SOCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL OF OTTAWA/LE CONSEIL DE PLANIFICATION SOCIALE D'OTTAWA
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d*****u@s*******a.on.ca
Mission Statement
We are a community development organization with the mission to provide residents of Ottawa with the means to exercise informed leadership on issues affecting their social and economic wellbeing.
About This Cause
Since 1928 we have been a catalyst for sustainable social and economic development. Using a holistic community development approach, we create concrete, positive and lasting improvement on priority issues identified by communities. Over the years we have launched United Way Ottawa, ParaTranspo, the Alliance to End Homelessness, Council on Aging, Just Food and a range of local social services (plus more). Our mission is to provide Ottawa residents the means to exercise informed leadership on issues affecting their social & economic wellbeing. We improve equity through 3 core services: Research and data on the needs of Ottawa’s most vulnerable populations and on avenues for systemic change. Inclusive social planning with partners to design new program approaches & systems solutions that address unmet needs, tackle systemic barriers & enhance community well-being. Support for equity-seeking grassroots organisations to build their capacity & increase access to resources, opportunities, services, to support community leaders addressing equity, & to build equitable & inclusive environments. Our current priorities are: 1. Community Economic Development 2. Increasing Inclusion 3. Access to Basics, and 4. Supporting an Effective Voluntary and Charity Sector. Our track record shows our significant ability to respond through direct services for residents affected by our priorities (in 2020, 3,657 unique / 30,594 total encounters) & indirect supports for agencies addressing the priorities. In 2020: • 52 agencies supported with data & 40 with evaluation • 1,573 research presentation attendees • Led 3 collaborative tables with 45 partners Our Current Work and Impact: 1. Community Economic Development Community Economic Development Goal: Equitable opportunities in a sustainable local economy meeting local needs We improve economic self-sufficiency and increase sustainable local economic activity through skills training and employment, social enterprises, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable local economic development. Community Economic Development Impact 2020-21: - 69 youth trained in in-demand skills - 41 youth employed part-time in our social enterprises - 25 youth got quality external employment - 10 youth were connected with career-oriented mentors Community Economic Development Projects: a) Hot Shoe Productions: A social enterprise employing talented youth to create compelling video products. Youth build employment skills, earn some income, and create videos that help local charities communicate their impact. b) Technology, Research and Communications (TRAC) Youth Employment Program. Youth learning tech - helping non-profits - leading change. Young people facing barriers in the labour market receive training, mentoring and job placement supports that get them into employment in three local sectors: information and communications technology, communications and marketing, and government or research firms. 2. Increasing Inclusion "Increasing Inclusion" Goals: Increase access to resources and opportunities for individuals, families and communities experiencing exclusion. Support the capacity of change-makers. Build inclusive environments by creating systemic change. The SPCO works in collaboration with a growing number of volunteer grassroots groups to improve outcomes and reduce isolation for people who face barriers to participation and services. We focus on ethno-cultural seniors, racialized low-income families, people with mental health issues and refugee children and youth. Grassroots groups are critical in connecting with harder to reach residents and in providing culturally appropriate supports and complementing mainstream professional health and community services. We work with over 30 groups who engage thousands of people living in the Ottawa area. Our collaborative model has demonstrated the effectiveness of enhancing the capacity of grassroots groups and working through them in order to increase their ability to support health and well-being in community. Increasing Inclusion Impact 2020-21: -2,667 unique seniors participated in social activities, information sessions and volunteering in over 50 types of social activities customized to diverse interests and needs (26,275 encounters) - 400 community members received culturally responsive home visiting training resources - Reduced isolation, increased social connections, seniors feeling more valued - Innovative programming for seniors with dementia and their caregivers - Fun activities and skill building for racialized children, refugee youth and people with mental health challenges Current "Increasing Inclusion" Projects: a) Creating Community for Isolated Ethno-Cultural Seniors: This project reduces social isolation for immigrant and ethno-cultural minority seniors through partnerships with 26 ethno-cultural groups who provide regular social activities, home visits, telephone assurance, service navigation and information sharing. b) Culturally Responsive Community Based Supports for Seniors with Dementia and Caregivers: Activities include culturally responsive social programs for ethno-cultural seniors with dementia and their caregivers, in collaboration with four grassroots ethno-cultural groups. As well, our knowledge mobilization initiative is building capacity in mainstream services for culturally responsive dementia supports. c) Ethno-Cultural Seniors Home Visitors Training Project: This practical volunteer training and support guide was created to help ethno-cultural seniors’ groups develop and conduct formal culturally appropriate volunteer training and support. d) Building Capacity to Address Elder Abuse and Neglect in Ethno-Cultural Communities: In collaboration with grassroots ethno-cultural groups we have developed resource materials and information sessions to empower, inform and educate ethnocultural seniors and groups on addressing elder abuse. e) Reducing Seniors’ Isolation Through Dance: A dance program for seniors in partnership with the National Ballet School and the Baycrest Geriatric Centre. f) Exploring the Accessibility of Health Services for Seniors: This research project in collaboration with Carleton University will increase understanding of the unique challenges faced by three communities, Filipino, Vietnamese, and French-speaking Black Canadians, when accessing health services in Ottawa. g) Two Photovoice Projects with Immigrant and Racialized Youth: • My Voice, Our Wellness: A newcomer youth wellness advocacy photovoice project. This is a mental wellness promoting, capacity building and advocacy photography program for newcomer youth. • YouthLens: A train-the-trainer program, to engage refugee youth in fun arts-based activities. h) Weathering the Storm - social activities and peer support for people from populations at high risk of mental health difficulties in the face of COVID-19. This is delivered in partnership with 7 grassroots groups. i) Summer camps and after-school programs for youth from ethno-cultural groups. 3. Access to Basics "Access to Basics" Goal: Ensure an adequate standard of living for individuals and families facing exclusion and a solid foundation of community infrastructure to address key points of distress in specific communities. In 2020-21 we focused on responding to COVID-19, mental health and anti-racism. Access to Basics Impact 2020-21: Over 850 households received recurring support with groceries 237 households received digital devices or connectivity (wifi) support 11 agencies received tech support to support re-structured services 12 initiatives supporting COVID-19 response 2,881 (not unique) participating in mental health activities (2,657 BIPOC) 25 initiatives supporting anti-racism 1,742 participants in educational events on anti-racism, cultural competence/safety or Ottawa’s BIPOC communities Increased the capacity of 38 BIPOC organizations with support meaningful to them 41 new or expanded programs supporting mental health 40 new or expanded programs for BIPOC communities Contributed to City budget 2021 decision to expand free wi-fi in priority neighbourhoods Current "Access to Basics" Projects: a) Neighbourhood Equity Index (NEI): An evidence-based framework to tackle neighbourhood-based inequity. See www.neighbourhoodequity.ca b) A Community Development Strategy to Improve Mental Wellness: A multi-agency initiative to better support mental well-being in priority neighbourhoods. c) Digital Inclusion Ottawa: A collaborative to reduce the digital divide for at-risk populations through access to internet connectivity, devices and training. d) Data, Mapping and Capacity Building for the Black Community: We developed custom data projects for the Black community, actively supported increased funding for Black organizations and provided free communications support for Black organizations. e) Webinar Series on Alternative Responses to Mental Health Crises: A series of eight webinars to learn about what alternatives exist when responding to mental health crisis situations that replace traditional policing. f) Youth-led Participatory Action Research on Mental Wellness for Racialized Youth: Youth aged 16-24 led and implemented a research project highlighting challenges and opportunities to improve mental wellness, particularly highlighting the need for more social activities. 4. Supporting an Effective Voluntary Sector Goal for "Supporting the Voluntary Sector": Advance an effective voluntary sector with the means to address community needs. Current projects: a) Effective Measures: Our social enterprise providing evaluation for community agencies. b) Ottawa and Region Community Data Consortium: Enabling organizations to access data to better understand their communities. c) Eastern Ontario Regional Data Project: Data profiles and a rural atlas for Eastern Ontario. d) Building Data Capacity Project: A multi-year cross-agency collaboration to enable effective use of primary and secondary data to support program planning.