Hamilton’s Child and Youth Network

Hamilton’s Child and Youth Network is a collaborative that brings together community organizations and networks committed to enhancing local outcomes for children, youth, and their families. Members include senior leaders who collaborate to ensure children and youth feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and can meet their health and well-being needs.

Purpose

To ensure Hamilton’s children and youth feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and can meet their health and well-being needs.

CYN members belong to a community of professionals contributing to the broader Community Safety & Well-being Planning Framework, as mandated under the Province's Community Safety and Policing Act. The City of Hamilton and community partners have developed a Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan for Hamilton. A Community Safety and Well-Being Plan aims to create the community conditions where:

• Everyone is safe and has a sense of belonging.

• Everyone has access to services.

• Individuals and families can meet their needs for education, health care, food, housing, income, and social and cultural expression.

Schedule and Format

Network meetings are held in person three to six times per year. Members can propose agenda items, which are reviewed by co-chairs and supported by City of Hamilton staff supports. Additional meetings may be scheduled to advance specific priorities or initiatives through workgroups.

New initiatives or projects that require dedicated resourcing from Child & Youth Network (CYN)  members are introduced and approved by the CYN. Where necessary, new initiatives or projects may require the formation of a CYN work group. Work group participation is comprised of individuals from organizations and networks providing supports to specific priorities identified by CYN membership. Below is a list of the CYN’s active work groups:

• Data and Decision-Making (DDM) Work group: Work group members collaborate to review, identify, and develop a data and decision-making framework.   
• Middle Years (MY) Work group: Work group members collaborate to address system-level planning gaps to support and coordinate services for children in the middle years, those roughly aged 7 to 13.