Many of the National Alliance for Children and Youth (NACY)’s members across Canada have been reporting that they are struggling with capacity, delivery and sustainability challenges. We are seeing more organizations relying on volunteers, community donations and goodwill while often trying to survive on inconsistent and patchwork funding. In addition, increased numbers of Canadian families are at risk. This is evidenced by increased child and family poverty rates, increased homelessness and high levels of unemployment especially amongst young people. Service delivery factors have contributed to services working in silos without networking support, an appropriate level of learning capacity or economies of scale within many communities. Experience, learning, efficiency models, mentorships, and new approaches have not been captured or shared to improve services, increase capacity, or to help a struggling organizations survive.
NACY has been focused on a series of activities dedicated to building resources aimed at improving the child and youth sector. Since 2010, NACY has undertaken a National study “Taking Stock,” to examine the status and opportunities of community based child and youth serving organizations across Canada.
Funding instability, global influences, leadership gaps, the need for collaboration, and the creation of a unified voice on policy were themes that emerged from across country over the past three years.
A recent Strategy Session brought together thought leaders, including Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), to discuss findings and begin a dialogue about how to bring children and youth back on the public policy agenda in Canada. As a result, the group has been able to begin to identify strategies and required resources to collectively advance the development of a national strategy.
A final project report will describe the resilience of community organizations in the face of many challenges, the extensive innovation and adaptation evidenced to meet these demands, and the need for further support.
CFC’s focus on youth for Vital Signs 2012 will add an important dimension to the data that NACY has been collecting. It will be of great value to see how this snapshot of the issues facing Canadian youth resonates with what NACY has been hearing.
An important role for NACY will be convening a national group, including youth, who can catalyze a much bigger conversation across Canada and address critical issues head-on. This will complement the work of the CFC over the next few months leading up to their 2013 Conference.
NACY is please to collaborate and support CFC in their work on this front and I am particularly looking forward the Vital Signs launch and to help moving from statistics to solutions at the Vital Youth Dialogue & Design Workshop!
Amanda Mayer, General Coordinator, NACY
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