Item - 2019.EC8.15

Tracking Status

EC8.15 - Equity-Based Planning for EarlyON Child and Family Centres

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on October 29 and 30, 2019, adopted the following:

                                                  

1.  City Council request the General Manager, Children's Services to:

 

a. continue to work closely with the Toronto District School Board to identify potential solutions for the School Board to continue operating EarlyON Centres, and report back with an update in the second quarter of 2020;

 

b. continue the detailed "cost of service analysis" of EarlyON program costs, including the funding benchmarks and review the EarlyON job classes and functions to identify potential changes in the Children's Services Operating and Business Practice Guidelines for 2021;

 

c. consider the development of a growth strategy based on the equity-based planning approach as part of the 2020-2025 Early Years Service Plan;

 

d. work with the Provincial and Federal governments to increase funding for Toronto EarlyON Child and Family Centres in the next round of funding under the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement and Action Plan on Early Learning and Child Care; and

 

e. continue, as directed by City Council on June 18, 2019 in Motions MM8.12 and MM8.47, to work with local Councillors and other service providers, to identify replacement sites for the EarlyON programs which were closed in the Niagara Street Junior Public School and the Blake Street Junior Public School.

Background Information (Committee)

(October 1, 2019) Report and Appendix A from the General Manager, Children's Services on Equity-Based Planning for EarlyON Child and Family Centres
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-138404.pdf
Appendix B - EarlyON Action Plan 2018-2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-138585.pdf

Communications (Committee)

(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Jenny Zollerano (EC.New.EC8.15.1)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Cheryl Switzer (EC.New.EC8.15.2)
(October 15, 2019) Submission from Sally Wong and 25 persons, EarlyON Centre, Mason Road Public School (EC.New.EC8.15.3)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Rhea Karvanis (EC.New.EC8.15.4)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Kelly Taggart (EC.New.EC8.15.5)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Hajra Malak (EC.New.EC8.15.6)
(October 16, 2019) Submission from Terri Preston, Toronto Education Workers, CUPE 4400 (EC.New.EC8.15.7)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/comm/communicationfile-97912.pdf

EC8.15 - Equity-Based Planning for EarlyON Child and Family Centres

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

                                                  

1.  City Council request the General Manager, Children's Services to:

 

a. Continue to work closely with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to identify potential solutions for the school board to continue operating EarlyON Centres, and report back with an update in the second quarter of 2020;

 

b. Continue the detailed "cost of service analysis" of EarlyON program costs, including the funding benchmarks and review the EarlyON job classes and functions to identify potential changes in the Children's Services Operating and Business Practice Guidelines for 2021;

 

c. Consider the development of a growth strategy based on the equity-based planning approach as part of the 2020-2025 Early Years Service Plan;

 

d. Work with the Provincial and Federal governments to increase funding for Toronto EarlyON Child and Family Centres in the next round of funding under the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement and Action Plan on Early Learning and Child Care;

 

e. Continue, as directed by City Council on June 18, 2019 in MM8.12 and MM8.47, to work with local Councillors and other service providers, to identify replacement sites for the EarlyON programs which were closed in the Niagara Street Junior Public School and the Blake Street Junior Public School.

Origin

(October 1, 2019) Report from the General Manager, Children's Services

Summary

This report responds to two Member's Motions adopted by City Council at its meeting of June 18th, 2019, where the General Manager, Children's Services was directed to work with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and other community partners to identify options for the replacement of the EarlyON Centres at Niagara Street Junior Public School and Blake Street Junior Public School, as these Centres have been slated for closure due to space issues caused by the need to implement alternate programming at these locations.

 

This report also provides an update on the risk of additional closures of EarlyON Centres operated by the TDSB as a result of ongoing financial pressures being faced by the TDSB.

 

As well, this report outlines the equity-based planning approach used to guide Children's Services’ decisions about investments and funding reallocations within the EarlyON system. This evidence-based approach uses relevant demographic and service level data to identify service gaps and opportunities to enhance service access for vulnerable families.

Background Information

(October 1, 2019) Report and Appendix A from the General Manager, Children's Services on Equity-Based Planning for EarlyON Child and Family Centres
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-138404.pdf
Appendix B - EarlyON Action Plan 2018-2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-138585.pdf

Communications

(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Jenny Zollerano (EC.New.EC8.15.1)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Cheryl Switzer (EC.New.EC8.15.2)
(October 15, 2019) Submission from Sally Wong and 25 persons, EarlyON Centre, Mason Road Public School (EC.New.EC8.15.3)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Rhea Karvanis (EC.New.EC8.15.4)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Kelly Taggart (EC.New.EC8.15.5)
(October 15, 2019) E-mail from Hajra Malak (EC.New.EC8.15.6)
(October 16, 2019) Submission from Terri Preston, Toronto Education Workers, CUPE 4400 (EC.New.EC8.15.7)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ec/comm/communicationfile-97912.pdf

Speakers

Terri Preston, Toronto Education Workers, CUPE 4400
Andresa Sisson
Tennille Will, EarlyON - Shirley Street
Anna Dobie, EarlyON - Queen Victoria Public School
Subajini Arulchelvam, EarlyON - Queen Victoria Public School
Valerie Kenny, Family Supports Institute Ontario

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Joe Cressy (Carried)

That Recommendations 1 and 2 in the report, be deleted and replaced with the following recommendation:

 

1.  City Council request the General Manager, Children's Services to:

 

a. Continue to work closely with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to identify potential solutions for the school board to continue operating EarlyON Centres, and report back with an update in the second quarter of 2020;

 

b. Continue the detailed "cost of service analysis" of EarlyON program costs, including the funding benchmarks and review the EarlyON job classes and functions to identify potential changes in the Children's Services Operating and Business Practice Guidelines for 2021;

 

c. Consider the development of a growth strategy based on the equity-based planning approach as part of the 2020-2025 Early Years Service Plan;

 

d. Work with the Provincial and Federal governments to increase funding for Toronto EarlyON Child and Family Centres in the next round of funding under the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement and Action Plan on Early Learning and Child Care;

 

e. Continue, as directed by City Council on June 18, 2019 in MM8.12 and MM8.47, to work with local Councillors and other service providers, to identify replacement sites for the EarlyON programs which were closed in the Niagara Street Junior Public School and the Blake Street Junior Public School.

Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council