SITUATION REPORT

CANADIAN FORCES PERSONNEL SUPPORT AGENCY
NATIONAL YOUTH PROGRAM AND SERVICES MODEL UPDATE

References:
A. Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) National Youth Program and Services Model for Canadian Forces Communities, dated 19 December 2001
B. Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) Youth Services Programmes - Status Report, dated 21 November 2000

1. The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the status of the National Youth Program and Services Model for Canadian Forces (CF) communities. As outlined in reference A, this initiative has evolved from its original intent of providing funding for staff positions at the local level (reference B), to a framework on which effective, consistent and cooperative youth services may be delivered.

2. When the Program Management Board (PMB) declined to fund the original concept, the CFPSA, with financial assistance from SISIP, engaged the SMC Group to help develop a model that systematically responds to the needs of CF youth aged 12 to 18 years.

3. Since December 2001, the SMC Group has been collaborating with the CFPSA Project Team, a Youth Advisory Group and representatives from the local level. Several key accomplishments have been realized to date. They are:

   1. the creation of a Youth Advisory Group which brought together national leaders in recreation and youth services, the CFPSA Project Team, CF youth and the SMC Group;

   2. the facilitation of focus groups and interviews which were held in four combined locations with 155 overall participants, including representatives from PSP, MFRC, local youth and parents, local volunteers and municipal employees;

   3. a youth survey which identified the issues and priorities of Canadian youth living in military families;

   4. a Base Inventory questionnaire;

   5. a comprehensive report detailing research conducted on Canadian youth trends;

   6. a benchmarking analysis of four Bases, with collaborative responses from PSP and MFRC personnel;

   7. a two day Excellence Workshop with participation from local PSP, MFRC, youth, and Youth Advisory Group representatives. The goal of the workshop was to validate the work done to date and provide recommendations on the future of the Youth Model; and

   8. the development of a youth model, titled Canadian Forces - Youth on the Move, which will function as the youth services provision framework.

4. On 29 July 02, the SMC Group delivered the proposed CFPSA National Youth Programs and Services Model to DMFS and DPSPR. The highlights of the report include:

   1. the model is information based, transforming the 1999 Youth Summit recommendations into action;

   2. the model builds on strengths of current youth services;

   3. PSP and MFRC service provision roles are respected, with an emphasis on cooperative success;

   4. new funds are not required for the implementation of the model, however, the CFPSA is actively pursuing new sources of funding to enhance provision strategies; and

   5. the model is founded on a holistic, integrated, collaborative and flexible approach.

5. The CFPSA is in the process of finalizing the model, investigating funding strategies and preparing a communication plan. It is expected that information on the launch of the CFPSA National Youth Programs and Services Model will be available in early 2003. Should you or your staff have any questions prior to the program being announced please contact the undersigned or Anne Marie Vaz, DMFS 8 at 992-2328 or Laurie Ogilvie, NRYSM at 995-7802.

6. The CFPSA would like to thank SISIP Financial Services for sponsoring this important youth initiative.

G.W. Pearson
Executive Vice President - Personnel Support Programs
Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency