Ontario Middle Years Strategy Overview 1. Background and context - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ontario Middle Years Strategy

Overview

• 1. Background and context
• 2. How we built it
• 3. Sneak peak:

» On My Way: A Developmental Framework » Gearing Up: A Strategic Framework

• 4. How to get involved
• 5. Questions / Discussion

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Middle Years Children in Ontario Today

• Ontario is home to more than 1 million

children aged 6 to 12

• Over 2 million households are home to one
• r more children under 12
• 1 in 3 of Ontario’s middle years children are

a visible minority

• 50% are first or second generation

Canadian

• More than 1 in 10 are living in low income

families

• Nearly 1 in 6 are in housing that is not

suitable

= 1M

1 in 3 are a visible minority 1 in 6 live in unsuitable housing

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Bridging Ontario’s Early Years and Youth Frameworks

Middle Years (6-12) Youth (12-25) Early Years (0-8)

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2007 2013 2014 2017 2017 2012 2014

Ontario’s Middle Years Strategy

On My Way (Developmental Framework) A leading edge, evidence based resource that maps middle years child development across 6 domains: cognitive, social, emotional, physical, communication, and self & spirit. A tool to help families, communities, service providers and policy makers to support optimal middle years child development. Gearing Up (Strategic Framework) Sets a common vision, goals and shared

• utcomes for middle years child and family
• wellbeing. Establishes a shared platform for

action across community, service, government and philanthropic sectors.

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Child, Youth and Family Ecosystem

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Ontario Middle Years Strategy: How We Built It

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Gathered Research & Evidence

 12 NEW Research Papers Commissioned  5 Research Roundtables  1 Researcher Forum  First-ever comprehensive

• utcome / indicator review

Listened to Families

 100+ parents &

caregivers interviewed

 1,400 survey

responses received

Worked with Partners, Leaders & Stakeholders

 6 Workshops held in Toronto, Ottawa, London, Mississauga & Thunder Bay  Engaged philanthropic partners  Co-developed content with Indigenous partners  Collaborated with the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities  50+ Partners Forum Attendees

Partnered Across Ministries

 Ongoing collaboration across more

than 12 ministries

 Cross-ministry child and youth

program inventory

Learned from Kids

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On My Way: A Guide To Support Middle Years Child Development

Our starting place:

• Context, identity and

experience matter

• Families at the

centre

• Concepts of

wellbeing and development are culturally rooted

• Economic and social

determinants impact wellbeing and development

On MY Way: Key Insights

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Emerging Evidence:

• Technology
• Strong cultural

identity = resiliency

• Value of being in

nature / on the land

• Impact of “toxic

stress”: threats to parent wellbeing = threats to child wellbeing

A Common Vision and Outcomes Framework

Ontario’s Profile of Middle Years Wellbeing

Spotlight on Wellbeing:

Sustaining and growing the impact:

79% of children think it is important to experience joy and that their life has meaning and purpose 91.5% of children report their mental health as good, very good or excellent 80% of children think it is important to be kind and forgiving of others

Opportunity areas:

43.3% of children spend at least 3 hours per day of sedentary screen time 14.3% of children are treated badly of differently at school because of their race, ethnicity, colour of skin 67% of children feel they have a family member who could provide emotional help and support when needed

Highlights from the Strategy

• Early intervention / support is

key

• Need for innovative models
• Embed family-centred

approaches

• Ramp up efforts to address

social and economic determinants of wellbeing

• Target support to those who

need it most

• Need for leadership & joined

up approach

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CONTACT:

Ayasha Mayr Handel Manager, Youth Policy Ministry of Children and Youth Services (416) 327-4723, Ayasha.MayrHandel@ontario.ca Vanessa Knight Junior Policy Analyst, Youth Policy Ministry of Children and Youth Services (416) 326-0859, Vanessa.Knight@ontario.ca

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