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Home My WebLink AboutCS-13-94THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON _. i. < .�� iiiiu�i` /• n •' 1, �� 2 I.'r. � •�1 %nl,� � .► 1fa r�`J'.l��c��/ Subject: CLARINGTON YOUTH COMMITTEE Recommendations: It is recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend the following to Council: 1. THAT Report CS -13 -94 be received for information. 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 During the summer of 1992 a community organization, Newcastle Family Connection, initiated a program that attempted to focus on the leisure /recreational needs of youth as an extension of their existing program. In order to operate, the organization (with the support of the Community Services Department) applied for and received funding (approximately $4,800.00) from the then Ministry of Tourism and Recreation to support their "YOUTH CONNECTION' initiative. During the summer and into the fall, a number of programs and activities were offered but, unfortunately, internal problems within the organization resulted in the person, who had been the sole program leader, leaving the organization to pursue new and different interests. The departure of this key individual resulted in the youth initiatives being put on temporary hold. 1.2 The parent organization (Family Connection) felt strongly that there was a need for this type of program initiative however, they realized that they did not have the human resources available to continue this extension of their current program services. In light of this, plus the unused portion of the provincial funding, the Newcastle Family Connection (with the approval of the appropriate Ministry consultant) approached the Community Services Department, in December 1992, to investigate possible ways of the accomplishing the goals that were originally set for the Youth Connection program and to comply with the approved parameters of the provincial funding. ../2 Vf CYCLI THIS PRINTL — FEGY —PAPER REPORT CS -13 -94 .2. APRIL 18, 1994 1.3 To this end, the Community Services Department attempted to establish a network, or focus group, that would attract the interest and participation of individuals and agencies that target youth as clients. In February of 1993 there was an initial gathering of individuals who had expressed interest and concern in the issues effecting youth. Since that initial meeting, much time and effort has been spent facilitating the development of a consistent approach to assess the needs and issues of youth and establishing action plans that will address these. To assist the members to grow and develop with the Committee's objectives, the Community Services Department as with other community organizations has assumed the ongoing role of facilitator /consultant. 2.0 CURRENT COMMITTEE STATUS 2.1 This focus group, now known as the Clarington Youth Committee, has been undergoing the common growing pains that are inherent in a newly established organization with members having varied backgrounds of both experience and education. Interest in this initiative has resulted in the development and strengthening of community partnerships that involve the following agencies: Bowmanville Senior Public School Clarington Community Justice Programme* Community Addiction Services Durham Region Department of Health Services Durham Regional Police Force John Howard Society Ministry of Correctional Services (Probation and Parole) Municipality of Clarington - Community Services Department Young Women's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) (* formerly known as the Community Service Order Programme) Joining the aforementioned list of professionals are interested members of the public who also happen to be parents. 2.2 The Committee meets monthly (4th Monday) and the focus of late has been directed on the need to gain awareness within the community at large as well as within the Clarington youth population. The Clarington Youth Committee continues to be a community driven initiative that is striving to identify and facilitate the needs of the youth living and recreating within the Municipality of Clarington. Their enthusiasm and sense of urgency has, at times, resulted in their well- intended actions by- passing accepted communications linkages. Such is the case for the article (Attachment #1) that recently appeared in the April 2, 1994 edition of the Newcastle Independent Weekender newspaper. ../3 902 REPORT CS -13 -94 - 3 - APRIL 18, 1994 2.3 Upon discussion with the Department staff who have attended the monthly Committee meetings (as well as other members of the Committee) it is apparent that the publication of this article was not on the agenda at the March 28, 1994 Committee meeting. The individuals quoted in this article are members of the Committee, however, they did not involve the entire Committee in the preparation and /or planning of the information included. Although, perhaps, premature, the appearance of this article demonstrates the positive commitment and enthusiasm of those involved in pursuing the issues effecting our youth. 2.4 The Committee will continue to work to heighten the awareness and participation of the community in resolving the issues that effect our youth. It is the fervent ambition of the Committee to involve the youth in Clarington in the activities of the Committee so that they can take ownership of programs and services that will eventually be provided. The Community Services Department will also continue its participation and involvement with this Committee and, in the future, will make every effort possible to keep the Members of Council informed of the activities and initiatives being planned and /or undertaken by the Committee. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, JoIlmunity P. aruana, Director W. H. Stockwell, C Services Department Chief Administrative Officer JPC:JJC:dm X07 `(oath Committee Needs Volunteers Survey Results Reveal Services Requested The Clarington Youth Commit- tee needs dedicated, youth - oriented volunteers to help organize and su- pervise events for teens within the municipality. One of those events is an upcom- ing roller -blade night during Fitness Week. It is being co-sponsored by the Clarington Community Services De- partment and the Youth Committee. From 6 to 9 p.m, on Monday, May 30, everyone into rollerblading will be invited to attend the event at no cost, said spokesperson Pat Street. Street is also one of the represen- tatives of the YWCA on the com- mittee. Other groups represented in- clude the Community Services Department, the John Howard Soci- ety, the Clarington Public Library, the Courtice Community Associa- don, the Department of Health and the Optimist Club of Newcastle. Recently, the Clarington Youth Committee completed a survey on what area youth would like to see happening for them. Now, the committee is compiling the information for its use, said Street. One of the items on the organiza- tion's wish list is a location where teenagers can go to hang -out. Similar to a drop-in centre in na- ture, the location would have to per- mit a certain level of noise which would likely accompany such a fa- cility. The group had been eyeing the fire hall in Bowmanville which is due to be retro-fitted once the new station is built on Highway Two, west of Bowmanville. However, those hopes were dashed when the municipality announced plans to turn the lower section into a seniors' centre. Street, a parent of a teenager her- self, knows that once your teen has graduated from many of the locally- 4 The Independent, Canadian Statesman Weekender, Bowmanville, Saturday, April 2, 1994 Youth Committee Needs Volunteers From Page One organized groups, there isn't a lot of activities for teens to be involved in. That's one of the reasons why Street is involved in the Clarington Youth Committee. This summer, the committee hopes to be able to hire a student to work on finding "funding sources." By exploring financial support and helping with fundraisers, it is hoped that the committee will find a "window -front" centre. This would be a place "where the onus is on the youth.. Currently, there is one such cen- tre in Durham Region in the Town of Pickering, she said. It is called the Barbara Black Centre, Kim Heusds, of Probation and Parole Services in Bowmanville, said teens need places and events where they can go "on the spur of the moment" A centre would provide such a place for many, "reens need a place to go where they're not being judged," explained Heustis. At present, there is a teen centre in Orono. From all reports, the teens are enjoying the centre, and the group running the centre is looking at opening the centre on more nights, said Street With one centre up and running, the Clarington Youth Committee would like to see another in the mu- nicipality, especially since Claring- ton is so big, Street says the committee began last year when representatives from the Town of Newcastle's Communi- ty Services Department, the YWCA Oshawa/Ajax/Newcasde and the Newcastle Family Connection joined forces. The steering committee expand- ed to include school representatives, the police and other interested agen- cies. Their goals, then and now, are to support youth who would not nor- mally participate in structured pro- graming, and to assist in launching and operating youth- focused pro- grams for recreational and leisure activities in non - threatening envi- ronments. The committee would like to be able to run well supervised events like those in the Newcastle Village Community Hall organized by the Newcastle Optimist Club, said Street. When these events are under way, there are no teenagers hanging around the streets with nothing to do, added Street The Clarington Youth Commit- tee is hoping to end the 'there's nothing to do' drought across the municipality. To contact the group or offer time as a volunteer, call Street at 623 -4599 or Fleurette Simmonds at 697 -2747. 904 ATTACHMENT 1