Item - 2019.EC1.6

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Directed the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, to undertake a review of all City of Toronto youth services and programming, including a review of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, and report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the second quarter of 2020 with recommendations on how best to optimize youth service delivery to meet the needs of youth most vulnerable to serious crime and violence; and to provide an interim report to the September 5, 2019 Economic and Community Development Committee meeting.

2.  Requested the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to explore options to support the City's 83 Business Improvement Areas in accessing government funded summer jobs programs to provide local employment opportunities for youth in their communities.

3.  Requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to prepare a Briefing Note to the Budget Committee on the implementation status of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy's 110 recommended actions, and the funding required to fully deliver the program, including:

       a.  Which actions are fully funded, implemented, and sustained?

       b.  Which recommendations are not fully funded, implemented, and sustained?

c.  What is the budget impact of fully funding, implementing, and sustaining all recommendations in the Youth Equity Strategy?

The City of Toronto currently has at least 10 different divisions or Agencies, Boards, and Commissions that deliver programming and services to youth, aged 13-29: Social Development, Finance and Administration; Parks, Forestry and Recreation; Shelter, Support and Housing Administration; Toronto Public Health; Toronto Employment and Social Services; Economic Development and Culture; Equity, Diversity and Human Rights; Toronto Police Service; Toronto Community Housing Corporation; and Toronto Public Library.

While efforts have been made over the years to better coordinate services, there still exist many silos and a lack of strategic vision in the allocation of resources for youth services and programming across the corporation. After a year with persistent high levels of gun violence, youth under- and un-employment, and housing instability, it is time to review all youth services in order to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable youth. Given the signalled changes to Provincial support for student and youth programs, it is particularly important that we act now to address any gaps, ensure our services are well coordinated, and truly meeting the growing needs of Toronto's youth.