Crime Prevention Ottawa Partners for a Safer Community March 29, 2007

Introducing Crime Prevention Ottawa Response to the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence Agenda

Ottawa is a community in which individuals, families and neighbourhoods are safe and feel safe. Vision Mission To contribute to crime reduction and enhanced community safety in Ottawa through collaborative evidence-based crime prevention.

Ottawa Youth Gang Prevention Initiative Together for Vanier Promoting Violence against women prevention projects: The Fourth R and Neighbours, Friend and Families Many others Current Projects

Response to the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence

Long term recommendations: $200 million for child and youth mental health Poverty reduction, inclusion and anti-racism Focus on place-based approach to target most in need communities and focus on creating community hubs, but stress a need for evidence-based approaches What we support

Supports for parents and families Specific anti-poverty investments in the key areas of support to school attendance and recreation Harness new investments in Employment Services and Immigrant Settlement Disappointed in the lack of focus on child protection Also need short and medium term goals

Agree that improved coordination is important but CPO questions whether a Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Anti-Racism will be able to work for violence prevention. CPO seeks a clearer focus on prevention and violence Confusion about relationship between RRVY, Poverty reduction, urban priority schools, youth gang framework and so on. Improve Coordination

Make targeted investments: in community development initiatives in high risk neighbourhoods, in programs to support high risk families and in alternative programs in youth justice A Youth Challenge Fund for Ottawa Targeted Investments

How can we work with the Ontario government to prevent youth violence? What are your next steps? How can we help?

Thank you. Questions?