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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-018-08 ClfJlmglOn REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE July 7, 2008 Resolution #~ 02: Date: Report #: CSD-018-08 File#: By-law #: Subject: GRADE 5 ACTION PASS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report CSD-018-08 be received for information. Submitted by: Jos h P. Caruana Dir tor of Community Services RevieWedbY:()~"":'~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer JPC/SM/EM/jm CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5506 REPORT NO.: CSD-01S-0S PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Durham Lives! was formed in 1998 as a result of funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Durham Lives! promotes physical activity, healthy eating and smoke-free living for a healthy community. Our working group focuses on the Physical Activity component. 1.2 Representatives in the Physical Activity group are from the Municipalities of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington, as well as the Oshawa YMCA, the Region of Durham - Health Department, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Oshawa Senior Citizens' Centre and Metroland News Group. 1.3 Just over one third of children and youth meet the guidelines for optimal growth and healthy development (Active Healthy Kids Canada, 2008). Children's habitual physical activity levels are low, and more importantly, these levels decline dramatically from childhood through adolescence. In addition to their bodies changing and activity levels going down, adolescence is an age where the children are becoming more independent and wanting to get involved in their own activities, but at the same time they still have strong family ties, and want to be involved in their family happenings. 1.4 Durham Lives! would like to target ten year olds with a Grade 5 Action Pass, to generate interest in fun activity that may carry on into future years, maintain a regular commitment to fun physical activity throughout their teens, as well as help address the rising obesity and inactivity levels being experienced in this age group. 1.5 The Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass is being targeted to the Grade 5 demographic based on historical research findings on physical activity patterns. Research has revealed that during the pre-teen ages of 11 and 12, a decline in physical activity of teens begins. This trend can be attributed to hormonal changes, rapid growth in the body, peer pressure, self esteem and confidence, related to this age group. 1.6 The Durham Lives! Steering Committee has provided funding of $4,000 for the implementation of a Grade 5 Action Pass this fall. The funds received will be used for promotion of the program, as well as costs associated with providing membership cards. The funds may not be appropriated to the municipalities for fees. 2.0 GRADE 5 ACTION PASS 2.1 The objective of the Grade 5 Action Pass is to reduce financial barriers to youth and promote participation by providing a free activity pass to get more youth more active. REPORT NO.: CSO-D18-08 PAGE 3 2.2 The pass will be offered to all students during the year they are in Grade 5 and will run October 1 st of the year the student is in Grade 5 until August 31 st of the following year. Program availability and schedule is to be determined by each partner municipality/organization. 2.3 In Clarington, we will be opening up the Grade 5 Action Pass to include all public swim and skate times, as well as, our basketball drop-in program (currently no fee). There are many community benefits that can be realized by participating in this program: · Will assist in getting inactive kids off the couch or computer and into our facilities creating a healthier community · Will change lifestyle behaviours in children at an impressionable age whereby they may choose to invest in themselves once they have moved beyond the program by continuing to participate in future grades · Will provide families for which fees may be a barrier to participation, an avenue to participate in our facilities and activities · Will encourage families as a whole to become more active by encouraging participation in our facilities and programs with their Grade 5 child or sibling 2.4 While the program is not unique, it is based on the best practices of Kingston, Lennox & Addington Counties which has provided a similar successful program for the past few years. Their program has been so successful, they have expanded it to include students in Grade 10 as well and is "on the radar" of the Ministry of Health Promotion. 3.0 COMMENTS 3.1 The program's success will be evaluated by the number of participants that are registered for the program. In Clarington, there will be approximately 1,200 Grade 5 students in the 2008/2009 school year. Our aim is for 60% of Grade 5 students in our municipality to redeem their pass and use it consistently throughout the year which translates into 720 students. 3.2 The Durham Lives! Physical Activity Working Group will also conduct surveys pre and post program. At the time of registration, the student will complete a survey and again nearing the end of the program an online survey will be developed that the students will be encouraged to complete to win a prize. We will also conduct a progress tracking activity with the participants at the mid-way point to keep them motivated to continue including physical activity into their daily routine. 3.3 While we do not have statistics for Grade 5 students currently participating in our drop-in skate and swim programs, we are able to extract some information for 2006 and 2007 membership sales to youth who would have been in their Grade REPORT NO.: CSD-018-08 PAGE 4 5 year when the membership was purchased in order to assess any budgetary impact. Overall participation numbers are quite low, as indicated in the following table. 2006 3 2007 3 3.4 Staff do not anticipate any significant budget impact as currently we believe many of the children this pass would target are not participating in drop-in recreational activities at our facilities, therefore not generating any revenue. It is possible that we would expect a revenue increase as it is assumed the student may participate with someone (friend, parent, sibling) who is not in Grade 5 and who is not currently participating. It is also the end goal of this program that students would continue to participate in activities well beyond their Grade 5 year. 3.5 This Grade 5 Action Pass will also assist the Municipality of Clarington in meeting one strategy from the Community Services Business Plan, 'To expand opportunities for children and youth to participate in quality sport and physical activity" .