Terms Of Reference

Revised May, 2005

Position Statements

The Young Carers Initiative Niagara recognizes that:

A significant number of children and young people under the age of 18 take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.

Children and young people living in a household where there is a disability or long-term illness, substance abuse issue or language barriers may be affected in a variety of different ways, whether or not they are providing care, and the impact may continue into adulthood.

All such children and young people have a right to be supported, and to have choices in what constitutes such support in order to develop appropriate coping strategies.

The Young Carers Initiative Niagara advocates that:

Young people under the age of 18 whose lives are affected because a relative has a disability, chronic condition or has a language barrier be identified as "Young Carers," following the British model.

Young Carers be given choices about whether or not they wish to care.

If Young Carers do wish to continue providing care, their needs should be acknowledged and assessed.

Young Carers have a right to have the impact of their caregiving role on their lives reduced by appropriate means.

A whole-family approach be used to meet the needs of Young Carers as well as all the other family members.

All support for Young Carers be provided within the context of support for the whole family.

Young Carers be enabled, informed and consulted to the greatest extent possible in the process of providing support.

The Young Carers Initiative Niagara believes that:

All children and young people should be able to participate in their neighbourhoods and in the services which affect their lives to the fullest extent possible.

All children and young people should have their thoughts and wishes taken into account.

All children and young people should be empowered to make informed decisions about their lives.

Definition "Young Carer":

For the purposes of this committee, the term "Young Carer" will be defined as: "An individual under the age of 18 with a relative whose activities of daily living are restricted by a chronic disability, long term mental or physical illness, substance abuse problem or other socio-economic factors such as a language barrier."

Project Objective:

To provide appropriate and timely support, education and interventions for children and their families in caregiving environments from a holistic approach.

Purpose Of The Committee:

To enable children in caregiving environments to have a voice, be heard, acknowledged, consulted, supported and empowered to make informed decisions about their lives within the context of their families.

To raise community awareness as to the needs of Young Carers and advocate for a needs assessment and support services on their behalf.

To improve consultation with the whole family in order to better meet the needs of all family members and reduce the impact of disability or illness on the child and family life.

To have Young Carers and their needs recognized on social policy agenda.

To form a network of community agencies committed to improving the lives of Young Carers by providing appropriate support insofar as this is possible.

Responsibility Of The Committee:

Expected Outcomes:

The committee will develop goals, policies and procedures in regard to expected outcomes. Outcome measurement criteria will be formulated. These will include an evaluation in terms of data collection and service delivery, as well as an assessment of what the committee has achieved in meeting its unprecedented goals by the end of the pilot project. The Brock Research Institute for Youth Studies (BRIYS) at Brock University will be approached as a potential partner in the development of outcome measures.

Type Of Committee:

For the purposes of this pilot project, representatives from various community sectors will form a working committee reporting to the Children's Initiative of the Alzheimer Society Niagara Region. This committee may become a standing committee at the end of the pilot project.

Sectors To Be Represented:

Adult Disability, Child Welfare, Children's Mental Health, Adult Mental Health, Addictions, Seniors Services, School Board, Community Support Services, Multicultural Community, Francophone Community, Children's Community Support Services. There will be at least one member from each of the sectors.

Committee Composition And Quorum:

There will be 10 to 12 members on the committee. A quorum will consist of ½ of the members plus 1.

Term Of Office:

Members will be expected to make at least a two year commitment to the committee.

Method Of Operation:

The committee will work from a consensual model amongst its members. Where necessary and requested by a member, a vote will be taken with each member.

Chairperson:

The chairperson will be chosen by the committee and duties will include chairing the meetings and setting the agenda. Term of office to be decided by the committee.

Secretary:

A secretary will be chosen by the committee on a rotating basis to record, prepare and distribute the monthly minutes.

Frequency Of Meetings:

Once every 4 weeks on the third Thursday of each month, excluding July and August unless otherwise specified.

Time And Place Of Meetings:

The regular monthly meetings will be held at the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region, 403 Ontario Street, Unit # 1, St. Catharines, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. unless changed at the discretion of the committee.

Review Of Terms Of Reference:

The terms of reference will be reviewed once per year, unless otherwise specified by the committee.

Sources:

Several sources were consulted, summarized and collated for these Terms of Reference, including:
  1. Position Statements:
  2. Terms of Reference Documents from other Agencies:
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