In January 2005, the Ontario Trillium Foundation agreed to fund the York Region Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Community Outreach Project. The Project which is a co-partnership
between Addiction Services York Region and Family Services York Region is a four-year pilot project.
The work is supported by an Advisory Committee, which includes the following agencies:
Addiction Services of York Region
AIDS Committee of York Region
Family Services York Region
Gay and Lesbian Athlete’s Association
Krasman Centre
PFLAG York Region
Sandgate Women’s Shelter
Southlake Regional Health Centre
Transitional and Supportive Housing Services of York Region
Women’s Centre of York Region
Women’s Support Network
Yellow Brick House
York Central Hospital
York Region Abuse Program (YRAP)
York Region Children’s Aid Society
York Support Services Network
York Regional Police
Youth Representatives (Volunteer)
The Committee meets six times over the course of the year and oversees the Trillium work plan.
The aim of the Committee is to take a systemic and coordinated approach to eliminate
discrimination and oppression on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
If your agency is interested in sitting on the Advisory Committee,
please call Barbara Urman at (905)640-5428.
The following is taken from the Committee’s Terms of Reference:
Mission
To develop and implement collaboratively designed training and education programs to support
a comprehensive culturally appropriate and quality service delivery system to meet the
needs of LGBT persons and their families in York Region.
Principles
Our aim is to take a systemic and coordinated approach to eliminate discrimination and
oppression on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity within the human
services sectors in York Region by supporting service sectors to increase their
resources/capacity in the provision of anti-oppression services in York Region.
Goals
1. to evolve the Advisory Committee into an ongoing sustainable community coordinating committee
2. to support the coordinator in identifying alternative sources of funding
3. to ensure that the Project’s work plan is adhered to
4. to provide systemic links that are necessary to ensure the success of the Trillium Project work plan
5. to support service sectors to increase their resources/capacity
Membership
1. all members must be committed to the principles, beliefs and visions of the Project
2. original stakeholders as identified in the Trillium proposal
3. members of the LGBT community (who represent a constituency)
4. other stakeholders as identified by the Coordinator and/or Committee
5. committee members must be committed to regular attendance
Accountability (i.e. decision making)
1. the Committee is an advisory committee that will meet 6 times per year to consult,
monitor and evaluate the Trillium work plan
2. commitment to transparency in decision making with regard to the work plan
3. commitment to consensual decision making with regard to the work plan
4. where consensus cannot be achieved, the Project’s sponsors (ASYR/ FSYR) reserve
the right to make the decision (Ratified January 26, 2006)
The Community Outreach Project is now into its second year. Beginning in the late Fall,
the Project will offer education and support to human service providers in the non-profit
sector in York Region. The Project has specific funding to be distributed to agencies
that have completed training and wish to begin LGBT-specific programs.
Understanding the importance of policy setting, as well as developing awareness and
sensitivity at both a governance and management level, as well as at a front-line
level will lay the groundwork for systemic change and setting an agenda that
includes LGBT health and awareness.
The York Region Community Outreach Project gratefully
acknowledges the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support.
