Social Issues
The Department of Community Services works actively with the community on local planning processes related to a wide variety of social issues. Local highlights and recommended web links are outlined for the following social issues:
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Children
Some Local Highlights ...
Local Initiative...
London's Child and Youth Network (CYN) is compromised of more than 130 local
agencies and individuals dedicated to doing what is best for children, youth and
families. Their vision - Happy healthy children and youth
today... caring, creative, responsible adults tomorrow - drives an agenda to
2015 that aims to break down the barriers that put our children, youth and
families at risk.
Some Recommended Links...
Disabilities
Some Local Highlights ...
Statistics Canada conducts a post censal survey, The Physical Activity
and Limitation Survey (PALS) based on responses received in the Census Survey.
Statistics Canada surveys a sample of the population who reported having
difficulty hearing, seeing, communicating, walking, climbing stairs, bending,
learning or doing any similar activities on the Census Survey to determine the
prevalence of disabilities at the Provincial and National levels. For a summary
of the 2006 PALS results, please click on the fact sheet below.
Data & Statistics
Some Recommended Links ...
Homelessness/Housing
Some Local Highlights ...
The London Homeless Coalition exists to advise, shape, and coordinate community responses to homelessness and related needs
and guides the development of the community plan.
London Community Housing Strategy and Community Plan on Homelessness.
Click here to visit the London Homeless Coalition website.
Some Recommended Links ...
Immigrants and Newcomers
Local Initiatives...
The London-Middlesex Immigration Web Portal is a one-stop website that
connect immigrants to all the services and supports necessary to assist them in
first making the choice to come to London Region and seconds, successfully
settling in this community. The website also contains statistics and new
on events.
The London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership - (LMLIP) is a
collaborative community initiative which is designed to strengthen the role of
local and regional communities in serving and integrating immigrants.
Some Recommended Links ...
Labour Market
Some Local Highlights ...
Mental Health
and Addictions
Some Local Highlights ...
In 2009,
the City of London released
London's
Community Addictions Response Strategy (London CAReS), an integrated
strategy to address the needs of individuals living with the effects of poverty,
homelessness, addiction, and mental health. This strategy is a plan to
improve the health outcomes of our addicted and homeless population.
In 2003, the City of London developed a Position Paper on Mental Health Issues in London (pdf). The report identified that current issues for London in the area of the provision of mental health services include the following:
- Inadequate capacity to provide supports and services for a continuum of care that ensures the social, health and basic needs of individuals with mental illness
- Difficulty accessing suitable housing alternatives
- Inadequate funding
- Lack of specific information regarding community service needs and implementation recommendations
- Need for policy coordination between Ministries
- Need for public education and awareness
The
Southwest Implementation Task Force Report was released in December, 2003.
Some Recommended Links ...
Ontario Works
Ontario Works Statistics ...
Some Recommended Links ...
Poverty
Some Local Highlights ...
The most recent comprehensive look in poverty in London was completed in 2008,
as part of the Child and Youth Agenda.
Access the reports
- (Anti-Poverty
Literature Review synopsized) and
Anti-Poverty Literature Review (expanded)).
In June 2004, participants at the "Painting by Numbers" session hosted by the
City of London and the United Way of London and Middlesex identified that
poverty is a key area where our community needs to focus increased attention.
Some Local Highlights...
Some Recommended Links...
Seniors
Some Local Highlights ...
Age Friendly City Project
In 2010, London'
became the first city in Canada to join the World Health Organization Global
Network of Age Friendly cities. Membership in the Network represents a
city's commitment to improving their age friendliness, and to engaging older
adults in the process. London city Council established the Age Friendly
London Task Force to begin this work.
The task forces was made of older adults,
baby boomers, service providers, care takers and other community members.
From September 2011 to June 2013, more than 100 citizens of London came
together to develop a vision, strategies and action steps focused on improving
the quality of life for older adults in London. These strategies and
actions steps will be presented by the group to City council in the Fall of
2012. These strategies and actions steps build on the numerous initiatives
already underway in London and identifies that everyone in our community has a
role to play in improving age friendliness. Find out more about the Age
Friendly London by going to
www.london.ca/agefriendly.
Reports and Resources...
Some Recommended Links ...
Youth
Some Local Highlights ...
Child & Youth Network Plan (pdf - english)
Child & Youth Network Plan (pdf - french)
At a June, 2004 consultation Supporting London's Vulnerable Youth hosted by local funders including the City of London, youth and service providers identified the following top five priority areas for action:
- Youth Shelters and Housing
- Income Support
- Youth Health, Mental Health and Counseling
- Activities for Youth in Our Community (including Recreation and Leisure)
- Employment Programs and Services.
Access the Supporting London's Vulnerable Youth Resource Binder and the
Community Plan on Vulnerable Youth.
On December 1, 2004 a follow-up Action Day to the June 2004 Supporting London's Vulnerable Youth consultation was held. See the Supporting London's Vulnerable Youth Action Day Summary Notes.
Youth Fact Sheet - 2004
The START Guide ...
The START Guide is a series of
Street
and vulnerable youth service standards that provide
Trust
Accountability
&
Responsiveness
To ensure consistent support for youth.
Some Recommended Links ...
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