Stepping Up

Stepping Up is the Government of Ontario’s evidence-based strategic framework for improving youth outcomes. It is a guide for decision-making, program planning and partnerships so that everyone involved in supporting youth between 12 and 25, can work together through a common, shared approach.

The 2014 Stepping Up Annual Report highlights the Government of Ontario’s progress in supporting Ontario youth since the release of Stepping Up in 2013. The report includes case studies, and the 2014 Profile of Youth Wellbeing.

Message from the Minister of Children and Youth Services

I am proud to share the first annual report on Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed (Stepping Up). Supporting opportunities for youth, particularly vulnerable youth, are core parts of my mandate from the Premier and I am deeply committed to this work.

Strong partnerships are critical to helping our youth succeed. With Stepping Up, we are taking a cross-sector and whole-of-government approach to supporting Ontario’s youth to thrive. Stepping Up is a collaborative endeavour and I am grateful for the ongoing dedication of my minister colleagues, community agencies, advocates, youth and the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities. Moving forward, we must continue to strengthen our relationships to achieve our shared priorities for youth.

This report furthers our government’s goal to be open and transparent. It also supports the objectives of the new Poverty Reduction Strategy to invest in what works and measure success. This year’s key investments in youth align with the changes observed in the Profile of Youth Wellbeing. While the majority of indicators suggest that outcomes are improving for Ontario’s youth, certain indicators moved against the desired direction of change, and there are gaps in outcomes for some vulnerable populations. Our government has made investments in each area of identified need.

More than ever, we are targeting our investments to help remove barriers, support transitions and improve outcomes for Ontario’s most vulnerable youth. We are delivering on every commitment in Ontario’s Youth Action Plan and are guided by the report on the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence.

Moving forward, we will continue to value diversity, build the capacity of our programs and services to serve vulnerable youth, and use Stepping Up to inform our work with communities. We will measure and report back on our collective progress.

I look forward to seeing our results as we work together to support young people in this province to realize their full potential.

Tracy MacCharles
Minister of Children and Youth Services

2014 Stepping Up Annual Report

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