Access to Health Services, Resources, and Opportunity

Culture, Race, and Ethnicity

Disability

Access to Early Childhood Development

Access to Literacy and Skills Development

Access to Post-Secondary Education or Employment Opportunities

Food Insecurity

Gender Identity and Expression

Income and Income Distribution

Physical Environment

The Health Department has identified seven neighbourhoods in Durham Region that need additional support to build safe and healthy families due to low-income levels and poor health status.  These communities only account for 14 per cent of the Region’s population, and yet have  

• the lowest high school completion rates,
• the highest unemployment rates,
• 31 per cent of low income households.
• 33 per cent of children under six in low-income households – about 1,900 children
• 28 per cent of children from birth to 17 in low- income households – about 5,200 children and youth,
• 29 per cent of police-reported domestic incidents with children present,

• 36% of births to young mothers aged 23 or younger,
• 28% of teen pregnancies,
• 23% of chlamydia cases in females aged 15-24,
• 41% of hepatitis C cases, 
• 29% of ambulance calls to residences. 3

Low income predisposes people to material and social deprivation. The greater the deprivation, the less likely individuals and families are able to afford the basic necessities of life and good health such as food, clothing and housing. Deprivation also contributes to social exclusion by making it harder for people to participate in cultural, educational and recreational activities. In the long-run, social exclusion affects one’s health and the ability to live a fulfilling day-to-day life.[1]

“Numerous studies have shown that early vulnerability predicts lifelong learning, health, and behavior. “1 This demonstrates that early intervention can have a real and meaningful impact on a child’s entire life, however only 4.4% of eligible children in Durham Region attend an early intervention program.1

[1] Adapted from: Mikkonen, J. & Raphael, D. (2010) Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. Available at: The Canadian Facts.

The SAD TRUTH is…

• “The equivalent of a major earthquake killing over 30,000 young children occurs to a disturbingly muted response. They die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”[1]
• According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, at least 1.8 billion people world-wide are estimated to drink water that is faecally contaminated.
• Approximately 80% of illnesses that currently occur in developing countries are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.[2].
• Diarrhea claims the lives of nearly 6000 children a day – that is over two million deaths a year.²

• Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, estimates that between 200,000 and 400,000 additional children will die due to lack of food, immunization, and/or poor water and sanitation as an indirect result of the current economic downturn.[3]

Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development, warns “The stark reality is that if the global community fails to find new ways to support and develop health services in the developing world, many millions more will die. We must act to prevent this financial crisis from becoming a human crisis.”

READ More:
http://www.unwater.org/fileadmin/user_upload/unwater_new/docs/water_quality.pdf

[1] UNICEF.  A Spotty Scorecard, Progress of Nations 2000

[2] WaterAid & Tearfund.  The Human Waste Report

[3] Lister, Sam. (2009)  “Downturn could kill 400,000 children, warns Margaret Chan” The Time Online.  March 14. 

Our mentorship program connects at-risk youth with mentors who have overcome their own childhood challenges to achieve personal success.  A mentor is someone to talk to and share experiences with.  Youth are encouraged to stay in school, get involved in their community, set goals for themselves, and work towards those goals.  Many assume leadership roles in our various community programs, thereby receiving additional support from our specially trained staff.  Our goal is to provide opportunities for youth to discover who they are and who they want to be in order to motivate them towards achieving their potential.  They have fun building positive friendships and memories while they engage in their community and grow in to confident, perseverant, successful adults, thereby changing not only their lives, but also the lives of everyone around them.

Our summer camp strives to engage and inspire kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to go to camp.

Every year we design an exciting new curriculum that promotes the following core values: Teamwork, Leadership, Responsibility, Respect, Optimism, Kindness, Integrity, Perseverance, Honesty, Empathy, and Courage.  We plan fun and educational art and crafts, games, and field trips, exposing the kids to new experiences outside their immediate community in order to expand their understanding of the world and its possibilities.  We partner with generous corporate sponsors like Justin’s No Frills in Whitby and Pizza Pizza to provide all our campers with two healthy snacks a day and lunch for those who need it.