Keeping people safe & well

 

 

Minutes of the Steering Committee meeting
14th meeting

Date:   Monday, June18, 2007
Place:  Confederation Court Community House
Present:    

Victoria Dawson, United Way
Sylvie Manser, Banff Ave. Community House Director
Superintendent Charles Bordeleau, OPS
Sonia Luberti, CPS, City of Ottawa
Shaun Simms, Ottawa Community Housing 
Saud Yusaf, Christie Lake Kids. 
Radha Jetty, Children Hospital (CHEO) 
Pat Murphy, Councillor Maria McRae’s Office
Mohamoud Abdulle, Youth Services Bureau
Mike Justinich, Crime Prevention Ottawa 
Leslie McDiarmid, Manager BBBF and Community Services 
Kim Seguin, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa 
Kevin Shantz, City of Ottawa 
Kevin Shantz, City of Ottawa 
Florence Brake, Ottawa Community Housing. 
David Goldfarb (CHEO) 
Constable Eddie Wong, Ottawa Police Services
Bernice Carnegie Executive Director, Future Aces, Toronto
Andrea Thompson, Confederation Court Community House Director
Al Nowaczek, Ottawa Community Housing
Abid Jan, Project Coordinator, SEOCHC

Regrets
James Williams, SEOCHC Board (Chairperson)
Matt Perkins, City of Ottawa
Michael S. Pranschke, Supervisor, the Children’s Aid Society
Sara Dwyer, Coordinator Russell Heights Community House
Sue Skinner, South Ottawa Community Legal Clinic
Nick Zeis, City of Ottawa, Parks and Recreation

       Call to Order: In the absence of James Williams, Leslie McDiarmid called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.

MINUTES

1. It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the NCLB Steering Committee held on Monday, May 07, 2007, be adopted as circulated.
CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 7th 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community, 1355 Bank Street.

3. PROGRESS UPDATE
(Oral Report)
Abid Jan reported on the following matters from the past six months:

Progress at the Community Level:

• Community participation at Confederation Court community house increased considerably after new initiatives for community engagement.
• Youth program planning in the final stages for implementation in Banff, Heatherington, Russell Heights and Confederation Court.
• Annual community assessment surveys planned to be completed by the end of July 2007.
• Presentation about NCLB’s approach and scope for replications made to the City Managers on May 8th and to the Coalition of Executive Directors from CHRC on June 15th.
• NCLB won two awards: United Way Community Builder of the Year award in Capacity Building and AOHC’s EPIC Award in community development.
• Youth Survey questionnaire to be implemented after final comments and approval from the Steering Committee.

4. PARTNERS’ PROGRESS REPORT

OTTAWA COMMUNITY HOUSING:

Florence Brake reported:

• 97% of the tenants were really good and cooperate in safe-neighborhood initiatives.
• One community’s issues affect other communities.
• Problems at Confederation Court include: gangs, vandalism and drug dealing.
• Parents are scarred for safety of their children in Confederation Court.
• Banff Avenue community was quiet and positive activities were underway. The reason was consistency of support. Old gangs resurfaced at occasions but the parents called on them and the kids were arrested.
• Community dealt with problems themselves and informed OCH after the fact.
• Youth engaged in soccer league, bicycle safety program and other recreation activities.

OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE

Cst. Eddie Wong provided the following update:

• No major problem reported or observed in Russell Heights community.
• In Heatherington Town Houses on the North side were getting busy. Confederation Court had some serious issues.
• OPS was working closely with OCH. Two tenants would be evicted soon. Four others were in the process of moving out.
• Tenants held a safety meeting with OPS.
• One arrest has been made.
• The process of issuing trespass notices and sharing information discussed with OCH.
• CPTED audits of Russell and Confederation Court being revisited. Banff CPTED study would be reviewed as well.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB:
Programs were stepping up in South-East Ottawa area.
Two new Outreach workers were in place and reaching out to youth in three communities: Banff-Ledbury, Heatherington and Confederation Court.
Outreach workers made arrangement with the Community Houses for space.
In-house capacity building work was in progress.

YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU:
Mohamoud Abdulle reported that summer workers visited home in the program area. Youth 15-18 summer employment and life skill training are under way. The employment program would work in collaboration with the outreach workers and youth frontline staff.

PARKS AND RECREATION
• Kevin Shantz reported that Dempsey Centre has increased youth gym time.
• Kids were working closely with Christie Lake Kids.
• Portable at Heatherington would soon be removed. BBBF, therefore, shortened its program activities to provide space for youth activities at the community centre.

CHEO
David Goldfarb and Radha Jetty informed the Steering committee about the Ottawa Children hospital plans about outreaching to the community. Under this program Pediatric residents are engaged in interaction with the community. David and Radha have started interaction with tenants in Russell Heights and Banff communities. In these sessions, the doctors talk about children health related issues after a thorough survey of the community views about what they consider to be of importance to them in terms of children health.

The doctors said, CHEO could be informed in addressing youth depression issues. However, at the moment they were engaged in parents’ awareness sessions. They were also planning session for youth on drugs and substance abuse.

KRIST LAKE KIDS
Saud Yusaf from Christie Lake kids informed the committee that they were interested in engaging youth at Heatherington. The target age groups for programs such as Rockers are 6-10 yrs and 10-13 years. Rockers is a skill-learning activity for kids.

FUTURE ACES
Bernice Carnegie, Executive Director Future Aces, accepted invitation to visit Ottawa and make a short presentation on the approach and effectiveness of Future Aces program in Ottawa. This invitation was made in connection of the NCLB’s interested in introducing positive ticketing program and setting up criteria and procedures for identifying good behavior among youth. Bernice Carnegie explained the concept and approach of Future Aces philosophy and practically demonstrated the motivation that drives youth towards behavioral change.

5. DECISIONS

• Due to lack of resources, NCLB would presently not be able to undertake the comprehensive approach to Future Aces in the present program activities but would explore the possibility in collaboration with the partnering agencies.
• NCLB Coordinator will complete community surveys by the end of July and present the progress in the next meeting.
• NCLB Coordinator will share Youth Survey questionnaire through e-mail with the Steering Committee for final comments and approval.
• NCLB will determine methodology for engaging more residents in the community survey after discussion with the community house directors for community specific approach in each community.

ADJOURNMENT
Moved and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 3:30pm. Carried.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 7th 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community, 1355 Bank Street.

 

 

© 2005-15 South - East Ottawa Community Health Centre
Centre de Sante Communautaire du Sud Est D'Ottawa

Contact: Abid Jan Tel./ Tél: (613) 737-5115 Ext. 2403  Fax/Télé: (613) 739-8199

NCLB matters because neighbourhoods matter