Page 70 - 2015WellBeing
P. 70
Conclusion
For over a decade the Ontario Early Years Program has brought together
parents/caregivers and children in 24 different locations across our region,
promoting play and reading in families and providing access to early learning
professionals. These opportunities assist in healthy development during a
child’s early years.
The implementation of full day kindergarten has built on these Early Years
Centres by providing a strong learning foundation to better prepare children
for grade one.
The Ontario government’s creation of a poverty reduction fund in April 2015 is
an exciting development. This $50 million dollar fund is designed to support
community organizations’ implementation and delivery of poverty reduction
strategies. With additional funding opportunities in 2016 and 2017 this
provides access to funding for local organizations to partner with the province
in the battle against poverty in our region.lxxxviii
Federally, the government has been active in ensuring that our growing senior
populations remain active and recognizing them as an important part of the
community by funding a variety of programs in our region.lxxxix The government
has also been aggressive in implementing incentives to assist local companies
to find and hire skilled labour, expand their businesses and recover the cost of
capital depreciation, particularly in the manufacturing sector.xc Arguably the
greatest impact by the Federal government has been its support for the new
bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit. Although it likely will not be open
until 2020, this project along with the provincially funded Parkway, are going to
dramatically reshape how people go about their lives in region.
United Way supports a wide range of programs in concert with a number of
partners from across our community in the battle against poverty. Our strategy
for After School Programs gives young people a “leg up” on education, and
supports mentors who guide youth through their adolescence. Our Counselling
and Supports strategy supports walk-in clinics to assist individuals and families
with mental health issues and provides ongoing group support. Our Food
Security Strategy supports community gardens which provide nutritious foods
for those who most need it. Our Neighbourhood Engagement strategy aims to
engage citizens in their communities while improving community conditions.
Dozens of stakeholder across our region are working in concert with these
programs and others to ensure the most vulnerable have the supports they
need, and to provide a foundation for future improvements. But we can’t do it
alone. A broader coalition is needed to combat poverty and social issues in our
community and this report is a first step in achieving these goals. By updating
the baseline data on our region, we can prioritize our community needs so that
individuals, organizations and governments can effectively plan how to combat
the challenges we face.
The 2015 Community Well-Being Report
For over a decade the Ontario Early Years Program has brought together
parents/caregivers and children in 24 different locations across our region,
promoting play and reading in families and providing access to early learning
professionals. These opportunities assist in healthy development during a
child’s early years.
The implementation of full day kindergarten has built on these Early Years
Centres by providing a strong learning foundation to better prepare children
for grade one.
The Ontario government’s creation of a poverty reduction fund in April 2015 is
an exciting development. This $50 million dollar fund is designed to support
community organizations’ implementation and delivery of poverty reduction
strategies. With additional funding opportunities in 2016 and 2017 this
provides access to funding for local organizations to partner with the province
in the battle against poverty in our region.lxxxviii
Federally, the government has been active in ensuring that our growing senior
populations remain active and recognizing them as an important part of the
community by funding a variety of programs in our region.lxxxix The government
has also been aggressive in implementing incentives to assist local companies
to find and hire skilled labour, expand their businesses and recover the cost of
capital depreciation, particularly in the manufacturing sector.xc Arguably the
greatest impact by the Federal government has been its support for the new
bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit. Although it likely will not be open
until 2020, this project along with the provincially funded Parkway, are going to
dramatically reshape how people go about their lives in region.
United Way supports a wide range of programs in concert with a number of
partners from across our community in the battle against poverty. Our strategy
for After School Programs gives young people a “leg up” on education, and
supports mentors who guide youth through their adolescence. Our Counselling
and Supports strategy supports walk-in clinics to assist individuals and families
with mental health issues and provides ongoing group support. Our Food
Security Strategy supports community gardens which provide nutritious foods
for those who most need it. Our Neighbourhood Engagement strategy aims to
engage citizens in their communities while improving community conditions.
Dozens of stakeholder across our region are working in concert with these
programs and others to ensure the most vulnerable have the supports they
need, and to provide a foundation for future improvements. But we can’t do it
alone. A broader coalition is needed to combat poverty and social issues in our
community and this report is a first step in achieving these goals. By updating
the baseline data on our region, we can prioritize our community needs so that
individuals, organizations and governments can effectively plan how to combat
the challenges we face.
The 2015 Community Well-Being Report
