Youth Justice Ontario Member Benefits and Opportunities

As a volunteer organization, Youth Justice Ontario derives its strength from its member agencies. Drawing from the knowledge and energy of volunteer members gives us the ability to be represented on a variety of government think tanks and advisory committees. Some of these opportunities are listed following:

Youth Justice Ontario Board of Directors: Comprised of three representatives from each of the four regions of Ontario. These zones are the Zone 1 ~ North, Zone 2 ~ Southeast, Zone 3 ~ Southwest and Zone 4 ~ Central.
Regional Meetings: Within your own zone at least three or four times a year to meet with colleagues, problem solve, network and give feedback to the board through your elected regional directors.
Regional Conference Committees: Each year the zone that is hositng the YJO Anual Conference plans and administers a major conference on youth justice issues. Any member agency within the hsoting zones has the opportunity to be part of this planning committee.
Youth Justice Advisory Committee: A high level committee meeting with the senior level bureaucrats and politicos at least four times a year for input into ministry activities.
YJO / OCJA Agree to Explore Working Partnership: During a meeting held in Toronto on May 22nd , Youth Justice Ontarioand the Ontario Community Justice Association agreed on a tentative plan for the two associations to cooperate over the next year or so. The working plan will potentially include Associate / Guest Memberships for each other’s members, joint participation on committees, shared Board Meeting opportunities, a joint Conference for 2009, training opportunities at that Conference and perhaps other venues as well thru 2009. There would be an evaluation of the working partnership in early 2010.
Ontario Alliaince of Children and Youth Associations: A new partnership in Ontario, the O.A.C.Y.A.was created on July 19^th, 2007 at the Head Offices of C.M.H.O. in Toronto. Sitting at the table for this important development were representatives of Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth (OARTY), Ontario Community Justice Association (OCJA), OntCHILD/Young Parent Resources of Ontario (YPRO) and Youth Justice Ontario (YJO). This coalition is in its formative stages and new partners may develop. The O.A.C.Y.A. is an alliance of Service Providers that is interested in strengthening Children’s Services .
Special Purpose Sub-Committees: Struck by the YJO Board to monitor or oversee current issues/initiatives affecting member agencies. The 2008 - 09 sub-committees incude the Public Relations Sub-committee, Community Programming Sub-committee and the Accreditation Sub-committee.

The past few years have been hallmarked by a diverse and active representation of many members in meaningful activities. This has led to a high profile with funding ministries and many requests for representation on working groups that develop policy. We fully expect this grass roots involvement of our members to continue to be the strength of our association for the years to come.

In addition to the opportunities to be involved at higher levels of government and activities, members will receive preferential enrolment to our conferences, regular updates and minutes from Board Meetings, one vote per member on any issue affecting the membership and the opportunity to network at a broad level within your industry.