Report No. 014-12

TO: Chair and Members of the Board of Health
FROM: Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health
DATE: 2012 February 16 

London Children and Youth Network: Engage for Change II

Recommendation

It is recommended that Report No. 014-12 re London Children and Youth Network: Engage for Change II be forwarded for information to the City of London Community Services Committee.

Background

In the fall of 2008, London’s Child and Youth Agenda was endorsed by all members of the Child and Youth Network (CYN).  Over 150 Middlesex Agencies are currently members including the Health Unit.  Since 2008, the network agencies have been working together to implement action plans in the areas of poverty, literacy, healthy eating/healthy physical activity and building a family centred system. 

The Health Unit’s ten year strategic vision and the three year strategic outcomes complement CYN plans. Health Unit staff members have worked closely with the CYN to support these priorities.   Over 20 Health Unit employees (Directors, Managers, Public Health Nurses, Dieticians and Health Promoters) participate on CYN committees and have devoted over 3000 hours in 2011 working directly or indirectly on CYN activities. The dollar value for direct and indirect contributions was approximately $218,100.  In addition, the Health Unit has adopted use of the Integration Tool and the ACE Tool.  Many staff attended the Engage for Change I launch of the City strategy in 2010 and it has been kept alive at the Health Unit through discussions at the team and service area levels.

London’s Child and Youth Agenda 2011 Progress Report

Attached as Appendix A is the 2011 Progress Report for the Child & Youth Network.  This report summarizes the contributions of over 520 Londoners who have worked together to improve outcomes for children, youth and families in London.  The CYN is held together by a collective vision for this community:  Happy, healthy children and youth today, caring, creative responsible adults tomorrow.  The following are several examples of how Middlesex-London Health Unit has contributed through the CYN to that vision:

a) Ending Poverty:

• Dietitians took a leadership role in developing the London’s Food Charter and in analyzing for the Nutritious Food Basket
• MLHU hosted the Community Developer for the Grade 7 Wraparound Demonstration project in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood and provided administrative leadership in steering this initiative 

b) Literacy:

• Developed and distributed to families the Babies Book Bag through the prenatal program
• Public Health Nurses and Family Home Visitors trained in “Literacy Right From the Start” worked with families to utilize literacy resources to benefit families
• MLHU staff promoted and provided content for thisisliteracy.ca website

c) Healthy Eating/Healthy Physical Activity:

• Developed a booklet and trained early years educators on the “Hop, Skip, Munch!” Toolkit and trained afterschool program educators on the “Healthy Bodies Happy Kids” Toolkit, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity with toddlers, preschoolers and elementary age children
• Developed a physical activity and healthy eating poster and brochure targeting parents/children/youth and distributed them to 300 family physicians
• Assisted in the Fall Media campaign promoting physical activity which included radio announcements, transit ads, newspaper articles and Facebook ads

d) Create a Family-Centred Service System:

• Provided strong leadership in developing and training several agencies to develop a system service coordination model for children 0-6 years of age with complex need
• Led the Network to adopt the Triple P Positive Parenting Program - as a consistent, proven, evidence-based approach to parenting support
• Offered Well Baby and Child Clinics at several neighbourhood sites

Engage for Change II

On the evening of March 22, 2012 and the day of March 23, 2012, the CYN is planning an event to celebrate the successes of the first 3 years of London’s Child and Youth Agenda, to plan the 2012-2015 Child and Youth Agenda and to discuss the evolution of the Network. Appendix B is the flyer which announces the event.  The evening session, directed towards Board members and Executive Directors/CEOs of the member organizations, will provide an opportunity for Senior Leaders in London to provide input into the future work of the Network.  In March 2009, a similar Engage for Change opportunity resulted in the Board of Health appointing Ms. Pat Coderre to represent them. It is hoped this year a Board of Health member will be able to participate in this planning event.

Summary
There are many ongoing benefits to the Health Unit from being part of the Child and Youth Network. This initiative not only maximizes fiscal resources through partnership and collaboration both within the Health Unit and with community partners, but enables access to a broader range of both clients and population groups. Board of Health members are invited to participate with the Child and Youth Network Engage for Change II event on the evening of March 22, 2012. 

This report was prepared by Ms. Debbie Shugar, Manager, Family Health Services

Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health

This report addresses the following requirement(s) of the Ontario Public Health Standards: Child Health
Goal: To promote the health of children and youth. 

Appendix available upon request.