COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (CDF)
SOMERSET WEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK RESOURCE COMMITTEE
  TERMS OF REFERENCE
PURPOSE:
The Somerset West Community Development Framework Resource Committee is a collaborative effort among organizations, agencies and community leaders.  It assists local community members, groups, and associations to achieve the identified ‘community action plans’ and maximizes the opportunities and successes of community initiatives within the Somerset West Community Health Centre catchment area.

MANDATE:
The Somerset West CDF Resource Committee will serve a number of roles in supporting the successful implementation of CDF initiatives. The Resource Committee will:

  • Be a forum for review of local CDF action plans, providing advice and assistance to support the successful implementation of these plans;
  • Ensure the co-ordination of policy, programs and services at the broader system level to support CDF initiatives
  • Ensure every partner’s involvement in working towards the same goals
  • Avoid wasting resources in undertaking isolated projects which, despite good intentions, are not sustainable because they are not integrated with other initiatives for maximum impact
  • Initiate discussion, explore specific issues and ensure the co-ordination of agency activity in helping to support CDF plans
  • Monitor CDF community action plan implementation including progress on goals and objectives
  • Conduct advocacy as required

MEMBERSHIP:
The membership of the Somerset West CDF Resource Table will be diverse, including decision makers from agencies, organizations, and businesses involved in the Somerset West Community Health Centre catchment area.  Membership will include, but is not restricted to:

  • Ottawa Police Services
  • Ottawa Community Housing
  • City of Ottawa
  • Local City Councilors
  • BIAs (Preston Street, Wellington West, Somerset Street Chinatown)
  • Plant Pool Recreation Centre
  • Hintonburg Community Centre
  • Somerset West Community Health Centre

The Somerset West CDF Resource Committee members will bring several qualities and skills to the CDF effort including leadership, vision, resources and management.  Members would possess decision making ability within the organizations they represent, enabling them to commit and deliver resources required to effect change identified through local CDF community action plans.

STRUCTURE:
The Resource Committee will have a Chair.  This individual will be selected from the membership and will bring skills of facilitation, consensus building and demonstrated support for community development.  The Resource Committee may set up sub-committees and working groups as deemed appropriate.

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS:
Initially the Resource Committee will meet bi-monthly to establish the structure, develop a vision for the CDF process and strategy, and to support the development of the initial CDF action plan as needed.  As the process moves to strategy implementation, the Resource Committee will meet quarterly or more frequently if needed. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Resource Committee members are responsible for policy and management as it relates to the Community Development Framework and the support for local Community Action Plans.  Committee members will also ensure that the organization they represent makes long term commitment to the CDF approach and would commit resources to the CDF efforts when necessary and required.
In the initial phase of supporting a local CDF Community Action Plan, these commitments may take the form of:

  • Providing input and support to the development of a local CDF Community Action Plan
  • Identifying resource commitments from each member that would help to support the implementation of the CDF Community Action Plan
  • Identifying the need to realign agency resources to support the CDF Community Action Plan

Once the CDF Community Action Plan is developed and implementation is underway, the roles and responsibilities of the Resource Table will focus more broadly on policy, management and advocacy.  More specifically, the roles of the Resource Table will focus on:

  • Periodic review of goals and objectives of the CDF Community Action Plans
  • Guidance on resolution of implementation issues that arise
  • Development of integration opportunities within the Somerset West Community Health Centre catchment area
  • Communication with the City CDF Tables to ensure information sharing and shared learning
  • Leadership and advocacy

CONFIDENTIALITY:

  • The discussions of the Resource Committee will be considered confidential.  The Resource Committee will determine if and/or what information may be shared externally (e.g. to local CDF neighbourhood Steering Committees, to City CDF Structures, etc.). 

DECISION MAKING:
Whenever possible, decision making will be by consensus.  Fifty percent (50%) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.  If a vote is necessary the outcome will be determined by a simple majority of the members present.

 

© 2008-09 City of Ottawa and Partner Agencies

Collaboration, Coordination, Community Participation and Leveraging of Resources