Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker Programcall for Applications

Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker ProgramCall for Applications

This is an invitation to prospective applicants to submit applications for funding to develop and implement anEnhanced Youth Outreach Worker Program. This application package is issued by Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Children and Youth Services (the “ministry”).

Contents

Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker Program Call for Applications

1.Program Guidelines

1.1 Background

1.2Initiative Overview

1.3 Desired Outcomes

1.4 Activities

1.5 Costing and Funding

1.6 Beneficiary Population

1.7 Collective Impact

1.8 Eligibility

2.Application Process

2.1 Submitting an Application

2.2 Application Questions

2.3 Selection of Initiatives

2.4 Important Notes for Applicants

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Appendix B: CI2 BYAP Guiding Principles

Appendix C: Application Template

1.Program Guidelines

1.1 Background

To help reduce outcomes disparities for Black children, youth, and families,Ontario released the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP) in March 2017. The BYAP is a four-year, $47 million commitment that, when fully implemented, will support 10,800 Black children, youth and their families annually.

The BYAP will increase access to supports and opportunities for Black children, youth and their families in Ontario across life stages, from early childhood to the transition to school and / or work.

1.2Initiative Overview

The Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) Program equips and empowers at-risk / high-risk youth and their families to take action, improving their life outcomes. YOWs act as mentors, promote broader opportunities and supports for youth within communities, and advocate for the improvement of access to youth services. More specifically, YOWs:

Help youth and their families to identify and articulate their needs;
Support youth through an evidenced-based process(Stages of Change model;refer to Appendix A for definition) to make positive changes in their lives;
Raise awareness about, and access to, local prevention and intervention resources through information-sharing and referrals that respond to individual needs and risk factors and reinforce strengths; and,
Foster communication and linkages among community agencies / organizations to improve access and reduce barriers to services and supports.

The YOW Program, which is delivered across the province through various transfer payment agencies,was established in Toronto following increased gun violence in the summer of 2005.The Program has been expanded three times (2006, 2012 and 2015) to include additional high-needs communities across the province, improve the evidence-based outreach model of the Program, and to provide specialized, intensive supports for high-risk youth through the introduction of Enhanced YOWs. These expansions and additions to the Program were introduced as part of Ontario’s broader initiatives to improve outcomes for at-risk and high-risk youth. The YOW Program currently supports 114 YOWs in 12 communities across the province.

Building on the 2015 expansion which saw the introduction of Enhanced YOWs, funding will be provided for BYAP Enhanced YOWs,who will specifically serve high-risk youth who identify as Black. Like other Enhanced YOWs, BYAP Enhanced YOWs will provide intensive intervention and support, for example in the areas of mental health, addictions, trauma, relationship or family violence and / or human and sex trafficking etc.

BYAP Enhanced YOWs work as part of the YOW team and expand the continuum of services of the Program by providing intensive one-on-one support to high-risk Black youth ages 12 to 25 and their families to prevent youth from further risk / violence. High-risk youth are youth who may be experiencing challenges related to mental health, addictions, trauma, relationship violence, human / sex trafficking and / or may be involved in criminal activities; and who have been involved in specific incidents or conflicts (e.g., fight at school, interaction with the police, sibling in conflict with the law) that increase their risks.

BYAP Enhanced YOWswill work with Black youth to develop and enhance their identity, culture and sense of belongingness to their community as a protective factor in their movement through the stages of change. BYAPEnhanced YOWs will use culturally-specific approaches where appropriate to meet this expectation (e.g., connecting Black youth to mentors within their own communities / cultural group, encouraging youth to engage in cultural activities and events).

Information Only: BYAP Enhanced YOWs, like Enhanced YOWs will hold a Bachelor of Social Work and relevant experience, or Masters of Social Work, Counselling Psychology or equivalent and eligible for certification / membership in a registered professional association for practitioners in clinical therapy.

To help prevent youth violence and increase Ontario’s supports for Black at-risk youth, the Program will be targeted to addressing known geographic and service gaps for Black children, youth and their families in neighbourhoods across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, in Ottawa and Windsor.

BYAP Enhanced YOWs complement the community outreach, prevention and intervention work undertaken by the rest of the YOW Program, in order to build neighbourhood and community capacity to specifically engage and serve Black youth better. They work within the YOW Program in a variety of ways, such as participating in YOW training and the Community of Practice and utilizing the Outreach Record for reporting.

Information Only:Applicants selected to deliver BYAP Enhanced YOWs will be required to use the Stages of Change model (refer to Appendix A for definition) and its complementary web-based data collection tool, the Outreach Record database. The ministry will support training and tools on the Stages of Change model and Outreach Record database to all selected applicants.

Program Expansion and Enhancement

1.3DesiredOutcomes

The intended program-level outcomes include (but are not limited to):

The Program seeks to improve outcomes for Ontario’s Black at-risk youth. The following Program-specific outcomes align with priority outcomes identified in Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed.

Objective #1: Promote youth and family engagement in their communities.

Desired outcomes:

Youth participants are engaged in their communities; and,
Youth participants have families and/or caring adults equipped to help them thrive.

Objective #2: Facilitate better access for youth to services and pro-social opportunities. Desired outcomes:

Youth participants know about and easily navigate resources in their communities; and,
Youth participants make choices that support healthy and safedevelopment.

Applicants are encouraged to suggest additional program outcomes in their application.

1.4Activities

Working as a part of the YOW team, the BYAP Enhanced YOW will:

Provide short-term, counselling and support services to Black youth in accordance with the Stages of Change intervention model adapted for the YOW Program.
Collaborate with the YOW network to identify Black youth who may require additional, more intensive services, and work with the YOW to align support services for individual Black youth.
Develop and oversee a short-term case management plan for Black youth clients, in partnership with the YOW, and support Black youth by:
Helping Black youth to identify their needs, goals, aspirations, skills and abilities as well as barriers to accessing services;
Helping Black youth to build resiliency, pro-social skills and other protective factors to address their various risk factors;
Helping Black youth who experience additional risk factors and challenges, such as poor mental health due to anti-Black racism.
Helping Black youth to address the specific incidents / risk factors that may bring them into conflict with peers, family, and / or the law;
Providing Black youth with general information, contacts, referrals and support as needed to build assets and address needs (e.g., housing, employment, education, health care and recreation; social and emotional issues); and,
Referring Black youth to appropriate services in the community, and supporting them to access these services.
Support parents and family members to help youth address their needs by providing short-term counselling, if needed, and referring parents and family members to other supports and services available in the community.
Maintain collaborative working relationships with other professionals within and outside of the organization.
In collaboration with YOW Supervisor and team:
Promote community awareness of the YOW Program and maintain a recognizable community presence;
Identify emerging issues, service gaps and opportunities for action to build community capacity; and,
Identify staff development / training needs and participate in staff development / training programs, as required.
Enter and maintain accurate and complete service data in the Outreach Record database in a timely manner.
Participate in training opportunities through the Outreach Record Learning Portal.
Maintain professional and evidence-based standards of practice in accordance with the Stages of Change intervention model, a positive youth development framework and relevant legislation (e.g., Child and Family Services Act, Youth Criminal Justice Act).
Carry out other duties as assigned as part of the Youth Outreach Worker Program.

Information Only:The Successful Applicant is required to participate at the YOW Community of Practice table (refer to Appendix A for definition), where YOW supervisors/managers meet to discuss best practices and lessons learned.

1.5 Costing and Funding

Costing

The ministry will fund selected applicants to hire and support (e.g., supervision, training, etc.) Enhanced YOWs will negotiate the terms for Program delivery.

While actual costs will be determined and negotiated with each selected applicant, the maximum amount of funding available is $80,100 per Enhanced YOW per full fiscal year (term of agreement will be negotiated with each selected applicant). It is anticipated the agreement will be executed on or around December 15, 2017.

Funding is provided annually. This includes funding for salary and benefits as well as administration and program supervision costs. The guiding framework for Program funding is as follows:

Per Enhanced YOW – Total Funding (per year) / $82,100
Salaries
Total gross salary & wage payments. Included in this account line are premium pay, overtime pay, vacation pay, and other direct monetary compensation paid to employees. / $60,000
Benefits
The employer cost of all employee benefits. This account line includes mandatory benefits such as CPP, EI, EHT; etc. / $12,000
Administration and Supervision
This includes agency and program administration, and supervision / training. / $8,100
One time Start-up Costs
Allowance for the purchase of a tablet for use of the Enhanced YOW / $2,000

Funding

Applicants who are selected to receive funding (the lead applicant in cases of collaborative applications) will be required to enter into a Transfer Payment Agreement with the Ministry that will set out the terms and conditions for Program delivery and funding.

The term of agreement will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

1.6 Beneficiary Population

Enhanced YOWs will focus efforts on high-riskBlack[1]youth aged 12-25,who face multiple barriers to success as described in Section 1.0 Program Overview.

Information Only:Successful applicants will be required to participate in Identity-based data collection (refer to Appendix A for definition).

Target Service Delivery Region

The Program will be introduced or expanded in the following regions:Greater Toronto, Hamilton Area (includes Toronto, Hamilton, Peel, Durham and York) Windsor, Ottawa.

Catchment Area

Applicants will define a targeted geographical catchment area and / or identify a specific youth population within the Census Metropolitan Area where Program delivery will be focused to serve the most high-risk, high-needs Black youth.

Information Only:Selected applicants must demonstrate their understanding of the local need for the Program in their catchment area and be adaptable to changing targeted areas depending on future neighborhood needs.

1.7Collective Impact

BYAP initiatives will be delivered using the Collective Impact and Cultural Identity (CI2) approach. Applicants must be willing to learn about and participate in this approach in order to be considered for funding. To learn more about the CI2 approach please see Appendix B.

1.8Eligibility

Applications should be completed by a coalition or a partnership of organizations.

The lead organization is the signing organization on the government contract to deliver the initiative.
Initiative partners are the organizations responsible for working on one or many elements of the initiative. Initiative partners can play a co-leadership, sponsorship or collaborative role.

To be eligible for consideration, all applications must meet the following criteria:

The lead organization applying for funding must be a legal entity;
A completed application form for the Program must be submitted by the application deadline; and
All elements of the application (Appendix C) must be completed.

2.Application Process

2.1 Submitting an Application

All applications will include the following:

One completed application template (Appendix C); and
Two reference letters.

All materials associated with your application must be received bythe Youth Strategies Branch, Ministry of Children and Youth Services no later than November03 at 5:00pm.

Applications can be submitted to and will be accepted by:

Email:
Mail: Jessica Evans, 3rd Floor, 101 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S 3L7

2.2 Application Questions

If you have any questions about the application template, criteria, process etc. please email them to .

2.3Selection of Initiatives

An inter-ministerial committee will review and assess the applications against the eligibility requirements (Section 1.8) and the criteria below to make recommendations for project funding.

Criteria / Weights
Section 1: Organization Overview

Applicant has a plan to engage with or has assembled a coalition of partners and has articulated the distinct roles of each partner.
Applicant and / or one of its partners clearly indicate past experience in supporting improved outcomes for marginalized youth.
Applicantand partners demonstrate experience and willingness to engage in data collection and program evaluation (e.g., conducting surveys, collecting race-based data, etc.).
Applicant and partnershave identified a willingness to learn about and participate in a CI2 approach as a condition of receiving funding.

/ 20%
Section 2: Service Delivery Approach

Ability to deliver the services under the YOW Program
Ability to identify potential risks and proposed mitigation strategies
Approach to partnership and collaboration, including leveraging existing partnerships and approach to new partnerships with diverse community partners

/ 35%
Section 3: Initiative Proposal

Proposal clearly targets an outcome disparity for Black youth.
Proposaldemonstrates use of best practices, evidence, and knowledge of local context.
Proposal contains an explanation of how the program will support the BYAP common agenda and guiding principles (see Appendix B).
Proposalindicates that the applicant is ready to deliver the initiative within the timelines.
Proposal includes strategies for involving youth served in decision-making of the program.
Proposal indicates how the initiative will be delivered in a culturally-focused way.
Proposal includes a plan to evaluate the impact of the program.
Proposal identifies strategies to serveBlack youth in the identified catchment area.

/ 35%
Section 4: Additional Information

Organization meets eligibility requirements.
Two letters of reference are provided:
Letter One: Demonstrates your organization’s connection to the community; and,
Letter Two: Outlines your organization’s capacity to benefit Black youth from their perspective.

/ 10%
Section 5: Authorization

Proposal contains a signed authorization.

/ N/A

Successful applications will be notified using the primary contact indicated in the application (Section 3).

2.4 Important Notes for Applicants

Please read the Program Guidelines (Section 1), ApplicationCriteria (Section 2), and the Glossary (Appendix A) before submitting your application, as these sections contain important information.

Please use the Application Template (Appendix C) to complete your application. Please abide by the word limits indicated in the template.

If you have any questions concerning the application and /or the process, please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Evans at .

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Stages of Change Model: The Stages of Change model provides a framework for YOWs to observe and assess a young person’s readiness for change and offers stage-appropriate interventions to support positive outcomes.Knowledge of the Stages of Changes model is not a requirement for applying. More information on the model will be provided to successful applicants.

Community of Practice (COP): The COP is to facilitate the sharing of best practices across the province; identify opportunities to enhance program delivery; provide advice on other issues or trends impacting at-risk youth that may emerge over time; and contribute advice to the ministry on program improvements.

Identity-Based Data Collection: Identity-based data refers to the socio-demographic information about a person including, but not limited to, their gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Identity-Based Data will be collected by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services at a disaggregated level.

Appendix B: CI2BYAP Guiding Principles

Guiding Principles

All BYAP initiatives will adopt a common set of guiding principles. This set of guiding principles / conditions makes up an approach which, for the purposes of BYAP implementation, has been named CI2.

The Core CI2 principles are:

Common Agenda: Organizations delivering BYAP initiatives work collaboratively on a shared objective, which is to improve outcomes and reduce disparities for Black children, youth and their families.

Cross-Sector Collaboration: Organizations delivering BYAP initiatives partner with multiple sectors to advance and achieve the common agenda, including:
Public and broader public sector;
Multiple levels of government (i.e. municipal, provincial, federal);
Cultural agencies;
Community and not-for-profit sector agencies;
Private sector;
Funders;
Youth-led entities and youth themselves.
Cultural Identity Plan: BYAP initiatives embed conscious and inclusive practices and adaptations that reflect “promotive” and “protective” factors related to the concept of identity or feeling of belonging to a group. These “promotive” and “protective” factors should reflect a person’s self-conception and self-perception, related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture.
Data Literacy: Initiatives develop, collect, share and analyze data to measure progress and drive collective decision-making toward advancing and achieving the common agenda.
Black Children and Youth Empowerment: Initiatives prioritize listening to Black children and youth when making decisions and empower children and youth with tools and support they need to take action on their own behalf.
Community of Practice: Initiatives actively and regularly share best practices and learnings with initiative-specific and cross-initiative collaboratives.
Research and Evaluation: Initiatives actively track progress and apply learnings on the:
Impact of initiatives on the outcomes for Black children, youth and their families; and
Effectiveness of the CI2 approach.

Appendix C: Application Template