Authority to Accept Health Canada Funding to Advance Training and Curriculum Development for the Toronto Community Crisis Service - by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, seconded by Councillor Amber Morley

In 2026, an opportunity was identified to advance equity-focused training through external funding. The City successfully secured a one-year $700,000 grant from Health Canada to support the development, implementation and evaluation of specialized training curriculum and programing. The City's contribution primarily consist of in-kind resources, including staff time dedicated to project oversight, coordination, and partnership management. The initiative will strengthen the Toronto Community Crisis Service's capacity to deliver culturally safe and community-informed mental health crisis response, particularly for equity-deserving communities, through: a. community engagement to identify barriers, stigma and key service delivery considerations; b. co-development and pilot implementation of specialized modular training in collaboration with community partners; c. targeted training for community organizations to strengthen broader sector capacity; and d. evaluation activities to measure impact and inform continuous improvement. Reason for Urgency: This matter is time-sensitive and being presented as a Member Motion to avoid unnecessary delays in receiving the $700,000 grant from Health Canada.

2. City Council approve the receipt of Canada's Black Justice Strategy funds through Health Canada for the provision of Social Development's Strengthening Non-Police-Led Crisis Response in Black Communities: Enabling the Toronto Community Crisis Service Training Curriculum project, in line with the terms and conditions of the contribution agreement, or related agreements, and any applicable program guidelines and directives. 3. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Social Development by $700,000 gross and $0 net on a one-time basis, fully funded by Health Canada, to support the development implementation and evaluation of specialized training curriculum and programming for the Toronto Community Crisis Service. 4. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to enter into agreements or other suitable arrangements with other community agencies, not for profit organizations, and/or individuals to allocate and deliver Canada's Black Justic Strategy funding in accordance with the provisions of the contribution agreement, or related agreements, and any applicable program guidelines and directives, upon terms satisfactory to the Executive Director, Social Development, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.