Goals

Indicators of Success

Successes

Utilize town resources to increase web address visibility (Link to Town Page, Economist and Sun)

More hits to website
• Youth will be updated on events and opportunities

• -          www.markhamyouth.com nimlok banners were made for each community centre.
• -          Banners are hung on rafters at each community centre
• -          Currently www.markhamyouth.com website has 95,695 visitors since 2006

Have recreation staff trained to work on and update the website.

Not have to rely solely on youth to update information
• Website updated quicker and on a regular basis

• -          Jason Tsien, Community Resource Coordinator, has a basic background with web page design and maintenance
• -          Markham youth website is updated monthly with local events and festivities.

Poster distribution of website information in schools and Community Centres

• Increase traffic on website

• -          Posters similar to the www.markhamyouth.com nimlok banners were made and sent to schools in the Markham area in early 2006

Create message board on website accessible to youth and an email database directory

Create consistent contact with interested youth
• Send out an e-newsletter

• -          Message board was created on the Markham youth website

Establish a suggestion box for youth to provide program feed back.

• Continual suggestions with follow-up

• -          Suggestion boxes are located at each dedicated youth space in Markham community centres.
• -          ie:  Angus Glen Youth Centre: Media Room

Increase volunteer application by minimizing steps needed to become a volunteer. 

• Increased number of volunteers helping with our programs, and increase opportunities for youth

• -          Volunteer application has been minimized to the following steps:
• o        Attend Volunteer Orientation Workshop
• o        Review positions in Recreation Guide
• o        Contact Programs Supervisor/Coordinator to set up a meeting
• o        Secure volunteer position
• o        Obtain police reference check

Goals

Indicators of Success

Successes

Have the youth councils be a resource to the Town of Markham as a youth voice.

• ·         Youth groups used for regular consultation on new ideas and present successes

• Ensure strong participation in youth groups

• -          Youth focus groups are in frequent use for regular consultations
• -          Youth focus groups was done for the Recreation Department to determine gaps in youth services

Develop partnership with private organizations to gain sponsorships and access to promote youth programs

• ·         Increase in funding
• ·         Increase opportunities to promote youth programs

• -          Powerstream offers $2500 for Youth Week
• -          Cadillac Fairview Markville Mall offers $2500 for Youth Week
• -          Canadian Tire offers $1000+ for Youth prizes
• -          Toshiba of Canada offers $1000 for Youth Week
• -          Sound Plus Show Systems provides over $10000 of discounts towards youth events.

Establish workshops for all staff who deal with youth.

Staff should be personable and actively engage in positive youth interaction
• Create an inclusive environment for youth in all our facilities

• -          A Youth Friendly Community workshop was held in Milliken Mills C.C in mid 2006 to help staff understand the importance of an inclusive environment for youth

Goals

Indicators of Success

Successes

Create a Youth specific recreation guide (Include info on Programs, Drop-ins, Youth Groups etc.).

Twice a year (e.g. Sept. and Feb) distribute a recreation guide to all youth, through schools
• Increase number of youth in programs

• -          2 handouts were created last year to promote programs, drop-ins, youth groups, volunteerism
• -          first hand out was a fall out from the 2007 Fall guide
• -          Second hand out was developed to promote drop-in programs to Markham youth.  This hand out was circulated to Markham high schools.

Establish dedicated space where flyers and posters can be posted.

Increased number of youth in programs
• Monthly updating of postings

• -          Dedicated display space to advertise Markham youth events are located in each Community Centre.
• -          Existing space are available in community centres located at Armadale, Milliken, Centennial and Angus Glen C.C.
• -          Newest display case is located at Thornhill C.C.

Develop a strong relationship with school board to allow greater access

Be able to offer programs in schools
• Make recreation easier to access for youth

• -          Our living school initiative and partnership with the York Region District School board has allowed the Recreation department to bring our programs into schools.
• -          Currently, the schools taking part in this program consist of:
• o        Greensborough P.S.
• o        E.T Crowle P.S.
• o        Wismer P.S.
• o        John McCrae P.S.
• o        Ellen Fairclough P.S.
• o        Lincoln Alexander P.S.
• o        Middlefield C.I.

Create a traveling information booth for both youth and parents.

• Information sharing of youth opportunities

• -          A recreation display unit is circulated through Markham to promote the importance of Active Living and Healthy Eating

Programs to be run at minimal cost or free to the youth, subject to council approval.

• Increase youth participation

• -          Free basketball at Armadale C.C. and Thornhill C.C.

Increase the number of structured programs being offered.

• More opportunities for youth

• -          Added 21 structured programs are being offered towards to our Pre-teen and Teen population
• -          In Spring 2006, 96 programs were offered.
• -          In Spring 2008, 117 programs are being offered.

Goals

Indicators of Success

Successes

Offer 4 or 5 week sessions as opposed to 8 or 10 week session.

• Youth feel less of a commitment and will be more likely to participate in a structured program

• -          Many courses designed for youth has been changed from the traditional 8-10 week sessions to 4 -5 week sessions
• -          Examples include, fashion illustration, DJ Clinics, archery, baby sitting course, cooking creations, fencing, canoeing girl’s night out, self defence, golf, keyboarding, manga drawing, rock climbing and tennis.

Have the youth councils be a resource to the Town of Markham as a youth voice.

• ·         Youth groups used for regular consultation on new ideas and present successes

• Ensure strong participation in youth groups

• -          Youth focus groups are in frequent use for regular consultations
• -          Youth focus group was done for the Environmental Committee and took part in the building of the Green Print Plan

Goals

Indicators of Success

Action

Youth survey to be complete once every two years to access success of changes to programming

Results of youth survey
Regular feedback from the youth
Increase overall participation  rating by 10% from 2005
• 2005 had a 41% participation rating from youth in the community

IN PROGRESS (mid August)

Establish information workshop for grade nine students.

Let youth know what opportunities there are for them
Increase in program participation
Have participation from a minimum of 2 high schools
• Run a minimum of 2 workshops in each school

IN PROGRESS (early September)

• -     Workshops at Middlefield C.I. on April 25th

Space to be dedicated to youth at all existing Community Centres and included in the proposed plan of new facilities.

Youth centres in all areas with a high youth population
All new facility development to have a designated youth centre considered
5 Community Centre to have dedicated youth space.
• Completion of the 2 dedicated youth space by Q4, 2008 (Thornhill C.C. & Markham Village)

IN PROGRESS (year round)

• -     Thornhill Youth Space (in development)
• -     Markham Village & Centennial Youth Space (in development)
• -     Angus Glen Youth Centre (Complete)
• -     Milliken Mills Youth Space (lunch hours at North Hall)
• -     East Markham Community Centre (in development)

Continue to develop meaningful community partners for youth and youth programs (i.e. York Region Health, Mkm Board of Trade, Markham Sports Council, etc.)

Increased 2 new partnerships within the Markham
• Partnerships to benefit a minimum of 150 youth per partnership.

IN PROGRESS

• -     Partnerships are continually built to benefit the youth in Markham (IE Pathways of York Region)

Goals

Indicators of Success

Action

Have recreation program offered in Markham High Schools

Can be run by volunteers
Easier for youth to be more active and participate in your recreation
• Completion of 2 team work days in 2 different high-schools

IN PROGRESS (September, 2008)

• -     Discussions with YRDSB to take place

Establish workshops for all staff who deal with youth.

Staff should be personable and actively engage in positive youth interaction
Create an inclusive environment for youth in all our facilities
• Offer a youth friendly community workshop in each major community centre in Markham (5)

• -    Markham is currently in discussion with the workshop facilitator to have this workshop offered to staff at each community centre located across Markham.

Have the youth councils be a resource to the Town of Markham as a youth voice.

• ·         Youth groups used for regular consultation on new ideas and present successes

• Ensure strong participation in youth groups

• -          Youth focus groups are in frequent use for regular consultations
• -          Focus group will be conducted for Diversity in the coming months.

Increase the number of Drop-in programs

Drop-ins will provide a safe and inclusive environment
• Drop-in program will be accessible in all areas of Markham

• -          Since Spring 2005, Drop-In programs have increased from 31 to 51 programs.  This represents an 60% increase.
• -          Summer Drop-In programs for youth has increased from 16 to 39 programs
• -          Recreation department continues to use innovative ways to provide services to youth during the summer months (ie, using hockey arenas as basketball drop in locations)
• -          Basketball drop ins at Armadale C.C. and Thornhill C.C.  are free of charge

Development of a new 3 year youth service strategic plan (2009-2011)

• ·         Build partnerships with other youth service providers
• ·         Development of a new strategic plan by Q4, 2008

IN PROGRESS (Q4, 2008)

Youth focus staff team to contact Markham youth providers to develop a 3 year (2009-2011) youth strategic plan.
Youth focus staff team to draft goals and outcomes
• Analyze past youth survey data to find gaps in service.