History of the Community Action Network
The Community Action Network for Children and Youth Elgin was first established in September of 1998 as the Inter-agency Council for Children & Youth – Elgin (ICCY). The Council’s primary focus was the allocation of Investing in Children Program funds under the Ministry of Community and Social Services towards projects such as Getting It Together Together (GITT) and Mother’s Relief. Existing in a time before accessible technology and social media, the ICCY would often host Who’s Who sessions, a much used way to get to know local service providers and promote agencies in the community. When the Investing in Children Program came to an end, a restructuring was in order for the ICCY.
In 2005, the council identified the following objectives for the newly branded Community Council for Children and Youth in Elgin (CCCYE):
1. Catalogue services across Elgin County
2. Facilitate inter-agency communication and collaboration
3. Identify service gaps and formulate hands-on subcommittees and task forces to address the needs of young people in our community
As community needs, services and delivery agents changed the council continued to evolve and respond in a collective manner. During 2013, The Council focused on four main initiatives:
1. Taking Action on Youth Homelessness
2. Bullying Prevention
3. Youth Engagement
4. CPRI & Transition Planning Protocol
In addition to these targeted initiatives the Council has also carried out many community projects including the Baby Formula Food Bank.
Recently in 2014, the CCCYE was rebranded as the Community Action Network for Children and Youth Elgin, also referred to as CAN Elgin. The Community Action Network coordinates services for children and youth in Elgin County through networking, community consultation, project development and implementation. Our goal is to improve the lives of children, youth and families in St. Thomas and Elgin County by working towards common outcomes through partnerships and collaboration. The Community Action Network holds monthly meetings between September and June and annually identifies priorities based on community need, resources available and gaps in services. Through collaboration and open communication we are able to coordinate services efficiently and effectively with the participation of many agency representatives.
Our efforts for 2023-24 were focused on:
In 2005, the council identified the following objectives for the newly branded Community Council for Children and Youth in Elgin (CCCYE):
1. Catalogue services across Elgin County
2. Facilitate inter-agency communication and collaboration
3. Identify service gaps and formulate hands-on subcommittees and task forces to address the needs of young people in our community
As community needs, services and delivery agents changed the council continued to evolve and respond in a collective manner. During 2013, The Council focused on four main initiatives:
1. Taking Action on Youth Homelessness
2. Bullying Prevention
3. Youth Engagement
4. CPRI & Transition Planning Protocol
In addition to these targeted initiatives the Council has also carried out many community projects including the Baby Formula Food Bank.
Recently in 2014, the CCCYE was rebranded as the Community Action Network for Children and Youth Elgin, also referred to as CAN Elgin. The Community Action Network coordinates services for children and youth in Elgin County through networking, community consultation, project development and implementation. Our goal is to improve the lives of children, youth and families in St. Thomas and Elgin County by working towards common outcomes through partnerships and collaboration. The Community Action Network holds monthly meetings between September and June and annually identifies priorities based on community need, resources available and gaps in services. Through collaboration and open communication we are able to coordinate services efficiently and effectively with the participation of many agency representatives.
Our efforts for 2023-24 were focused on:
- Taking Action on Youth Homelessness
- Youth Engagement
- Mental Health for children & youth
- Planet Youth and the Icelandic Model of Substance Prevention
- Chair – Myles Proulx
- Treasurer – Suzanne Flier
- Secretary – Jessica Austen
- Communications - Neil Hubert