Report No. 050-12

TO: Chair and Members of the Board of Health
FROM: Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health
DATE:   2012 March 22

Child & Youth Network Membership

Recommendation

It is recommended that Report No. 050-12 re Child & Youth Network Membership be received for information.

Background

At the February 16, 2012 Board of Health meeting, Board members reviewed Report No. 014-12 entitled London Child and Youth Network: Engage For Change II.  During the discussion, a question was asked as to whether agencies representing Jewish and Muslim communities had been invited to participate in this initiative. A commitment was made by staff to investigate this matter and report back at the next Board meeting. This report summarizes the outcome.

History of Child and Youth Network Membership

In the Spring of 2007, representatives from 75 London organizations that provide services for children and youth, including the Health Unit, came together to form the Child and Youth Network (CYN). The purpose of the Network was to develop a Child and Youth Agenda for London. A decision was made to broaden the membership by inviting all London agencies providing services to children and youth to join in this initiative. Notice of the formation of a broader network was widely distributed including to faith based community agencies. The CYN Terms of Reference are attached as Appendix A(PDF 33.3KB).

As a result of the call for an enlarged network, the membership in the CYN has grown to over 150 organizations that represent many different sectors.  Membership remains open to any organization who commits to the Network’s Terms of Reference. To date, there has not been a representative agency from either the Jewish or Muslim communities that has joined.

This report was prepared by Ms. Diane Bewick, Director, Family Health Services and 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.