "Public Health Interventions to Address Youth Violence School Based and Community", which was attached to the foregoing report, was forwarded to all Members of Council with the February 23, 1999, agenda of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)