5.0 Local policies and initiatives affecting senior and youth issues
An analysis of local policies and initiatives affective senior and youth issues in Brant County was undertaken. While there has been much focus on the early years and pre-teen youth, there has been c comparatively little planning or local policy emphasis on teenagers and young adults. The seniors population has, likewise, been paid limited attention.
Our review of Brant focused reports relating to youth and/or seniors identified four recent planning documents. These included:
- City of Brantford Recreation Master Plan (Youth Task Force - 2001)
- Brant County Health Goals Framework (Brant County Health Unit, Grand River DHC, 2002)
- City of Brantford and Brant County Affordable Housing Strategy (Housing Department, 2003)
- Community Action Plan for Homelessness (Brant Community Advisory Board on Homelessness, 2003)
These reports include a discussion of youth and senior identified community issues, including:
1) Youth identified issues: teen pregnancy and parenting; income/employment/training; support and guidance; transportation; lack of student housing for WLU and Mohawk College students; lack of knowledge about volunteering.
2) Senior identified issues: home support; transportation; finding family doctor; access to information; accessible and affordable housing options; volunteerism.
The Brant County Health Goals Framework also includes specific community goals for ‘health teens’ and ‘healthy seniors’. These goals align effectively with the concept of social and economic inclusion. They include:
Goal: Healthy Teens
a.Teens have the means to effectively address their health, social, educational, recreational, cultural, spiritual, and community needs.
Measures of this goal include:
- The % of Brant teens with access to comprehensive healthy relationship skills is increased.
- The % of Brant teens actively participating in health lifestyles and practicing health behaviours is increased.
- The % of teens with positive mental health and coping skills is increased.
- An increased % of teens have parents who cope well with their teenager’s life stage.
- The number of teen forums in the school and community is increased.
b. Teens have growing opportunities for social, educational, recreational, cultural and sporting competencies.
- An increased number of recreation opportunities are accessible in Brant.
- An increased number of recreation opportunities in Brant are appropriate for teens.
- The diversity of recreational opportunities is increased.
- The number of appropriate cross-sectoral programs and services is increased.
- Promotion of lifelong physical activity as part of the school curriculum is increased.
c. The community’s schools and public infrastructure is increasingly focused on the needs, capacities and energies of teens.
- The importance of reducing risk taking by teens is an increasingly important strategy of municipalities.
- The number of after-hours programs for teens in Brant schools is increased.
- The number of teen appropriate outlets in the community is increased.
- The % of teens with access to transportation is increased.
Goal: Healthy Seniors
a. Seniors’ health, social engagement, and social connectedness is promoted and enhanced.
- The number of intergenerational programs is increased.
- The % of seniors with access to caregiver supports is increased.
- The % of Brant seniors engaged in active living lifestyles and behaviour is increased.
- The % of seniors with good dental health is increased.
- The % of seniors who feel they make a meaningful community contribution is increased.
- The % of seniors with safe home environments is increased.
- The % of seniors making wise consumer choices is increased.
b. Community infrastructure is increasingly focused on health promotion needs and opportunities for seniors in the community, residences and in institutions.
- Increased public transit for seniors is available.
- All seniors living in Brant have access to adequate income.
- All seniors living in Brant have access to affordable housing.
- The % of seniors with safe neighbourhood environments is increased in the City of Brantford and the County of Brant.
- The number of community volunteer opportunities for seniors is increased in the City of Brantford and the County of Brant.
- The number and diversity of community volunteer programs is increased