Item - 2018.HL25.6
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on March 5, 2018 and was adopted with amendments.
HL25.6 - A Public Health Approach to Community Violence
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Recognized exposure to community violence (as distinguished from domestic violence) as a social determinant of health.
2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to collaborate with Public Health Ontario and academic partners to scope out an approach and related costs for a research project to examine the extent of exposure to community violence and its physical and mental health impacts in Toronto and to identify how programs can be developed and supported to mitigate these impacts.
3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to continue to work with Social Development, Finance and Administration staff and members of affected communities to identify effective approaches for the City of Toronto to provide a comprehensive evidence-informed approach when shooting incidents occur in Toronto, including explorations of programs such as the Chicago-based Interrupters.
4. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health at its meeting on July 16, 2018 on Toronto Public Health's progress in respect of the aforementioned work.
Origin
Summary
In 2017 there were 375 shooting incidents involving 565 victims in Toronto. This type of community violence has physical and mental health impacts on the victim, perpetrator, family, friends and neighbours that, if left untreated, feed into the cycle of violence. This motion asks the Board of Health to develop a public health approach to addressing community violence.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-112948.pdf
Communications
(March 5, 2018) Submission from Denise Dye, Think 2wice (HL.New.25.6.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/hl/comm/communicationfile-79063.pdf
(March 5, 2018) Submission from Nigel Barriffe, Urban Alliance on Race Relations (HL.New.25.6.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/hl/comm/communicationfile-79064.pdf
Speakers
Nigel Barriffe, Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Evelyn Fox, Communities for Zero Violence
Joan Howard
Louis March, Zero Gun Violence Movement
Brenda MacIntyre
Katy McDevitt
Kelly Whetter, Communities for Zero Violence
Zya Brown, Think 2wice
Tevin O'Neil
Jahfari Fraser, Think 2wice
Denise Dye, Think 2wice
Elizabeth Correia, The D.e.v.a In You Group
Motions
That Recommendations 1 and 2 in the letter (February 27, 2018) from Trustee Chris Glover be amended to read as follows:
"1. Recognize exposure to community violence (as distinguished from domestic violence) as a social determinant of health.
2. The Medical Officer of Health collaborate with Public Health Ontario and academic partners to scope out an approach and related costs for a research project to examine the extent of exposure to community violence and its physical and mental health impacts in Toronto and to identify how programs can be developed and supported to mitigate these impacts."