Latest news with #CSWB
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Identify problems early': Peel Region appears set to update plan to address complex social issues
Peel Region council appears set to approve an updated Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan aimed at improving how the region addresses complex social issues such as mental health, addictions, youth violence, systemic discrimination and family violence. The plan was endorsed at the June 12 meeting — although not formally adopted. A walkout by Caledon and Brampton councillors on a separate issue meant the plan did not receive final approval. It is set to return for formal approval at a later meeting. The refreshed plan builds on the region's 2020—2024 strategy and aims for a more flexible, community-informed approach to respond to emerging community needs. The update comes amid growing concern over service gaps, including lengthy wait times for children and youth in need of mental health counselling and supports. The CSWB Plan is a provincially mandated strategy designed to improve public safety by addressing the root causes of harm before they escalate. Rather than relying solely on crisis response, the plan focuses on prevention, early intervention and social development through co-ordinated community partnerships. 'This is more than a plan, it's a movement,' said Sharon Mayne, chief executive officer of Catholic Family Services of Peel Dufferin and co-chair of the CSWB's Mental Health and Addictions Action Table, delegating at the June 12 council meeting. Peel's original plan, adopted in 2020, reached the end of its scheduled cycle last year. The 2025 update retains its five core priorities — mental health and addictions, family violence, systemic discrimination, youth violence and support for international students — but incorporates feedback from more than 40 interviews and consultations, along with a review of similar plans across Ontario. The primary change is a new 'adaptive model' of implementation that emphasizes stronger collaboration between institutions and community groups. According to regional staff, the model aims to improve early detection of harm by combining data with local knowledge, while also making responses more targeted and culturally relevant. 'This model will help us identify problems early, by listening closely to our communities, and working together to drive real effective action,' said Liz Estey Noad, program director of Health Equity, Partnerships, and Innovation at Peel Region. Representatives from different organizations delegated in support of the plan, including Peel Children's Aid Society and Our Place Peel. 'The community safety well-being refresh will allow our community to continue in collaboration and collective impact, de-silo our efforts and rebuild trust in systems and co-create equitable opportunities with youth and community members across Peel,' said Danni Mills, director of Strategic Partnerships and Youth Advocacy at Our Place Peel. One delegate, Michelle Bilek from the Peel Poverty Action Group, raised concerns about what she saw as the limited role of grassroots residents in shaping Peel's updated Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan. 'I was struck by the lack of community representation that was reflected in the leadership,' Bilek said. She also called for Indigenous inclusion in CSWB leadership. Commissioner of Health Services Nancy Polsinelli thanked Bilek for her remarks and informed her that staff were taking notes. The updated CSWB Plan will be implemented in phases, guided by the CSWB Secretariat and System Leadership Table, with a focus on early identification of issues, data-informed decision-making that includes lived experience, and localized, equity-oriented responses. To support this work, the region says it plans to strengthen partnerships with grassroots organizations, integrate efforts across sectors, and build stronger feedback loops between community needs and institutional action. Staff told council that one of the goals is to reduce overreliance on crisis-based services by investing in 'upstream' interventions — such as youth programs, mental health supports, and culturally relevant services — that address root causes. 'Currently, over 550 families are waiting for intensive counselling and/or supports. And 90 per cent of children and youth will wait between 158 days to 1,100,' said Mary Beth Moellenkamp, CEO of Peel Children's Aid Society. 'Our children and youth can't wait that long.' The updated model will continue to align with existing strategies like Peel Regional Police's 'Our Way Forward,' which includes programs such as the Youth Engagement Strategy, Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Teams, and the Vulnerable Person Registry. If approved at a subsequent meeting, staff will report back on implementation progress through future updates to council. The plan is designed to remain flexible and evolve alongside changing community needs and feedback from service users. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Chatham-Kent adopts five-year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan with focus on prevention and collaboration
Chatham-Kent has officially adopted its updated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB) for 2025–2029, reinforcing its commitment to building a safer, healthier and more inclusive community. The move follows a provincial mandate that requires every Ontario municipality to develop such a plan under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. The plan, endorsed by Chatham-Kent Council on June 9, was informed by a combination of survey data, stakeholder engagement, and research from provincial and federal sources. Input from more than 350 residents and local leaders across sectors—healthcare, education, social services and emergency response—shaped the priorities and framework of the plan. The goal of the CSWB Plan is to create a community in which residents feel safe, connected and supported, while ensuring that services are accessible and equitable. It emphasizes a proactive and integrated approach to address social issues that affect safety and well-being, rather than relying on incident-based responses alone. Central to the plan is a planning framework that includes four areas of intervention: social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response. While each area plays a role, the plan calls for most resources and investments to be directed toward social development initiatives—long-term, proactive strategies that improve outcomes across the population. The plan outlines six priority areas of focus: substance use, mental health, housing and income security, public safety, community belonging, and children, youth and family wellness. Work in each of these priority areas will be led by dedicated action teams composed of local partners. These teams will be responsible for designing and implementing targeted strategies, engaging the public, tracking progress and adapting approaches as needed. Collaboration among agencies and improved data-sharing will be key to measuring impact and refining the plan over time. Key commitments include reducing stigma and systemic barriers associated with substance use, improving access to mental health supports, expanding housing and financial security options, enhancing public safety, and strengthening social ties within neighbourhoods. Investments will also be made in youth programming and initiatives that support healthy family dynamics. A major component of the plan's development was a community survey conducted in March 2025. Over a four-week period, 350 residents responded, providing valuable insights into local needs and perceptions. According to the survey, 70 per cent of respondents reported a sense of belonging in their communities, and more than 81 per cent said they had positive relationships with neighbours. While 65 per cent of people felt safe walking in their neighbourhoods after dark, nearly 80 per cent said they believed crime had increased over the last four years. Other findings highlighted concerns about unsupervised outdoor play for children, particularly among parents of children aged 5 to 12. Respondents identified substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education and employment as top community priorities. Municipal officials say the survey results, while informative, will be interpreted alongside broader datasets from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario and local partners such as the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency service providers. The next steps include sharing the full CSWB Plan with the public in summer 2025 through online platforms and printed copies at local libraries. Community members will continue to be invited to participate in consultations, strategy development, and ongoing feedback sessions. Planners also aim to establish sustainable funding sources, consult residents on specific action items, and build an evaluation strategy to monitor outcomes. The ultimate vision is a long-term reduction in systemic risk factors and improved coordination among services. For more information or to get involved, residents can visit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Ottawa Citizen
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Bradley and Browne: Stall tactics are blocking Ottawa's safety plan for vulnerable people
In 2019, the Ontario Policing and Community Safety Act was brought into force with the hope that it would pave the way for a reduction in street and gender-based violence, drug overdoses, and improve social support in Ontario municipalities. Ottawa residents were promised that the city's mandatory Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan would offer a comprehensive framework to address the pressing needs of marginalized communities and uproot systemic discrimination. Article content Article content Article content However, after years of delays and bureaucratic obstacles, it's becoming clear that the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa have failed to deliver on their promises. Article content After Ottawa Council finally passed the CSWB plan in October of 2021, it took nearly three years to implement any of its recommendations. And now, despite the urgent need for action, the committee announced the safety plan will be further revised — and its implementation delayed — in response to the province ordering that all CSWB plans be updated every four years. Such delays only perpetuate the systemic issues the plan is meant to address. Article content As the only two public delegates who have consistently attended and followed the CSWB advisory committee meetings, we've witnessed firsthand how ineffective the committee is. The committee only meets once every three months, with little evidence that it's following up on things raised at the previous meeting. Very few people give public delegations at the meetings and very few committee members ask questions of those who do. No supporting documents are provided with meeting agenda items, making it impossible for members of the public to delegate about specific items. Article content Article content Begging for information Article content Article content A lack of information on key CSWB initiatives has forced residents to beg committee members and other city officials for responses or to file freedom of information requests to get information. Regarding 'street violence,' which falls under the CSWB, we had to file freedom of information requests to get the report developed by Hefid Solutions and CT Labs, to whom Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) paid over $50,000 in 2022 to 'refresh' CPO's Ottawa Street Violence and Gang Strategy, which expired five years ago. Article content The Safer Futures, Safer Streets report, which we only got in March 2024, covers 2023-2028 and says it 'will guide Crime Prevention Ottawa's operations and activities in addressing street violence over the next five years.' This is despite council voting to merge CPO into the CSWB office in July 2023. The report also says it's focused on identifying 'at-risk' youth and helping them 'make healthier life choices' which is 'the surest path to community safety and a better future for all.' This reveals the report's focus on youth's individual choices as the source of the lack of safety, instead of on systemic discrimination in which the police play a key role. The city has yet to publicly release the report.
CBC
06-04-2025
- CBC
Ottawa homicides concerning, but not necessarily on the rise, experts say
Social Sharing Ottawa officials are responding to three homicides committed in the past week, but say this is not necessarily indicative of a worrying trend. The three latest reports since March 30 brings to eight the number of homicides recorded in Ottawa this year. Charges have been laid in relation to six of them. "We share the community's concerns about the level of violence in our city," said a statement from the Ottawa Police Service released Friday. "Three lives have been senselessly lost, and families, friends, and loved ones are now grieving." The cases were unrelated, the statement said, and police do not believe there is a current risk to public safety. Despite this, Alta Vista Councillor and Ottawa Police Service Board Vice-Chair Marty Carr said she's heard from residents feeling afraid after the killings. "I understand why people are concerned," she said. "To say we shouldn't be worried, I can understand why people wouldn't accept that. "Three in a week is a lot. It's a lot for this community. It's a lot for the city that's considered to be one of the safest cities in Canada." While three homicides in one week is concerning, experts say it will take time before the numbers show a trend. Homicides in Ottawa reached a record high in 2024, with 25 people killed in 20 cases. Irvin Waller, a professor emeritus and criminologist with the University of Ottawa, says he's not more worried than usual just yet. "Is it consistent with the trend that we've been seeing in the last couple of years? We'll have to wait and see," he said. Waller said while it's not clear whether the number of homicides in the city will continue to increase, it is important that Ottawa rethinks its strategy for prevention. "[Police] react to crime and to homicides," he said. "The city council needs to invest smartly in the things that will reduce the risk of homicides taking place." The city dissolved its crime prevention taskforce, Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO), in 2023. Instead, it incorporated its mandate into the provincially-mandated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB). Both Carr and OPS have said it will take more than enforcement to reduce crime. In its statement, OPS said it is "committed to working with community partners to address the root causes of violence and build long-term solutions." For Carr, those long-term solutions include using the CSWB to build more community supports — including mental health resources, addictions counselling, and youth programming. According to Carr, drug addiction and mental illness were believed to be factors in at least one of the recent homicides.
