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Brantford Community Safety and Crime

Prevention taSk forCeStrategic Plan 2012 - 2014

Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force2

ContentS

acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

1 . introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

2 . the Strategic Planning Process, 2011-2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

3 . emerging areas for action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4 . an integrated Community Safety and Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

5 . Priority objectives and implementation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

6 . Program Logic model: Community Safety and Crime Prevention in Brantford . . . . . . . . . .18

7 . Program monitoring, evaluation and Communications Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

8 . Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

appendix 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

appendix 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

appendix 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

3Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force

aCknowLedgementS

we would like to acknowledge the time and effort of all those who contributed their knowl-edge and insights to the development of this report . first we would like to thank the Joint Chairs of the City of Brantford Community Safety Crime Prevention task force: Holly mcdonald (Community Safety and Correctional Services), dave newman (Councilor, City of Brantford) and Penny mcvicar (victim Services of Brant) . we also thank the task force members for their time and commitment, and the members of the community who engaged in interviews with the consultants .

this project was made possible through funding from the trillium foundation and in-kind support from the City of Brantford and victim Services of Brant .

the following organizations supported the development of this strategic plan through their par-ticipation on the task force:

• Brant County Health unit• Brant Haldimand norfolk - Catholic district School Board • Brantford native Housing• Brantford Police Service• Canadian mental Health association, Brant County Branch • Children’s aid Society of Brant• City of Brantford, City Council• grand erie district School Board• grand river Community Health Clinic• immigrant Settlement Services, ymCa of Brantford• neighbourhood alliance of Brantford• ontario ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services• Participation House• victim Services of Brant• wilfred Laurier university-Laurier Brantford


BaCkground

Crime is rooted in individual, family, community and societal issues . the recently released on-tario report on Crime Prevention in ontario: a framework for action defines crime prevention as “the anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the actions taken – including the integrated community leadership required – to remove or reduce it” . this definition is meant to help communities focus on reducing the risk factors that contribute criminal and anti-social be-haviour; however should be noted that it is the interaction of risk factors that often compounds criminal behaviours .Some risk factors identified in Crime Prevention in ontario – a framework for action are listed in the chart below .

Risk FactoRs

individual Family / Peers community

•Behavioural problems

•Poor educational attainment

•Poor mental health

•Prior criminal behaviour

•racism / marginalization

•victimization / abuse

•abuse

•few economic resources

•neglect

•negative parenting

•Poor Peer influence

•Parent / sibling criminality

•High crime area

•few social services

•High poverty

•Poor housing

what can communities do to reduce the effect of risk factors? it can encourage the establish-ment of protective factors . Protective factors are the positive elements that can lessen exposure to crime risk factors . Protective factors help create healthier individuals, families and communi-ties . the table below lists a number of protective factors for an individual, family and community that can decrease the likelihood of crime and victimization .

PRotective FactoRs

individual Family / Peers community

•Personal coping strategies

•Strong attachment to a role model adult

•Positive school experience

•Self-esteem

•Self-efficacy

•Sense of responsibility

•adequate parental supervision

•Parents engaged in child’s life

•Positive peer influences

•Housing in close proximity to services

•Cohesive communities

•recreational facilities with affordable programs for youth

for a more complete list of risk and/or protective factors please consult Crime Prevention in ontario: a framework for action, aPPendiX 1 .


eXeCutive Summary

Brantford task force on Community Safety and Crime Prevention, patterned after the waterloo Crime Prevention Council, is a volunteer coalition of community business and service agency leaders formed in 2008 in response to a collective concern about crime in Brantford . a preced-ing Community Safety, Crime and weapons symposium (2008) defined the crime issues facing Brantford at that time and recognized that a coordinated and collaborative approach was needed to reduce crime rates and enhance community safety .

in 2011, the task force undertook a strategic planning process that included public engage-ment forums to identify high level priority objectives and strategies for crime prevention in the community . the environmental Scan, the companion document to this strategic plan, describes this community’s unique crime challenges, recent changes and the risk and protective factors thought to contribute to community safety . these factors were heard during the community consultation sessions and discovered during an examination of the economic conditions in the community . the Scan also establishes crime trends and victimization in Canada based on the uniform Crime reporting survey and the general Social Survey last conducted in 2009 .

the general Social Survey reveals that the reported crime in Canada has decreased since the early 1990’s, was at its lowest since 1973 in 2010, but despite the decline over nearly four de-cades, crime levels are between 1 .5 and four times higher today than they were at the begin-ning of the 1960s, depending on the type of crime . violent crime has decreased in volume but increased as a proportion of total reported crime, from 8% in 1962 to 12 .6% in 2003 and 15% in 2010 . Crime Prevention in ontario – a framework for action, reports that 176 out of every 100,000 seniors were victims of elder violence in 2009; however there was a 42% increase in hate crimes with 61 .2% of those hate crimes committed in ontario; 24,479 ontarians reported being victims of identity theft; approximately one in three students in grades 7 to 12 have been bullied while the bullies are 37% more likely to commit offences as adults .

an analysis of crime in Brantford reveals that calls for police service in Brantford are higher than in comparator jurisdictions of thunder Bay and waterloo region, increasing by an average of almost 4% each year over the past three years . yet while calls for service were increasing, overall crime has decreased in Brantford (-3 .3%); a higher rate than the comparator jurisdictions between 2008 and 2010 . this indicates that calls to police can be related to many factors other than crime incidents .

the robbery rate increased in Brantford and its comparator jurisdictions, while declining overall in ontario . However, the opposite is true for the major property offences of break and enter and motor vehicle theft . for most years over the analysis period, rates are higher


in Brantford compared to the other jurisdictions .

the violent youth crime rate in Brantford declined marginally over the past three years while the province as a whole experienced a larger decrease over the same period . the most frequent violent crime committed by youth is level 1 (less serious) assault and in Brantford, the rate for this offence remained almost unchanged, while the rate for other violent offences increased over the past three years . the youth property crime rate in Brantford is substantially higher than the provin-cial rate, and has increased over the past three years compared to a province-wide decrease .

this current analysis of crime rate trends helped to determine the possible strategic areas for ac-tion tailored to local needs .the waterloo Crime Prevention Council, established in 1993, has be-come a well-accepted model of an advisory Committee for improving community crime preven-tion through social development . However, waterloo is a different and prosperous community with five times the population, a crime rate that is much lower with a very low unemployment rate compared to Brantford . toronto, Canada’s largest municipality had the lowest crime rate of all 32 of the census metropolitan areas in 2010, at 3,563 offences per 100,000 population . Crime is therefore a function of a range of environmental factors other than population size, which is the strong rationale for developing crime prevention and reduction plans tailored to local needs .

Based on the local needs, the community of Brantford has identified three themes under which the Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force can use to develop action items .

objective 1: Resilient Youth - expand community-based youth programs and in-crease youth participation levels .

objective 2: Build Healthy Families – using advocacy and community engage-ment; support the establishment of a detox rehabilitation centre with increased access to mental health programs .

objective 3: safe Neighbourhoods - develop tools to build neighbourhoods as safe inclusive places .

Crime Prevention is a responsibility of and a benefit to the whole community . with costs of crime estimated in 2008 at $100 billion, past studies of crime prevention programs in Pennsyl-vania and at Queen’s university in kingston have confirmed that a dollar invested now in crime prevention and early intervention yields a return on investment from seven to over twenty-five dollars . the task force sees continued education for the community on the need for social development as a cost effective path to community safety and crime prevention . the task force also sees advocacy for the incorporation of public safety and crime prevention as an

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additional priority consideration for the City of Branford’s municipal policy . Community Safety as a policy needs to be built-in to the work of all municipal department planning and actions to ensure implementation . the task force has recognized its leadership role as a community spokesperson and an example of partnerships promoting the importance of community safety and crime prevention but will in the future, require resources to expand and build on the recom-mended actions included in this plan .

FRamiNg citY oF BRaNtFoRd issues

the following observations were reported in the environmental Scan (available on the City of Brantford website) and helped to set the context for strategies aimed at enhancing community safety and crime prevention in Brantford .

Post-Secondary Institutional location and downtown redevelopment together with well-planned, well-advertised events sponsored by the City and others throughout the year have brought people back to downtown Brantford.

Significant positive changes in Brantford include:

` the presence of Laurier Brantford, nipissing university and mohawk College in the City’s core;

` Planned redevelopment of buildings and vacant land;

` Programming of a wide variety of pubic events throughout the year

` City development of the downtown - e .g . Harmony Square, which has provided a posi-tive venue for events in the downtown such as the Jazz festival;

` Crime Prevention through environmental design – available to the community through Brantford Police Services and City of Brantford Planning department .

the public investment required for these changes is viewed as money well spent, and stake-holders indicated the need to encourage continued growth in the post-secondary sector .


New and positive redevelopment has given the downtown a new vigour, but in the process has pushed traditional vulnerable core populations aside.

Some key informants expressed concern that the displaced vulnerable and at risk popula-tions will have decreased access to the services in the downtown core they rely on .

Increase the integration of the university/post-secondary community into the broader community.

encouraging the integration of the post-secondary institutions and students into the “fabric” of the community together with finding alternative strategies to support the vulnerable at risk population will maximize the benefits and reduce the negative impacts of changes in the downtown .

Encourage a new sense of optimism and build a positive public community outlook.

with increasing technological advances, the lack of educational attainment has been identi-fied as impeding sustainable employment contributing to mental health and addiction issues . opportunities to increase skills and abilities of residents present a major challenge yet an opportunity to build community resilience .

Work to build community as the city grows, people move in from other areas, and new subdivi-sions are developed.

recreation and social inclusion opportunities for residents in all neighbourhoods discourage criminal and anti-social behaviours .

these findings led the task force to identify three strategic objectives to guide crime prevention and community safety initiatives in Brantford .

the Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force has only made the first step in develop-ing a crime prevention agenda for Brantford . our strategic plan objectives do provide a com-munity focus in the areas we believe will bring increased safety for all residents but it does not address ongoing need for support or resources for sustainability to develop each objective .


1 . introduCtion

this report was prepared for the City of Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force . the purpose of the work undertaken by HCa Consultants and outlined in the plan was to identify high priority objectives for the task force to promote community safety and crime prevention, and propose strategies for their successful achievement .

the task force is an advisory leadership body that steers crime prevention and community safe-ty initiatives through the prioritization of local crime issues . it was formed as a result of the Crime Symposium held in Brantford in June of 2008 . the symposium brought together community service organizations, Police Services, Post Secondary institutions, government agencies, youth and aboriginal representatives to discuss violence in the City of Brantford . the outcome of that day was a report entitled “thinking outside the Lines – a Summary of a Community Sympo-sium on Safety, Crime and weapons offences” . the report was approved by City Council in September of 2008 . (report no . PHSSS2008-51) .

the issues of the community determine the strategic priorities of the task force, within the frame-work of the task force goals:

goal 1: to contribute to crime reduction and increased community safety through foster-ing community partnerships that will focus on the root causes (risk and protective factors) of crime in new and creative ways .

goal 2: to provide leadership and teamwork in promoting a comprehensive, inclusive approach for justice, crime prevention and public safety that focuses on the well-being of citizens and community .

goal 3: to support positive social change that enhances the quality of life in our neigh-bourhoods .


2 . tHe StrategiC PLanning ProCeSS, 2011-2012

metHodologY

a number of approaches were used to gather and analyze the information for this report .

` on-going communication and meeting with the task force to clarify expectations and discuss emerging findings and strategic directions;

` review of background information related to the task force, crime trends, community issues, and crime prevention, with additional information from Statistics Canada; Brant-ford, thunder Bay, and waterloo police services; and similar organized groups working on crime prevention;

` research to publish an environmental Scan that outlined issues of community safety and crime prevention in Brantford – crime rate trends, youth crime, victimization, and ap-proaches followed in other communities;

` Community engagement sessions to have concerned citizens answer the following ques-tions: what does a quality community look like? which of these characteristics does Brantford have a lot of? what does Brantford need to improve on? and, How do we do this? the results served as input to the environmental Scan;

` key informant interviews (appendix 1) for sharing ideas and opinions on community issues and programs, as well as give priority ratings on 12 possible action items for the task force;

` Small group consultations with seniors, newcomers and residents from affected neigh-bourhood associations;

` delphi consensus process with the task force to arrive at agreement on a priority list of items developed from the community engagement sessions and small group consulta-tions with each area relating to an overarching goal of the task force;

` a task force planning session to identify the primary objectives for the task force creat-ing the basis of this strategic plan .


3 . emerging areaS for aCtion

the environmental Scan identified seven emerging areas for action . the areas and specific sup-ports identified include:

1. Provide continuous support to vulnerable and at-risk groups throughout the life cycle

` Support community development by applying for grants to fund and deliver programs that enhance the capacity of community-based non-government organizations

` develop a better understanding of program accessibility barriers for selected sectors (e .g . seniors, single parent families, developmentally challenged, etc .), and implement ways to overcome them

` Support skills training programs

2. Increase the level of community engagement and community ownership of problems

` Strengthen the neighbourhood alliance and support the formation of additional neigh-bourhood organizations and neighbourhood events

` Promote the further integration of the Laurier Brantford community into the downtown and take additional steps to create a downtown sense of community

` undertake additional actions to celebrate diversity and promote inclusiveness and mu-tual understanding– urban aboriginal population, LgBt community, newcomers, etc .

` Create new ways to involve business in community- building

3. Build relationships with youth

` Support youth programming throughout the community e .g . ymCa, Boys and girls Club, arts after School, woodman Park .

4. Educate the community about available community resources in order to increase access to existing programs and services

` Build a network of collaborative groups (e .g . committees, coalitions) to nurture partner-


ships that increase community awareness and sustain positive changes: a critical mass of like-minded people committed to social change and sharing the use of resources

5. Increase youth-centred programs

` develop collaborative programs that address the needs of at-risk and vulnerable youth in high needs neighbourhoods of the city

` Support high school retention/completion initiatives

6. Increase the availability of drug treatment and addiction services

` Support community efforts to open a detox/rehabilitation facility in Brantford

7. Other Action Areas

` review residential planning guidelines to increase neighbourhood safety and communi-ty-building based on crime prevention through environmental design (CPted)


4 . an integrated Community Safety and Crime

Prevention frameworkthe task force considered various frameworks or approaches to con-ceptualizing, planning and implementing community safety and crime prevention efforts . these included ontario’s recently adopted mobilization and engagement model of Community Polic-ing, and approaches adopted by Canada’s national Crime Prevention Centre (nCPC), the fondation docteur Philippe-Pinel, and the government of Saskatchewan .

the task force requested an integrated framework based on the above approaches . the result-ing framework developed is shown in the following table . integrated framework .

intervention approach

Focus areas sample actions sample Programs and services, Brantford

Primary Prevention

Social development aimed at preventing and/or reducing socio-economic factors or root causes that lead to at-risk behaviour .

Cultural Connections for aboriginal youth

•early learning

•Parenting programs

•Job training

•Poverty reduction programs

•affordable housing

•youth recreational programs

•Community-building

•family resource Centres – new Beginnings/Best Start

•arts after School

•Community Leadership Program (planned)

•Heart to art

•economic development initiatives

•roots of empathy

•Steps to Success

•Children’s Safety village

•neighbourhood alliance

Secondary Intervention

Programs or intervention activities aimed at people demonstrating incidents of at-risk behaviours or community areas experiencing criminal behaviour .

•mental health and addiction services

•alternative secondary school programs

•Crime prevention through environmental design (CPted)

•High School resource officers

•Pathways to violence

•CPted review of City development applications

•Brantford Police/Laurier Special Constable Collaboration


intervention approach

Focus areas sample actions sample Programs and services, Brantford

Law Enforcement Legal actions to reduce and control crime . this includes surveillance, arrests, prosecution and incarceration .

•targeted surveillance

•Joint Police task forces

•Citizen-reported information

•Police/community partnerships

•Police patrols

•Police investigations

•Sentencing

•Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers

•Brantford Police/Laurier Special Constable Collaboration

•Probation Services from the ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Victim Support Services designed to assist police, fire and other emergency services in providing emotional and practical assistance to victims of crime, tragic circumstances and disaster .

•trained victim support volunteers

•Police/victim Services protocols

•emergency housing

•City and regional Counseling services

•victim Services Brant

•St . Leonard’s Society

•nova vita

this framework will help to plan future programming based on a balanced approach to com-munity safety and crime prevention .


5 . Priority oBJeCtiveS and imPLementation PLan

oBjective 1: ResilieNt YoutH

Expand community-based youth programs and increase youth participation levels.

First steps community Resources

actions

•Create a task force Sub-Committee to focus on youth Programs or partner with an existing working group to address this objective .

•with input from the community, select a neighborhood of the city to pilot an after-school youth program .

•establish mentoring programs for at risk youth through existing organizations .

•Consider innovative approaches to youth counseling such as family based therapy .

•Schools

•Parks & recreation

•Boys & girls Club

•ymCa

•neighbourhood associations

•Community volunteers

•faith-based organizations

•Community agencies

Compile information/statistics that accurately reflect the challenges and opportunities in the pilot neighbourhood with a focus on aboriginal issues

engage youth, aboriginal youth in particular, in the development of the pilot program in order to foster the development of programs organized for and by youth

estimate costs and resources needed, and identify sources of funding/assistance including community members and financial support (e .g . grants)

Create opportunities for skilled adults to help youth develop leadership and program planning/ implementation skills

Performance targets an after-school program in a pilot area of the city is established .

School dropout rate for at risk youth in general and aboriginal youth in particular reduced

additional support is provided to community and neighbourhood associations that work with youth .

the criteria for identifying Brantford as a Child and Youth Friendly Community are met .

more youth participate in youth programs .


oBjective 2: HealtHY Families

Using advocacy and community engagement support the establishment of a detox rehabilitation centre with increased access to mental health programs.

First steps community Resources actions

•establish a working group of key stakeholders OR partner with an existing working group to address this objective .

•develop a Business Case for the centre and present the case to potential funders

•Community leaders

•Politicians/political champions

•Business leaders

•university researchers


•Press/media

•funders

undertake community outreach/ engagement to solicit public input (priorities, ideas, key stakeholders)

invite key stakeholders to sit on the working groupdevelop terms of reference for the working group and consider a health-affirming name for the initiative: e .g . The Brantford Centre for Healthy FamiliesConduct a Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Swot) assessment and environmental Scan use the information gathered to develop a Business Case that identifies the target population (e .g . long term addicts, at risk youth, etc .), preferred location, and programming options Survey community agencies about the number of clients with concurrent disorders based on mental health, addiction and other issues such as domestic violence, gambling, CaS issues etc .Consider aligning the youth pilot program with the safe neighbourhood pilot program (refer to objective 3, Safe neighbourhoods)

Performance targets a detox rehabilitation centre with mental health programs is established in Brantford .

the Centre provides services to a significant proportion of the target population


oBjective 3: saFe NeigHBouRHoods

Develop tools to build neighbourhoods as safe inclusive places.

First steps community Resources actions

•establish a working group of key stakeholders OR partner with an existing working group to address this objective .

•develop a collaborative working relationship with the neighbourhood associations to serve as a community-based advisory group on neighbourhood issues .

•neighbourhood associations, leaders

•Schools and school associations (e .g . Parents Council)

•faith community

•Police Service

•Business associations

•university researchers

•neighbourhood-based community agencies

identify and invite a neighbourhood champion to lead the working group

invite key stakeholders to sit on working group

facilitate the transition of community resources from the task force to the Safe neighbourhoods working group or alternative existing group

develop terms of reference for the working group that include development of a neighbourhood toolkit

develop a statistical profile of offenders (demographics, types of crime, areas with high proportion of youth offenders) along with measures to ensure privacy/confidentiality and mitigate the risks of neighbourhood ‘profiling’

develop terms of reference for a pilot project on neighbourhood safety, and select two neighbourhoods to pilot the project

Performance targets a neighbourhood toolkit is developed and available to neighborhood associations with information on key contacts, funding sources, model programs, etc .

two pilot projects have been established to enhance neighbourhood safety .

the pilot project is reviewed and community safety strategies are identified and included in an updated toolkit .

the neighbourhood alliance is strengthened and its presence is felt through identifiable ‘markers’ in the community (modeled on the role played by community ice rinks in the past) .

a centralized system is in place for contacting and being contacted by the neighbourhood alliance .


6 . Program LogiC modeL: Community Safety and Crime Prevention in Brantford

a program logic model (PLm) is a diagram or ‘blueprint’ of a given program, showing what the program is supposed to achieve, with whom, and why . the PLm mirrors the implementation Plan and serves as a useful aid in monitoring progress and ensuring that actions are directed toward intended outcomes . the PLm also serves to guide program evaluation activities by identifying the type of data and information that will be needed to measure program results .

inputs activities outputs short term

medium term

long term

•Staff, financial, & volunteer resources from:

•Business


•faith com-munity

•funding agen-cies, founda-tions, etc .

•government

•neighbour-hood associa-tions

•Police Service

•Post secondary institutions

•Schools and school associations-Support from:

•Political champions

•Press/media

•establish a task force Sub-Com-mittee or Working Group on Youth

•develop a pilot after-school youth program

•working group is formed and meets regularly

•neighbourhood is selected and pilot youth program is implemented

increased spaces are available for youth after school programs

more youth participate in youth programs

Program participants are less likely to engage in anti-social behaviours

•establish the Brant-ford Centre for Healthy Families Working Group

•develop a Business Case and present it to funding bodies


•Business Case is developed and approved for funding

•Centre is established, staffed, and begins working with clients

decreased number of individuals and families go outside of the community to access services

the majority of individuals and families in need of detox, rehabilitation and mental health services receive them locally

individuals and families that access the services of the Centre are more likely to continue/ complete treatment and improve their health

•establish the Safe Neighbourhoods Working Group

•develop a coordinating structure/strategy for the working group and the neighbourhood alliance


•neighbourhood toolkit is developed .

•two n’hoods are selected and safe n’hood pilot projects are implemented

increased # of visual ‘markers’ of community inclusion and safety including refurbished parks, clean/well-lit public spaces, etc .

more positive neighbour-hood ratings and community opinion about safely in the pilot neighbour-hoods

the majority of residents in the pilot neighbour-hoods and the city report that safety in the pilot neighbour-hoods has improved


7 . Program monitoring, evaLuation and CommuniCationS Strategy

it is recommended that:

1. Public launch of the Strategic Plan

` a public event be organized with guest speakers and key community leaders from busi-ness, government, community agencies and volunteer organizations .

` one or more task force representatives provide highlights of the plan and outline key action items for immediate implementation .

` Speakers comment on the importance of community safety and how their organization intends to be involved in implementing the strategic plan .

` a Question and answer period be facilitated by the task force representative .

` information on how to access the plan be provided .

` an annual report to the community on the plan be prepared and presented .

2. Coordination

` under the auspices of the task force, a proposal be developed to hire a full-time staff person for a one-year period to coordinate the implementation, evaluation and follow-up to the Strategic Plan .

3. Evaluation

` the task force make a formal request to wLu-Laurier Brantford for their assistance in the development and implementation of an evaluation of the community safety program outlined in the Program Logic model .


4. Data Collection and Progress Reports

` data collection be undertaken in accordance with the evaluation Plan .

` Progress reports be made at regular intervals (for example, every 6 months) by the Co-ordinator and submitted to the task force or an evaluation Steering Committee .

` Progress be communicated to the public as deemed appropriate in 2012 and 2013 .

5. Program Wrap-Up

` medium term results be communicated to the public together with further steps planned for continued improvement of community safety and crime prevention in Brantford .


8 . ConCLuSionS

the Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force has identified resilient youth, healthy families, and safe neighbourhoods as overarching strategic objectives . the Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force recommends that the City of Brantford working within these guiding objectives will build a safe community and realize the Community vision for Brant-ford that forms the foundation of the City’s community strategic Plan for 2010 - 2014:

Brantford – proud, vibrant, progressive… a “GRAND” community for living, learning, working and playing.

in the area of economic vitality & innovation, Brantford’s Community Strategic Plan includes actions directed at enhanced opportunities for higher education and early years learning . the task force’s resilient youth objective seeks to expand community-based youth programs and increase youth participation levels which broaden the age continuum to a vulner-able group that forms a significant contribution to the perception of community safety and crime prevention . additional after school programs as well as youth mentoring will support additional opportunities for high quality learning with this age group .

the strategic objective of healthy families identified by the task force is also directly linked to the Community Strategic Plan’s focus on High Quality of life & caring for all citi-zens . a community with a social conscience supports those families in need of the services and mental health supports offered in a detox facility .

Brantford is a safe and healthy community that promotes and enables the well-being of its citizens encompasses the objective of safe neighbourhoods . the Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force acknowledges the contribution of Harmony Square activities and the benefits it has brought to the downtown core . the task force advocates and encourages community actions that build upon this initiative and believe that safe neighbourhoods through the principles of “Place-making” can be brought to all neighbourhoods developing them into vibrant welcoming safe places that offer a wide range of activities for all ages .

Strategic Planning is a process that helps an organization produce fundamental decisions and actions that will guide its future . with the publication of this strategic plan, the Community Safety and Crime Prevention task force has provided the City of Brantford with a set of funda-mental strategic objectives to guide future community safety and crime prevention activities .


aPPendiX 1

list oF keY iNFoRmaNt iNteRviews

Name organization

ian aitken Legal Clinic – Brant, Haldimand, norfolk

Christine Bibby grand erie district School Board

Jody Brown ontario works Brant – Steps to Success Program

Carla difelice Brant Haldimand norfolk - Catholic district School Board

Joanne dubois grand river Community Health Centre

Sue evenden ontario works Brant – Steps to Success Program

Sue Lefler St . Leonard’s Community Services

Sherry Lewis Brantford native Housing

gayle myke arts after School Program

geoff nelson Brantford Police Service

Heather riddel Brant Community Healthcare System – emergency, urgent Care, medicine, Patient flow and access

Christiane Sadeler waterloo region Crime Prevention Council


aPPendiX 2

PRioRitizatioN oF PoteNtial task FoRce actioN items

Participants in the key informant interviews and in some group sessions were asked to prioritize potential action items for the task force . the results are shown in the table below, including the rank order of the top five action items .

average scores below represent the importance of the identified priorities . Participants rated the importance on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being “not a priority for the task force” and 10 being “top priority for the task force) .

task Force action items key informant interviews

(n=11)

community meeting

(n=11)

survey – city website (n=3)

overall average

(weighted)

avg . rank avg . rank avg . rank avg . Rank

increase the level of community engagement and community ownership of problems .

9 .9 1 8 .6 2 6 .7 8 .9 2

Provide continuous support to vulnerable and at-risk groups throughout the life cycle .

9 .7 2 9 .1 1 9 .3 1 9 .4 1

Build relationships with youth . 9 .1 3 8 .4 4 5 .0 8 .3 3

address escalating levels of drug and alcohol abuse that lead to criminal activity .

8 .6 4 9 .1 1 9 .0 2 8 .9 2

educate the community about available community resources .

8 .3 5 7 .6 7 .3 7 .9 4

mobilize volunteers . 8 .1 8 .1 4 .3 7 .6

increase youth-centred programs, including school-based and parenting programs .

8 .0 8 .5 3 4 .7 7 .8 5

improve the community’s access to services . 7 .5 7 .9 8 .0 5 7 .7

fill in the gaps in social services . 7 .2 7 .5 8 .3 4 7 .5

increase the availability of drug treatment and addiction services .

7 .1 8 .2 5 8 .7 3 7 .8 5


task Force action items key informant interviews

(n=11)

community meeting

(n=11)

survey – city website (n=3)

overall average

(weighted)

address issues related to community growth and tensions between established and new populations .

5 .8 7 .1 4 .3 6 .2

increase the number of good jobs/employment opportunities .

4 .8 8 .2 9 2 6 .8


aPPendiX 3

selected ReFeReNces

Barker, r .L .1995 . The Social Work Dictionary. (3rd ed ., p . 404), washington, dC: national as-sociation of Social work .

Brantford Police Service .2010 . 2010-2012 Business Plan.

Brennan, Shannon 2011 . Canadians’ perceptions of personal safety and crime, 2009 . Statis-tics Canada, Juristat . released on december 1st, 2011 . http://www .statcan .gc .ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11577-eng .pdf

City of Brantford Crime Prevention and Community Safety task force . may 2010 . Crime Pre-vention Program Inventory.

City of Brantford and Brantford Police Service . Summer 2008 . Thinking Outside the Lines: Com-munity Safety, Crime and Weapons Offences. report to Brantford City Council .

City of Brantford and County of Brant . march 2010 . Brant-Brantford Affordable Housing Strat-egy: Housing Demand and Supply Analysis Report. SHS Consulting .

Crime Prevention in Ontario: A Framework for Action. 2012 . oCaP . ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Cotton, Brad (Sgt .) . Crime Prevention: A review of the new provincial model. 2011 . Presentation made to the City of Brantford Crime Prevention and Community Safety task force, September 16 .

foundation docteur Philippe-Pinel . 2004 . The Key to Safer Municipalities: Joining forces to prevent violence and crime in our communities. toolkit . http://www .sciencessociales .uottawa .ca/ipc/pdf/key%20to%20Safer%20municipalities .pdf

government of Saskatchewan . September 2011 . Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime.

national Crime Prevention Centre (nCPC) . 2011 . Glossary of Key Terms in Crime Prevention. http://www .publicsafety .gc .ca/prg/cp/ncps-glssry-eng .aspx#v


Perreault, Samuel and Shannon Brennan, Criminal victimization in Canada, 2009 . Statis-tics Canada, Juristat . Summer 2010 . http://www .statcan .gc .ca/pub/85-002-x/2010002/article/11340-eng .htm

rothman, J . 1994 . Practice with Highly Vulnerable Clients. englewood Cliffs, nJ: Prentice-Hall, pp . 5-8 .

Statistics Canada, 2010 . Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2010 . http://www .statcan .gc .ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11523-eng .htm

Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics . 1999 . Criminal Victimization in Cana-da.

taylor, a ., J . wise and k . roderick . 2007 . Brant’s Response Against Violence Everywhere (BRAVE) environmental Scan: final report . kitchener on: CreHS .

Zhang, t . (2011) . Costs of crime in Canada, 2008 . ottawa, on: research & Statistics divi-sion, department of Justice Canada .

Prepared by: Harry Cummings and associates

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