IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
Investment in children and youth now means lasting improvements in their lives and in the quality of our community.
To help kids grow up great, we are focusing our efforts in two areas:
- Early Learning: Making sure that more kids enter school ready to learn, and;
- Social Recreation Programs: Ensuring that vulnerable children and youth have healthy, safe opportunities to learn and grow outside of school hours.
Early Learning
Why are we focusing here?
In some Ottawa neighbourhoods up to 40% of children will start school without the basic skills they need to succeed.
- A child who starts school without these skills may NEVER catch up, may NEVER reach their full potential.
Our Community Goal
- Help more children enter school ready to learn
Measuring Success
By 2015, the proportion of children not ready for school will fall by 20%.
Examples of what we’re doing
Working with the province and local school boards to assess levels of school readiness of kindergarten students - then using that data to identify neighbourhoods where investment is needed and working with patners to find the appropirate resources.
Social Recreation Programs
Why are we focusing here?
32,000 children in Ottawa live in poverty, many don't have access to after school sports, recreation or social programs.
- Social recreation programs are proven to help children and youth be their best while reducing involvement in crime, drugs and teen pregnancy.
Our Community Goal
- Help more at-risk youth succeed
Measuring Success
- More at-risk children and youth are on-track to succeed in school.
Examples of what we’re doing
Working with government, community agencies and stakeholders to create a network of after-school clubs designed to give education/recreation opportunities to our city’s most vulnerable children and youth.
For more information download our
Focus Area One-Pager
