Province Supporting Black Parents, Caregivers and Families

Community-Based Programs Provide Culturally Relevant Parenting Supports.

Ontario is supporting innovative community-based programs designed to provide culturally relevant parenting support to help improve outcomes for Black children, youth and their families.

Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, made the announcement today at the Heritage Skills Development Centre in Scarborough. The centre is receiving funding to deliver workshops that will reach over 100 Black families. The workshops will be geared towards newcomer families and will help foster meaningful and positive interactions and build communication skills.

Other initiatives receiving funding include:

A culturally appropriate play-based literacy program for Black caregivers and kids.
An app focused on improving maternal-child health, including postnatal and parenting skills.
Culturally specific programs designed to support Black fathers.
Supports designed to meet the needs of families, from online resources to peer mentorship, drop-in programs and counselling.

This funding is part of Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan, which supports 10,000 Black children, youth and families each year. Investments improve outcomes for Black youth by empowering them to succeed in school, post-secondary education and employment.

Improving outcomes for Black children, youth and families is part of Ontario’s plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes free prescription drugs for everyone under 25, and 65 or over, through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, and easier access to affordable child care.

QUICK FACTS

This year, Ontario is investing $1.1 million in 10 projects through the Innovative Supports for Black Parents initiative under Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan.
Programs will be available in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Ottawa and Windsor.
Program locations are available on the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan website.
Research demonstrates that culturally relevant and responsive parenting supports can lead to positive outcomes for children as well as parents and caregivers.
Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan is aligned with A Better Way Forward: Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan and Ontario’s Anti-Black Racism Strategy.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

QUOTES

“The Ontario Black Youth Action Plan is little more than a year old, and we’ve already achieved so much in partnership with the community. From preventative measures that support wellness, to higher education and career development, our four-year, $47 million plan helps break down barriers caused by decades of systemic racism. I look forward to continuing to follow the success of this incredible initiative, and I’d like to thank everyone who contributed – especially the External Implementation Steering Committee that helped guide this work – for the invaluable hours and effort you have poured into getting this programming off the ground. The future truly belongs to our young people, and I’m proud to stand with you. Together, let’s continue to build brighter futures for Black youth.”
— Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism

“We are grateful to have been selected to provide culturally relevant and responsive parenting supports that will foster positive outcomes for Black children, youth, parents and caregivers. We have worked in the community for many years, and have firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by Afro-Caribbean groups. This support has given the community hope as we work together towards a better Ontario for all.”
— Charity Lebeanya, Executive Director, Heritage Skills Development Centre