By: Becky Andrade Executive Director Milton Community Resource Centre
Business planning is complex—part art, part science. At Milton Community Resource Centre (MCRC), we’ve found that using the Our Kids Network (OKN) Data Portal has transformed how we approach this challenge. From program development to strategic growth, the portal has become an essential tool in helping us better understand and support our community.
Identifying Needs and Planning for Growth
The Data Portal has been instrumental in system-level planning, especially through its comprehensive neighbourhood profiles. These profiles helped us pinpoint areas with the most vulnerable populations in Halton, which supported our implementation of the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP®) program in partnership with Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, and in supporting our strategic growth plans for our licensed child care programs.
SNAP®, is an evidence-based cognitive behavioural model that provides a framework for teaching children struggling with behaviour issues, and their parents, effective emotional regulation, self-control and problem-solving skills. SNAP® outcomes have been proven to demonstrate improved parent-child relationships and emotional states, reduced stress and anxiety, reduced rates of depression, increased overall happiness and improved self-confidence. This program was implemented through the generous support of Halton Region’s Building Safer Communities in Halton Grant, supporting evidence-based initiatives to address gun and gang prevalence in Halton. The Data Portal neighbourhood profiles were critical in demonstrating the local need for this initiative leading to our grant application success.
The Data Portal is also an essential tool that we rely on to guide the strategic expansion of our licensed child care programs, ensuring alignment with the Region’s Directed Growth Strategy. By using data to identify where services are most needed, staff and Board Directors were able to make informed growth decisions that directly support families in our community.
Empowering Strategic Decision-Making and Strengthening Alignment Across the Organization
To support strategic discussions with our Board of Directors, we included key data from the portal in our briefing materials. This included:
- Total population aged 0–6
- Percentage of population aged 0–6
- Social Risk Index scores
- Data overlays showing current child care centres and schools
This data gave our Board a deeper understanding of the community landscape and helped shape a strategy that aligns with our mission and long-term goals.
While the portal is a powerful tool for staff in program planning and evaluation, its value extends to leadership and governance. Sharing this data with our Board has strengthened our strategic planning process and ensured greater alignment with our mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grow and evolve, the Our Kids Network Data Portal remains a cornerstone of our planning efforts. As a multi-service agency, we continuously strive to understand and meet our evolving community’s needs. Accessing the data and resources that OKN provides streamlines and focuses our efforts. We encourage other organizations to explore how data can empower their own decision-making and deepen their impact in the community.
Explore OKN Data Portal Resources
