DATE:

 

22 October 2012

TO:

 

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM:

 

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT:

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF NEW

OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Following last October’s Let’s Chat Youth Café and February’s board report and presentation on the results of that police-youth consultation, an extensive community outreach plan was launched in the city to find applicants for a brand new Ottawa Police Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).  The purpose of this board report is to provide an update and officially launch the YAC. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Following the three week outreach period, just over 200 applications were received from young people across Ottawa ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-four years of age. 

 

A selection panel consisting of police members, a youth agency representative, and a youth reviewed the pool of applications. 

YAC 4 Colour.jpg

The first official YAC meeting was held on June 5th, 2012 at Ottawa Police Headquarters.  The Ottawa Police Youth Advisory Committee forms part of a broader youth engagement strategy and encourages a police-youth relationship by providing a youth voice to Ottawa Police and facilitates greater input and involvement by youth in Ottawa. Youth-led with police support and resources, the main purpose of the committee is to help the Ottawa Police to gain a broader understanding of youth by collaborating on events, programs, and other initiatives.

 

YAC Membership:   

YAC includes:

-          20 young people between the ages of 13-24 plus four police staff members (including two volunteer officers);

-          Diverse representation of Ottawa youth (gender, age, occupation, geography, ethnicity, etc.);

 

Work to date:

Coordinated by the Youth Section and fully operational now for just over 3 months, YAC has focused on the following: 

·        Orientation and team building;

·        Media relations training;

·        Social media training;

·        Participated in a facilitated session to identify YAC communications and outreach products and training needs:

·        Worked with a designer to create and approve a new logo 

·        Set up of Facebook and Twitter social media accounts

·        Cell Phone Robbery Prevention Project (received a prevention presentation from the Robbery Unit and provided feedback and ideas for future prevention.  Some members also assisted the police service with an upcoming prevention and awareness campaign)

·        Facilitation training from Youth Net

·        Mayor’s Youth Summit workshop: “Let’s Chat: Safety”

·        Facilitation Rural Youth Summit

·        Reviewing and approving Terms of Reference for YAC

·        YAC photo shoot with Imaging Services photographer

·        Creation of individual member biographies

·        Updated version of YAC web information at ottawapolice.ca/yac

·        Thanksgiving food drive for Ottawa Food Bank.

 

Next Steps

YAC members have developed work groups in order to move forward on initiatives including social media, events/presentations, and meetings/training.

Some of their work priorities include:

·        inform/promote YAC to youth in Ottawa;

·        create opportunities to build positive police-youth relationships;

·        organize community forums/consultations for youth citywide around issues/ideas;

·        deliver education/awareness presentations to peers on issues like bullying, personal safety;

·        use social media to interact and promote events/resources with youth;

·        contribute to the OPS business plan and provide ongoing consultation to OPS sections around youth issues/outreach.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

 

Annual operational costs for the Youth Section to administer and coordinate YAC are estimated at $4,000 starting in 2013. 

 

CONSULTATION & CONCLUSION

 

There was a significant amount of public consultation throughout the project, providing YAC with a solid foundation to thrive into the future.  The Ottawa Police wants to be a leader in youth engagement efforts in our community.  YAC will provide a youth voice to the work of our Service and help us better reach youth in Ottawa through our efforts.  For more information or to contact YAC, contact Ms. Jessica Ripley of the Ottawa Police Youth Section, or visit ottawapolice.ca/yac, Facebook, Twitter or by phone at 613.236.1222 ext. 8676.    

 

 

 

(original signed by)

 

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police