Item - 2021.HL25.5

The Board of Health recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to provide adequate funding to the Angel Foundation for Learning and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success to fully stabilize student nutrition program support for remote learners for the school period of January to June 2021.

 
2.  City Council direct that the report (January 5, 2021) from the Medical Officer of Health be forwarded to the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Angel Foundation for Learning, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Ontario Ministry of Health, and the Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

The Board of Health:

1.  Requested the Government of Ontario to provide adequate funding to the Angel Foundation for Learning and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success to fully stabilize student nutrition program support for remote learners for the school period of January to June 2021.

 
2.  Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report in March 2021 on the status of additional emergency pandemic funding for student nutrition programs from the Government of Ontario.

When the 2020 Operating Budget was approved in February 2020, it was not foreseeable how COVID-19 would impact the ability of student nutrition programs to provide nutrition support to Toronto's vulnerable children and youth. The 2020 budget has been fully allocated to student nutrition programs, yet these programs are facing increased operational challenges as they deal with higher food costs, fewer volunteers, and appeals to support both in-school and remote learners who otherwise would have accessed a student nutrition program.

This report responds to a motion from the December 14, 2020 Board of Health meeting requesting the Medical Officer of Health to report at its January 18, 2021 meeting with an update on additional resource needs and any other challenges facing municipally-supported student nutrition programs in Toronto. Two scenarios were examined to provide an estimation of additional resources. Also, anticipating that COVID-19 may necessitate that a remote learning model continues for the 2021/22 school year, estimates capture the balance of the 2020/21 school year and the first part of the 2021/22 school year.

Student nutrition programs contribute to the health and wellbeing of students through nutritious food choices and have been demonstrated to improve learning outcomes among children. Toronto Public Health continues to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation with schools and works with student nutrition programs, school boards, and their foundations to ensure the safe operation of student nutrition programs.