January 16, 2007

Ontario Youth Opportunities Strategy

The Ontario government’s Youth Opportunities Strategy is helping to build stronger communities by establishing and expanding community programs that help youth achieve a brighter future. The Youth Opportunities Strategy recognizes that some youth, particularly those in marginalized and stigmatized communities, often do not have access to opportunities and supports that would help them to be successful in life.

The government is investing $28.5 million in the first three years of the strategy to improve outcomes for youth in under-served communities, beginning primarily with neighbourhoods in Toronto. The strategy will be expanded this year to additional communities across the province, including Windsor, Ottawa, London, Hamilton and Thunder Bay.

In addition to the OPS Learn and Work program, the strategy has the following components:

Summer Jobs for Youth Program

The Summer Jobs for Youth Program provides young people aged 15 to 18 with the job readiness skills they need to build self-esteem and lead rewarding, productive lives. It includes pre-employment readiness, employment placements and post-employment supports in a variety of fields including recreation, business and youth leadership.

The 2006 program was coordinated through Scarborough-based Tropicana Community Services and ran for eight weeks. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services invested approximately $2.6 million to deliver the program for 800 Toronto youth in 2006. In 2007, the ministry will invest approximately $5.3 million to expand the program for up to 1,650 youth in under-served communities across the province.

Youth in Policing Initiative

The Youth in Policing Initiative provided opportunities this past summer for 100 youth to work with the Toronto Police Service to strengthen relationships between youth and the police, to enable the youth to acquire an understanding of some aspects of policing, and to encourage them to consider policing as a future career option. Participants aged 14 to 17 worked in a variety of areas, including information technology, forensic identification, community events, traffic safety and the marine unit. Five additional youth worked with the Durham Regional Police Service in a similar program.

In 2006, the ministry invested approximately $390,000 to deliver the nine-week program. In 2007, the ministry will invest approximately $585,000 to expand the program, enabling approximately 60 more youth to work with other police service organizations across the province.

Youth Outreach Worker Program

The Youth Outreach Worker Program employs 39 outreach workers year-round (35 in Toronto and four in Durham Region) to serve as mentors and advocates for youth in under-served communities. Outreach workers ensure youth are aware of, and know how to access, a wide range of programs and services. They also promote youth engagement in all aspects of life in their communities.

In 2006, the ministry invested approximately $2.6 million to deliver the program. In 2007, the ministry will invest $4 million to employ 62 outreach workers. The additional 23 outreach workers will work in other under-served communities across the province.

YouthConnect.ca

While there are a wide range of programs and services to assist youth, it is often confusing and difficult for youth to know what services are available, where to find them and how to access them. The government’s new website, YouthConnect.ca, brings this information together in a coordinated, creative, comprehensive and youth-friendly way, for the benefit of youth wherever they live in Ontario.

YouthConnect.ca provides a forum for young people to access information, services and resources that will help them make good choices, achieve success and contribute positively to their communities. The design and content of the new website was developed based on input and feedback from youth and stakeholders.

School-Based Prevention/Diversion Program

The School-Based Prevention/Diversion Program is a partnership among schools, school boards, community-based agencies and police that helps high school students less than 18 years of age, who are at risk of becoming involved or are already involved in violent and/or offending activity, increase their chances of school success. Trained peer mediators and school and community staff work together to address issues leading to offending behaviour, develop new skills, increase school attachment and take on leadership roles.

The ministry is investing $1.02 million over the 2006-07 school year to deliver the program in 12 communities across the province. In 2007-08, the program will be offered in six additional communities through a further investment of $510,000.

 

Additional Information:

• News Release