“Increasing Opportunities for Low Income Families” Family Strengthening Programs

“Increasing Opportunities for Low Income Families” Family Strengthening Programs Access to Recreation and Sport Parks & Recreation Ontario Forum April 2006 After School PLAY Recreation Camp

About The Regional Municipality of York Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 • York Region is one of the largest Regional municipalities in Ontario • Nine lower tier municipalities deliver local services such as Parks and Recreation • A 2nd tier regional level of government delivers co-ordinated services in all nine municipalities • Services include Social Services, Child and Family Services and Housing Services • The total population of York Region is 905,416

Barriers to Participation for Low Income Families Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 • Parents Cite: • User fees • Stereotypes • Lack of awareness • Registration processes • Expensive equipment • Transportation • Culture, language

Barriers to Participation for Low Income Families Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services● April 2006 • Municipalities & Non-Profit Organizations Cite: • Limited budgets for subsidies • User fee driven policies • Lack of capacity to outreach • Lack of human resources

York Region’s Family Strengthening Programs Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 • A range of community programs available to vulnerable families, free of charge: • Summer Day Camp • PLAY: Year-Round Recreation • Youth Residential Camp • Leadership Camp • After School Programs in Social Housing Sites • Youth Leadership and Certification

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 Family Strengthening Programs • Program Design • Programs are not duplicated • Programs are diverse and available throughout the region • Agencies must meet quality and safety standards

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 Family Strengthening Programs • Program Design (cont’d) • Eligible families are informed of program options and select programs according to needs & interests of their child(ren) • Programs are inclusive • Programs are delivered through approved recreation providers (municipal/non-profit) • Most programs are community based (social housing programs delivered on-site after school)

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 PositiveLeisureActivitiesforYouth(PLAY) • Is a collaborative initiative between York Region and the 9 local municipalities to provide access to seasonal recreation programs • Children aged 4 to 12 of eligible families have access to 3 seasonal recreation programs per year • Subsidizes the cost per child up to $90.00 for one program, per session

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 PositiveLeisureActivitiesforYouth(PLAY) • Available to families receiving at least one of the following benefits: • Social Assistance (Ontario Works or ODSP) • Child Care Fee Assistance with income under the low income cut-off • Social Housing Residents with Rent-Geared-to-Income

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 The PLAY Process • York Region’s Role: • Promote recreation programs to eligible families • Encourage referrals from family case co-ordinators • Co-ordinate with recreation registration periods • Establish standards and manage service agreement (e.g. High 5 and/or OCA accreditation, staffing & supervision) • Approve families for subsidy • Pay recreation departments

Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 The PLAY Process • Recreation Department’s Role: • Co-ordinate administration process with York Region • Enable families to register without payment • Deliver programs in accordance with service agreement • Submit documentation to York Region for payment and statistical purposes

The Benefits of Improved Access to Recreation Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 • Parents Identified: • The value of recreation for their child: • Positive self-esteem • Physical development • Skills development employment • Healthy lifestyle • Positive role models

The Benefits of Improved Access to Recreation Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 • Benefits • Research indicates a marked improvement in all areas of development for children from low income families • Builds resiliency in vulnerable families • Parents of children engaged in Family Strengthening Programs gain and sustain employment • A long-term, positive return on investment

The Benefits Community Services and Housing● Family and Children’s Services●April 2006 “I felt that my family was average and did not feel needy”- parent receiving Social Assistance “Thank you, Thank you. Finally, I didn’t have to say no.” - parent of PLAY participant “It was difficult after work to run and pick up the children, rush to the rec. centre and finally arrive home at 8 pm for dinner, bath, homework and bed…was it worth it?… YES!!” – parent receiving Child Care Fee Assistance “It gives you the energy (seeing your child) to go out into the workforce and help others” – parent receiving Social Assistance

Thanks! howard.dayton@york.ca bernice.landry@york.ca

“Increasing Opportunities for Low Income Families” Family Strengthening Programs