Strategic Priority 1: Strengthening Collaboration Across Sectors

Strong collaboration is essential to achieving the network's vision and advancing collective action across Durham Region. Strengthening relationships, improving information sharing, expanding participation, and creating opportunities for coordinated planning will support a more connected and responsive system of services for children, youth, families, and caregivers.

What we heard from DCYPN members who supported the development of this priority area includes:

• Many tables exist, but are not well-connected

• Opportunity to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and alignment

The following table outlines the steps the DCYPN can take to support this strategic priority area:

 

Strategic Priority 2: Addressing Service Gaps and Improving Access

Understanding community needs and addressing service gaps requires ongoing collaboration, engagement, and information sharing. By improving awareness of available services, strengthening service navigation, and supporting coordinated responses to emerging needs, the network can help improve access and outcomes across Durham Region.

 

What we heard from DCYPN members who supported the development of this priority area includes:

• Establish a clear role for DCYPN in the Region/system

•  There is a need for a central coordinating table

•  Address fragmentation across networks

The following table outlines the steps the DCYPN can take to support this strategic priority area

Strategic Priority 3: Advocating for Systems Change and Equity 

Advancing systems change requires a coordinated approach to advocacy, relationship building, and collective action. By identifying shared priorities, engaging decision-makers, and promoting equitable policies and practices, the network can help influence broader systems that affect children, youth, families, and caregivers.

What we heard from DCYPN members who supported the development of this priority area includes:

• Structure the network for impact 

• Need for backbone support 

• Interest in working groups 

• Desire for action-oriented advocacy and collaboration 

The following table outlines the steps the DCYPN can take to support this strategic priority area.

 

Strategic Priority 4: Informed Decision-Making Through Community Voice, Evidence, and Shared Learning 

Effective decision-making is strengthened when community voice, lived experience, evidence, and shared learning are considered together. By improving access to information, supporting knowledge exchange, and strengthening evidence-informed planning, the network can better identify emerging needs and respond to changing community priorities.

What we heard from DCYPN members who supported the development of this priority area includes:

• Focus and function of the work is critical 

• Need for clarity in purpose, priorities, and communication 

• Engagement drops without clear direction or accessible participation pathways 

• Evidence, experience, research, and shared community knowledge should help shape network priorities and decision-making 

• DCYPN can play a stronger role in coordinating communication between service providers, service users, and communities 

• Participation barriers such as time, structure, and fees should be considered 

The following table outlines the steps the DCYPN can take to support this strategic priority area.