Equity Policy and Funding News
September 27, 2017The Ontario government released A Better Way Forward: Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan in March 2017. The plan outlines how the government will advance racial equity in Ontario by introducing an anti-racism approach to policy, program development and assessment across ministries. Implementation of the strategy will begin this year, and will include child welfare, justice, education and health and mental health.
On June 1, 2017, Ontario passed The Anti-Racism Act, 2017 , establishing the provincial Anti-Racism Directorate and the anti-racism strategy in law, and enabling the government to implement race data collection and an anti-racism impact assessment tool.
Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act and Youth Action Plan are intended to strengthen accountability, responsiveness and accessibility of child and youth services, and improve outcomes for youth. The Ontario Black Youth Action Plan is directed at increasing supports and services for Black children, youth and families in order to address systemic, race-based disparities. Black Youth Action Plan initiatives will include access to higher education and skills development, mentoring and parenting programs, prevention, and community outreach. Investments for the four-year, $47 million plan will focus on Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, Ottawa and Windsor. More information on the application process is available on the Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Service’s website.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Youth Opportunities Fund is another source of funding for youth initiatives. It provides grants and capacity-building support to youth-led grassroots groups and collaboratives, for initiatives that address barriers and improve outcomes related to social and economic well-being. Groups of focus include newcomer, racialized, Francophone and Indigenous youth.