Development of Social and Economic Inclusion Initiative
In late February 2002, the Social Planning Council Kitchener-Waterloo organized a community sounding in Kitchener as part of the Population and Public Health Branch exploration of community interest in population health initiatives using a social and economic inclusion framework. Isolation was identified as a common concern in urban and rural areas and populations groups across Central West Ontario and was attributed to broader system conditions and factors.
The theme of isolation was explored further in a strategy session on December 4th, 2002. The story of isolation and social exclusion that emerged from this session came from community partners; experiences and points of view. While there were many issues that arose during the discussion, seniors and youth were the two main population groups talked about. The thrust of the discussion was recorded graphically on a mural with an accompanying narrative. These images and narrative provide the starting point for this Project.
Both seniors and youth were identified as vulnerable population groups, because of their experiences of isolation and disconnectedness in their communities. There are significant parallels between the experiences of seniors and youth that were identified as common ground issues. How we plan our communities and provide services is affecting seniors and youth. There is an erosion of formal support systems. Informal networks are also eroding and not being given opportunities to form. Overall, there is nothing strong in place to allow people who are vulnerable to be supported. There are no foundations for people to resort to. These groups are at greater risk of being distant and not connected to or within the community.
Seniors and youth were the groups most readily identified as being vulnerable to greater isolation because of rapid changes communities are undergoing and their exclusion experience is related to changes, processes, policies and priorities in formal systems, primarily municipal government.
The Project will validate what emerged from the community discussions by facilitating a process to determine how youth and seniors experience exclusion and if this is due to elements in community structures that can be influenced. Once the stories of youth and seniors are further developed and our assumptions are assessed, the Project will focus on developing tools for assessing isolation and barriers and will encourage action for influencing change in community structures.
Combined, seniors (over 55 years) and youth (15 – 19 years) comprise approximately 30% of the population in Brant County and Waterloo Region. A preliminary review of the literature on population health and social exclusion in relation to isolation shows the link between this Project and work done in other regions. Literature from organizations concerned with health issues in the communities immediately connected to this proposal shows that many of the issues identified in community discussions have been identified as important in other processes. Thus, we are confident the issues that emerged from community discussions in this Project are consistent with population health knowledge and are supported by documentation of the known needs in Brant County and Waterloo Region.