An informal network of non-profit community organizations across Canada. The work of social planning organizations (also referred to as "Social Planning Councils") focuses on a range of community development and social justice issues.
The general purpose of social planning organizations is to help build and strengthen community.
Social planning organizations may undertake a variety of activities, including:
Conducting social researchPolicy analysis and developmentPlanning, convening and collaboratingSocial enterprise and social innovationCommunity mobilization, andAdvocacyTheir work focuses around social issues affecting individuals and families, including:
DiversityImmigrant/refugee and newcomer servicesAffordable housingSocial determinants of healthpoverty and social exclusion"The working poor" and living wageSocial determinants of health in povertySocial inequalityGIS mapping and social indicator workSocial planning organizations face numerous challenges in their work:
High complexity of social issuesGovernment-Related ChallengesImplications of federal, provincial and municipal budget measuresReshaping of the social policy agendaShifting role of the state in social policy (e.g. federal/provincial responsibilities, focus on the "fiscal imbalance," etc.)Changing relationships with all levels of governmentChanging provincial government priorities (greater challenges to put poverty on the agenda)Impact of service downloading from government to private, non-government and non-profit organizations.Demographic ChallengesGrowing immigrant and visible minority populationsDiverse types of communities (urban, rural, northern, remote, reserves)Growing ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversityEconomic and Infrastructure ChallengesShifting regional economies (e.g. urbanization)Changing social infrastructure needsIncreasing economic disparity (Income inequality metrics)Informal networking between SPOs has taken place to varying degrees since 1976. In the beginning, the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) took a leadership role in bringing the local/regional councils together around social policy issues. Since the 1980s, individuals social planning organizations have taken a greater role in organizing SPO conferences and collaborating on social issues.
Due to the high number of social planning organizations in Ontario, communication and collaboration between SPOs in that province are more frequent than in other provinces across Canada. The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) has often facilitated discussions between Ontario based organizations.
A two-year national project (January 2006 through March 2008) aimed at identifying strategies to improve the income and wages, including the living wage, of young families and their children.
Partners:
Community Services Council, Newfoundland and LabradorFamily Service Association of TorontoSocial Planning Council of WinnipegFirst Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy CoalitionA multi-year cross-Canada civic initiative with the purpose of enhancing social inclusion across Canada. The goals of Inclusive Cities Canada (ICC) are to strengthen the capacity of cities to create and sustain inclusive communities for the mutual benefit of all people, and to ensure that community voices of diversity are recognized as core Canadian ones.
Partners:
Social Planning & Research Council of British ColumbiaEdmonton Social Planning CouncilCommunity Development HaltonCommunity Social Planning Council of TorontoHuman Development Council of Saint JohnFederation of Canadian MunicipalitiesSocial Planning Coalition of the Northwest TerritoriesCommunity Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria VictoriaSocial Planning & Research Council of British ColumbiaUnited Way Research Services - United Way of the Lower MainlandMission Association for Social PlanningSocial Planning Council for the North OkanaganSunshine Coast Social Planning CouncilEdmonton Social Planning CouncilRegina Council on Social DevelopmentWinnipeg Social Planning CouncilSocial Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO)Amherstburg Community ServicesLakeshore Community ServicesCommunity Social Planning Council Kingsville – LeamingtonCommunity Development Council DurhamCommunity Development Council of QuinteCommunity Development HaltonSocial Planning TorontoSocial Planning Council of York RegionEssex Community ServicesElgin Area Social Research and Awareness CouncilLakehead Social Planning CouncilLondon Social Planning CouncilNorth Bay and Area Social Planning CouncilNorth Durham Social Development CouncilPeople & Organizations in North Toronto (POINT)Perth County Social Planning CouncilPeterborough Social Planning CouncilSocial Planning Council of Cambridge & North DumfriesSocial Planning Council of Kingston and DistrictSocial Planning Council of Kitchener-WaterlooSocial Planning and Research Council of HamiltonSocial Planning Council of PeelSocial Planning Council of SudburySocial Planning Council of Ottawa-CarletonSouth Essex Community CouncilUnited Way and Community Services of Guelph and WellingtonHuman Development CouncilNewfoundland and Labrador
Community Services Council