vulnerable to risk. As a long-term prevention strategy, it is more effective to focus on why something is happening (i.e., a student has undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder and challenges in the home) than on what is happening (e.g., a student is caught skipping school). Risks should be identified using the experiences, information and data of community members and partners to highlight the issues that are most significant and prevalent in the community. For example, many communities are engaging a wide range of local agencies and organizations to discuss which risks they come across most often, and are compiling available data to do additional analysis of trends and patterns of risk to focus on in their plan.
Awareness and Understanding
Community safety and well-being planning requires that each community member understands their role in making the community a safe and healthy place to live. It is important to engage individuals, groups, agencies, organizations and elected officials to work collaboratively and promote awareness and understanding of the purpose and benefits of a strategic, long-term plan to address community risks. For example, it may be more helpful to speak about outcomes related to improved quality of life in the community – like stronger families and neighbourhoods – rather than reduced crime. This is not just about preventing crime. This is about addressing the risks that lead individuals to crime, and taking a hard look at the social issues and inequalities that create risk in the first place. Potential partners will likely need to understand what they are getting into – and why – before they fully commit time and resources.
"I think it is important to change the conversation early on in the process. A social development approach to community safety and well-being is a marathon rather than a sprint." - Susan Evenden, City of Brantford
Highest Level Commitment
As the municipality has the authority, resources, breadth of services and contact with the public to address risk factors and to facilitate community partnerships, Ontario communities confirmed that municipalities are best placed to lead the community safety and well-being planning process. In First Nations communities, obtaining buy-in from the Chief and Band Council will provide a strong voice in supporting community safety and well-being planning. This type of planning is a community-wide initiative that requires dedication and input from a wide range of sectors, agencies, organizations and groups. To ensure that all the right players are at the table, it is critical to get commitment from local political leadership, heads of agencies and organizations, as well as other key decision-makers who can champion the cause and ensure that their staff and resources are available to support the planning process.
Effective Partnerships
No single individual, agency or organization can fully own the planning exercise – a plan will only be as effective as the partnerships and multi-sector collaboration that exist among those developing and implementing the plan. Due to the complex nature of many of the issues that impact the safety and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, including poverty, mental health issues, addictions, and domestic violence, a wide range of agencies, organizations and services need to be involved to create comprehensive, sustainable solutions. This may begin through communication between service providers, where information is exchanged to support meaningful relationships while maintaining separate objectives and programs. Cooperation between agencies and organizations is mutually beneficial because it means that they provide assistance to each other on respective activities. Coordination takes partnerships a step further