The Community Transportation Action Program Office

Room M1-17, Main Floor, MacDonald Block

77 Wellesley St., Queen's Park

Toronto, ON M7A 1N3

The North Victoria Healthy Communities Coalition in partnership with Youth Aflame Ministries Inc. would like to apply to the CTAP program for assistance in conducting a local study to determine the local transportation issues. The North Victoria area consists of five smaller communities with the majority of residents living in the rural regions surrounding these communities. This area is economically depressed and experiences a high rate of unemployment.

The northern boundary connects to Haliburton County and the eastern boundary to Peterborough County. Currently, most of the service providers for this region are based in Lindsay, which is approximately 55 to 75 kms from this area. There are services in Orillia (65 to 85 kms) and in Peterborough (80 to 105 kms).

For this proposal we would like to determine the exact flow of the residents for the services that they require. During our community meetings with various services and residents, the issue of transportation remains as one of the major concerns in regards to local residents obtaining assistance in various needs for service. There has been some recent changes in services available (such as the new Mental Health Centre in Minden, Haliburton County) which residents can access.

With your assistance, we would like to develop a mapping of local needs and services available so that we can then develop further plans on how to connect them utilizing current transportation services. This will also enable us to identify the possible extension of this project to develop new cross-sector coordination and restructuring plans. Our plans would be to link with the CTAP projects in Minden, Peterborough and Lindsay.

Thank you for your consideration. If you require any further information please feel free to contact the writer at 705-454-8875.

Sincerely,
 
 

Peter Jones, Chair

NVHCC

This project is to determine the flow of the local residents in regards to their need for services. We would conduct community surveys to determine where local residents either need to travel to or are travelling to for various services. This survey would allow us to determine the current problems associated with transportation that the local residents are experiencing. We would map the current services available to local residents for the various services that they require.

It is our intention to use this project to be able to access the information required to begin to connect the current services available to the local residents requiring assistance. It would also be the beginning of an attempt to develop further cross-sector coordination and restructuring plans. The results of this phase would also allow us to determine whether there are barriers to an effective transportation project and the possibility of developing a further project under the CTAP program.

During this project we would liaise with the other CTAP projects operating within the local area. We have been in contact with the Haliburton project and the Lindsay project.

Out of this project we would develop a report available to service providers and to local residents. We would also develop a pamphlet that would be available locally that would indicate the current local resources available in regards to transportation issues.

To develop a mapping of the transportation of local residents in order to determine a flow for services. This would be accomplished by -

Producing a survey for local residents which would contain a list of possible services that they may utilize and where they go to receive these services

To survey local service providers to determine which provide services for the North Victoria area

Utilizing the same survey as above, allow for feedback from residents and service providers as to the current issues

To obtain newspaper coverage (either free or paid) and utilize this to encourage feedback from the communities (all sectors)

Utilizing the information obtained above and the resources of Youth Aflame Ministries Inc., a report would be produced at the conclusion of the project which would be available for distribution.

This report would identify any barriers to an effective transportation project that are determined by this project.

Utilizing the results of the above objectives, a pamphlet would be developed and distributed locally.

Liaison with the other CTAP programs in the region and provide them with the information we obtained in this project.

Distribution of the report and pamphlet to various sectors in the communities.

Possible application and continuation of project based on the 1^st phase, perhaps in cooperation with CTAP.

Increased awareness of the issues of transportation locally.

A report that could be utilized for further development in this area.

A pamphlet that would be able to inform local residents of the services that are available.

Increased cross-sector coordination possible restructuring.

Increased cooperation across the current county boundaries in cooperation with the other CTAP projects.

A plan of action to support community transportation services.

We would accomplish the above objectives by -

Hiring a project coordinator in cooperation between the NVHCC and Youth Aflame Ministries Inc.

Obtain, revise or develop a community survey that would meet the needs of the project.

Obtain community awareness of the project through advertising and involvement at community events.

Conduct the survey of residents and service providers.

Liaise with the other local CTAP projects.

Collect and analyze the results of the survey.

Produce and distribute a report on the project.

Produce and distribute a pamphlet on local transportation resources.

If appropriate, develop a further plan of action for the region that could be used in a further CTAP (or other) proposal.

This project would be jointly sponsored by the North Victoria Healthy Communities Coalition and Youth Aflame Ministries Inc.

The NVHCC is a volunteer community group which is a member of the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. It is involved in a range of community projects which include social, economic and environmental issues. It has partnered with various local service providers and community groups on community issues.

Youth Aflame Ministries Inc. is a Christian charity that has as part of its mandate a commitment to cooperating with community groups. Youth Aflame is involved in a range of community projects including mental health (with Health Canada), breakfast programs (with the Canadian Living Foundation), community kitchens, child abuse prevention and youth activities.

Members of these organizations currently include representation on the following local groups. These representations allows us to receive input from various sectors.

Victoria County Community Action Group

Victoria County Children's Services Council

Ridgewood Public School - School Advisory Council

HKPR District Health Council Rural Task Force

Committee on Suicide Awareness

CMHA Victoria County

The NVHCC would be the funding sponsor for this project and Youth Aflame would provide the use of computer, fax, printer, etc. to the project as an in-kind donation. Use of a copier at cost would be included plus any technical assistance required.

We do not anticipate any barriers to this particular project. It is our belief that potential barriers for an effective transportation project may be an outcome of this project.

We would like to be able to complete this project within 4 to 6 months.

Youth Aflame Ministries Inc. would provide use of computer, fax and printer at no charge. Use of the copier would be at cost. Any technical assistance required would be provided free. The NVHCC would provide volunteer assistance as required. We are also able to obtain free of charge community meeting places and have been able to receive free media coverage for other projects. Distribution in communities is provided free of charge by the Northern Connections infocentres.

We would like to see this project as just a beginning to address the transportation issues in this area. The information obtained would be used to begin the process of change required to serve the local residents. This information could be utilized in applying for further project monies.

The resources produced would be available free of charge to local groups and citizens. The report could be used by service providers to adjust their delivery of service. The pamphlet on local resources could be used by various local groups to educate their clients on the existing services and possibly connect the current needs with current resources.

It is the intention of the NVHCC and Youth Aflame Ministries Inc. to use the information obtained in this project to facilitate change and seed new approaches to the transportation issue locally.