[homeles_ot-l] FW: Social PLanning Council of Ottawa - Enewsletter Sept. 2010
Lynne Browne
lbrowne at ysb.on.ca
Thu Sep 2 17:18:14 EDT 2010
FYI ...
Lynne Browne
Coordinator, Alliance to End Homelessness (ATEH)
lbrowne at ysb.on.ca <mailto:lbrowne at ysb.on.ca>
Office: 613-241-1573, ext. 205 --- (Temp. # till Jan. 2011)
Mail to: 147 Besserer St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6A7
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca <https://mail.ysb.on.ca/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca>
________________________________
From: Helene Bouchard [mailto:HeleneB at spcottawa.on.ca]
Sent: Thu 02/09/2010 3:38 PM
To: office at spcottawa.on.ca
Subject: Social PLanning Council of Ottawa - Enewsletter Sept. 2010
Good afternoon,
Social Planning Council of Ottawa E-Newsletter
September 2010
The Social Planning Council would like to introduce you to our e-newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to this free e-newsletter, please e-mail heleneb at spcottawa.on.ca.
New Research and Resources
1. Profile of Poverty In Ottawa
2. Immigrant Families Report
Upcoming Activities
3. Reception for Jerry Martinovic. Thurs. Sept. 9 - 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
4. Workshops for Small Ethnocultural Organizations. Fri. Sept. 10 and Fri. Oct. 1 - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (in English)
5. C3 Centre Official Opening (1155 Lola Street). Wed. Sept 15 - 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
6. Peer Learning Workshop Series: Developing and Implementing a Community Based Needs Assessment. Tues. Sept 21, Oct 19, Nov 16 and Dec. 14 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
7. Introduction to the Community Information and Mapping System, Thurs. Sept. 23 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
8. Best Practices in Supporting the Integration of Immigrant Families. Sept. 30 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
9. Poverty and Access to Food in Ottawa: Building Solutions, October 18 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
10. Increasing Inclusion in Schools for Low Income Children and Youth in Ottawa, Wed. October 20 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
11. Defender of the Public Good Awards Dinner, Thurs. Oct. 28
12. Population Health: From Principles to Practice A Skill Building Event, Nov. 24
Social Planning Council News
13. We've Moved
14. Ethnic Minority Business Graduation
15. Volunteer Opportunities
Have Your Say": Current Policy Discussions
16. Long Form Census
17. Nutritious Food Supplement
********************************************************************************************
New Research and Resources
1. Profile of Poverty In Ottawa
This report presents a portrait of poverty in the City of Ottawa as reflected in the 2006 census. It is divided into four sections:
* A snapshot of poverty in Ottawa;
* An overview of the factors that lead to poverty in Ottawa;
* An exploration of who is poor in Ottawa, particularly highlighting groups which are at higher risk of poverty;
* Conclusions and recommendations.
This report is complemented by two other publications of the SPCO, specifically a technical appendix containing detailed tables and charts and a mapping supplement exploring the geography of poverty in Ottawa. All three publications are available at www.spcottawa.on.ca/publications_eng then look under "2010 <http://www.spcottawa.on.ca/publications_eng%20then%20look%20under%20"2010> ". To order hard copies please contact the office at office at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:office at spcottawa.on.ca> or call 613-236-9300 ext. 300. We would appreciate a donation for a hard copy.
2. Immigrant Children, Youth and Families: A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges of Immigration
This report focuses on immigrant and refugee children, youth, seniors and families. The aim is to increase understanding of the distinct challenges they face, and includes input from immigrant families in focus groups held by the Social Planning Council. The content is divided in three sections: a) conceptual framework, b) uniqueness of Francophone immigrant families and c) challenges of the integration process. This report builds on our previous research, including Immigrants' Economic Integration: Successes and Challenges, June 2009 which is available on our website at www.spcottawa.on.ca/publications_eng. To order hard copies please contact the office at office at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:office at spcottawa.on.ca> or call 613-236-9300 ext. 300. We would appreciate a donation for a hard copy.
Upcoming Activities
3. Reception for Jerry Martinovic. Thurs. Sept. 9 - 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
It is with regret that we announce that Jerry Martinovic will be leaving his position with the Social Planning Council effective September 3. Jerry has played a leadership role in our community development work, including the Ethnic Minority Business Training Program, the Cultural, Ethnic & Visible Minority and Aboriginal (CEVMA) Entrepreneurial Services Hub, and coordinating the Ottawa Ethno-cultural Coalition (English).
While these programs have been successful in their outcomes, the lack of consistent funding for these programs has constrained our ability to continue to provide full staff support for these particular programs. As a result, and as extensive research has indicated, the practice of project funding creates staffing instability in voluntary sector organizations. The SPC will continue these programs without dedicated staffing, and has re-organized the staffing to reflect current funded projects.
An Open House Reception will be held for Jerry on Thurs., Sept 9, 4:00 to 7:00 at 790 Bronson Ave. Drop in to offer your well wishes to Jerry in his future endeavours and to share some light refreshments. Limited parking is available behind the building and in the neighbourhood.
4. Workshops for Small Ethnocultural Organizations. Fri. Sept. 10 and Fri. Oct. 1 - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (in English)
The Ottawa Ethno-Cultural Coalition and Social Planning Council present free workshops for small and grassroots ethnic and visible minority groups.
Developing a Successful Referral System for Clients of Ethno-Cultural Associations
Fri., Sept. 10 from 6:00 to 8:00 at 211 Bronson Avenue, Bronson Centre Meeting Room
Presented by Nasir Hagi of the Ottawa Orleans Somali Community Organization
Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping for Small Ethnocultural Groups
Fri., Oct. 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 at 211 Bronson Avenue, Bronson Centre Meeting Room
Presented by Denis Chainé, C.A., Logan Katz, LLP
Please RSVP to Helene at heleneb at spcottawa.on.ca or 613-236-9300 ext 300.
5. C3 Centre Official Opening (1155 Lola Street). Wed. Sept 15 - 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Official Opening The partners of the C3 Centre are pleased to invite you to attend an Open House on Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Accessibility with Moxie, Leadership Ottawa, LiveWorkPlay, Ottawa Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, ICAfrica, Social Planning Council of Ottawa, United Way Ottawa and Volunteer Ottawa have recently co-located at the C3 Centre, and would like to welcome you to this new community space.
Please join us to see the facilities, and to learn more about how we are working together under a shared roof with a common purpose - to support and enhance the capacity of our community's voluntary sector to create collaborative solutions.
When: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Where: C3 Centre (1155 Lola Street near the corner of Coventry Road)
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Official welcome at 4:00 p.m.
Parking: Limited parking is available at the C3 Centre. Street parking is available in the
area.
For further information on the C3 Centre, to request accommodations or about the Open House, please contact Suzanne Bray at sbray at unitedwayottawa.ca.
6. Peer Learning Workshop Series: Developing and Implementing a Community Based Needs Assessment. Beginning Tues. Sept 21 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The Social Planning Council is offering a series of hands-on learning sessions for staff of voluntary sector organizations or community members interested in doing their own community based research project. Participants will meet once a month for four months in a seminar style, to develop their own community based research plan and tools, with the support of resource people and their peers.
The first series of four sessions will focus on Developing and Implementing a Community Based Needs Assessment. Learning sessions will be held:
at the C3 Centre, 1155 Lola Street (off Coventry Road) in the Connect Room from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tues., Sept 21; Tues., Oct 19; Tues., Nov 16 and Tues, Dec. 14.
The registration fee for the four sessions is $80.00 ($60.00 for members of the Social Planning Council or of the Community Information and Mapping System, or C3 Centre partners).
Each participant will develop a plan and the tools (e.g. questionnaires) for a needs assessment which he or she intends to conduct. Participants will draft their own needs assessment plan and tools, to be shared and discussed with their peers with the guidance of the resource people. The sessions are intended for people who are not experts in community based research, and will be of most benefit for people who work on their plan and tools independently between sessions. Participation is limited to 9 people (or projects), on a first come / first served basis. The four sessions will be offered in English
For more information or to register contact Hélène at heleneb at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:heleneb at spcottawa.on.ca> , 613-236-9300 ext. 300.
7. Introduction to the Community Information and Mapping System, Thurs. Sept. 23 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Learn about the Community Information and Mapping System (CIMS), an initiative of the Social Planning Council which allows agencies to bring their own data into a secure system and combine the information data with census and other data that can be mapped. The system is a toolkit for community-based research, planning and information sharing. This session is in English and French and intended for those who are not already members of the CIMS.
Thurs. Sept. 23
>From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
790 Bronson Ave.
Free, with limited parking behind the building. Additional street parking in the neighbourhood. Light refreshments will be served. To register, please call or e-mail Hélène at 613-236-9300 ext. 300 office at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:office at spcottawa.on.ca> .
8. Best Practices in Supporting the Integration of Immigrant Families. Sept. 30 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Please join us for a workshop on promising practices to improve inclusion of immigrant families, children, youth and seniors in Ottawa, through the collaboration of small ethno-cultural organizations and mainstream services. This is an opportunity to learn about research on promising practices, to share your experience of what works well, and to connect with others working with immigrant seniors, families, children and youth on family support and success in education projects.
Thursday, Sept. 30
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
At Dominion Chalmers United Church, (Woodside Hall),
355 Cooper Street, Ottawa
To register, for more information or for accommodations, please call or e-mail Helene at 613-236-9300 ext. 300 office at spcottawa.on.ca. Admission is free! Light refreshments will be served.
9. Poverty and Access to Food in Ottawa: Building Solutions, October 18 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
HOLD this DATE!
Monday, October 18, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
At Dominion Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street
Come for a community discussion on strategies to increase access to food in Ottawa for low income residents. More Information Coming Soon!! Hosted by Just Food Ottawa, Food for All and the SPC.
10. Increasing Inclusion in Schools for Low Income Children and Youth in Ottawa, Wed. October 20 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Child and youth poverty have remained persistently high in Ottawa. Community members, educators, parents and community agency workers are invited to hear a profile of low income children and youth in Ottawa (based on a new report by the SPC), and to discuss opportunities to increase inclusion of low income children, youth and families in the school system, particularly addressing school fees. We will also announce an award to a school in Ottawa which has put in place an inclusive policy and practice around school fees.
Wed. Oct 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
at the West End Satellite Office of the SPC
30 Cleary Avenue
(basement of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa).
In English and French. Ample free parking available. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, for more information or for accommodations, please call or e-mail Hélène at 613-236-9300 ext. 300 office at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:office at spcottawa.on.ca> .
11. Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good Awards Dinner, Thurs. Oct. 28
Join us for the 2010 Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good Award Dinner, Thurs. Oct. 28 at Dominion Chalmers United Church. We are very pleased to announce Monia Mazigh as this year's keynote speaker. Watch for registration details coming soon.
12. Population Health: From Principles to Practice A Skill Building Event
HOLD this DATE!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
More Information and Registration Form Coming Soon!!
Whether you work in the community, for a municipality, or in an agency or hospital . . .
Whether you work with children, seniors, immigrants or people with disabilities . . .
Whether you are a community representative, a planner, researcher, a service provider . . .
Come to this event!
It will launch a series of workshops to help us:
* make the link between what we do and population health
* develop more effective approaches to planning, research and evaluation
* understand and use data and methodology better
* build our capacity to allocate resources better
This event is hosted by:
* Child and Youth Health Network for Eastern Ontario
* Community Information and Mapping System of the Social Planning Council of Ottawa
* Ottawa Neighbourhood Study
The Event will be held at Rideau Park United Church, Ottawa
Social Planning Council News
13. We've Moved
As of June 1, 2010 we have moved, to three sites around the City:
* Our main office is 790 Bronson Avenue, just south of Carling.
* Our east office is at the C3 Centre, 1155 Lola Avenue, off Coventry Road. (In collaboration with United Way Ottawa, Volunteer Ottawa, Leadership Ottawa, the Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, Accessibility by Moxie, LiveWorkPlay and ICAfrica).
* Our west office is at 30 Cleary Ave. (north from Richmond Road) in the basement of the First Unitarian Congregation.
Feel free to drop in at 790 Bronson, or to contact us to arrange to meet us at our east or west offices. You can reach all staff at 613-236-9300 or by email.
14. Ethnic Minority Business Graduation
The Social Planning Council would like to congratulate the graduates of the 2010 class of the Ethnic Minority Business Program. The Ethnic Minority Business Program, which has just completed its 6th year, is a course of workshops designed to provide entrepreneurs from immigrant, visible minority and aboriginal communities with the information they need to succeed, and access to the experts who can help them along the way. This program is part of the Social Planning Council's Community Economic Development Program.
This year, the course was expanded to eight workshops, and was better able to focus on the specific needs of the participants. We had an impressive 75% graduation rate in both the English and French sessions. In the past, we have had several successful businesses come out of the course each year, and we know that this year's graduates will continue that trend. We learned a lot from the participants, as we hope they did from us.
We would also like to thank the numerous professionals and experts who volunteered with the program, providing their knowledge, expertise and time, to help our graduates and program succeed. We couldn't have done it without them.
Good luck to all our graduates in all their future plans!
15. Volunteer Opportunities
Please contact Hélène Bouchard at heleneb at spcottawa.on.ca or 613-236-9300 ext. 300 if you are interested in the following volunteer opportunities:
* Planning and implementation of the Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good Award Dinner.
* Planning and implementation of the October 20 meeting on inclusion in schools and school fees. Volunteers working on the planning for this event will meet at 790 Bronson on Wed., September 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please contact dianneu at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:dianneu at spcottawa.on.ca> or 613-236-9300 ext. 303.
* For volunteers with experience in GIS we have opportunities to help with our new project, the Community Information and Mapping System (see www.cims-scic.ca <http://www.cims-scic.ca/> )
* Volunteers to help groups improve their skills to do community based research. Please contact dianneu at spcottawa.on.ca <mailto:dianneu at spcottawa.on.ca> or 613-236-9300 ext. 300.
* Volunteers for design and layout of some communications materials.
* Volunteers for a new community economic development project for women. In particular, we need helpers for community kitchen activities and to help women with disabilities who wish to participate in the project.
Have Your Say: Current Policy Discussions
16. Long Form Census
The decision by the Federal Conservative government to eliminate the compulsory long-form census threatens the fundamental source of information that all Canadians depend on to ensure that the decisions made by governments, non-profit organizations and businesses are based on fact, rather than guesswork or ideology. There is no other way to gather this information accurately in Canada at this time. The Social Planning Council of Ottawa has joined hundreds of voices opposed to this decision, including many municipalities (including the City of Ottawa), hundreds of organizations (including United Way Canada) and many business organizations or representatives.
* Find out more at www.savethecensus.ca <http://www.savethecensus.ca/> , www.ccsd.ca, www.datalibre.ca <http://www.datalibre.ca/> .
* Encourage others to get involved. There are four excellent information sheets at http://www.savethecensus.ca/savethecensus.ca/Resources.html
* Contact your Member of Parliament. You can find your local Member of Parliament, by postal code, at http://tinyurl.com/MPlookup.
* Write a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minster of Industry at:
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ont.
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
The Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5
Fax: 613-992-0302
Email: minister.industry at ic.gc.ca
We also recommend you send a copy of your letters to the leaders of the opposition and to your own MP
17. Cuts To the Provincial Special Diet Allowance for People on Social Assistance
(Revised from the Income Security Advocacy Centre at http://www.incomesecurity.org/specialdiet.htm)
On March 25, as part of its 2010 budget, the provincial government announced it will cancel the Special Diet Allowance Program and replace it with a new program. The government has said very little about the new program, except
* it will be a "nutritional supplement" program - not a "special diet" program
* it will be intended to only help people with "severe medical needs" - not the people who need special dietary treatment to manage their conditions and prevent worse health
* not everyone who is currently on Special Diet will be eligible for the new program - so the government will save money
* it will be run and paid for by the Ministry of Health - not the Ministry of Community and Social Services
The government has also said that there will be a transition period of nine to twelve months during which the new program will be set up. They have committed to making sure that no one loses their Special Diet Allowance until the new program is set up.
Many individuals, groups, and organizations across Ontario are shocked and disappointed by this decision. The decision to cut the Special Diet Allowance threatens access to healthy food for tens of thousands of people. At the same time, the Ontario budget also reduced the real income of people on social assistance because the 1 per cent increase in social assistance does not keep up with the rise in consumer prices. Despite the Provincial government's Poverty Reduction Strategy, the most recent Ontario budget is a setback on any promised path to transform social assistance and ignores the immediate crisis in meeting basic needs experienced by people on social assistance.
For more information visit http://www.incomesecurity.org/specialdiet.htm and www.putfoodinthebudget.ca <http://www.putfoodinthebudget.ca/>
Please voice your opinion on this critical issue by contacting our local MPP. You can find contact information for your local Member of Provincial Parliament at http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp <http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp> . When you find your riding name, select "information about your MPP".
If you would like to unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, please contact Hélène at office at spcottawa.on.ca or 613-236-9300 ext. 300.
Hélène Bouchard
Office Manager
790 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1S 4G4
(613) 236-9300 ext 300
(613) 236-7060
Social Planning Council of Ottawa
www.spcottawa.on.ca
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