EORCP

About EOCPRN

The Eastern Ontario Child Poverty Resource Network was formed in 2003 to assist existing grassroots and community organizations which are working to improve the prospects for low-income children. The network meets a high need for networking in our region of Ontario, where individuals concerned about child poverty are very isolated in their efforts.

Background

Across Eastern Ontario, there are 63,290 young people aged 0-19 living in low income families (15%). In Ottawa alone, 43,315 children and youth (23%) live in poverty. The Child and Youth Health Network for Eastern Ontario was created in February 1997, following the mandate received by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), from the Health Services Restructuring Commission. The mandate asked CHEO “to take a leadership role in establishing an integrated approach to health services for children and adolescents in Eastern Ontario”. The partners within the Network recognized the fundamental importance of addressing child poverty in order to improve the health of children across Eastern Ontario. The Network established a “Determinants of Health Working Group” to build partnerships with local organizations concerned about the impacts of child poverty in their communities. In 1999, the Social Planning Council undertook a project with the Determinants of Health Working Group called “A Voice for Children and Youth”. The project was an overwhelming success. In March 2000, the SPC released “The Challenges Our Children Face: A Report Card On Child Poverty”. Separate reports were published for each of the five regions in Eastern Ontario, specifically Ottawa-Carleton, Prescott-Russell, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, Lanark-Leeds-Grenville and Renfrew County.

The SPC has accepted over 70 speaking engagements since the release of the report, discussing child poverty and what local groups can do. Many of the local meetings led to specific follow-up activities such as the creation of a directory of services for low-income families and the establishment of a “Good Baby Box” program in a low income community.

Participants in these activities stated a clear need for a means to hear what was working in other communities and to seek new ideas. In May 2001, SPC held a very successful two day conference, called “Stone Soup Seminars” to permit sharing across sectors and regions.

SPC followed up the conference with the publication of a resource manual called “Gearing Towards Progress: Overcoming the Challenges Our Children Face, How Communities Across Eastern Ontario Are Addressing Child Poverty”.

In March 2002, the Social Planning Council wrote to the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation requesting their support for a project to address the impact of child poverty in Eastern Ontario. In July 2002, the SPC received a grant to establish the Eastern Ontario Child Poverty Resource Network.

How are we funded?

This project has been made possible through a one year, $20,000 grant from the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Social Planning Council .

Program Components

The Network promotes information sharing on strategies, best practices, research, community development initiatives, self-help and other resources regarding child poverty. We provide specific community development support to help local initiatives and to encourage cross-sector partnerships geared to improving the prospects for low-income children and youth. We share information and support activity along the full spectrum of interventions, including social planning, program design, program delivery, mutual support (esp. self-help), community economic development and advocacy. Concerned individuals have access to a range of ideas and are encouraged to identify the most appropriate activity for their particular sector and geographic region.

For More Information Contact: