Youth Services System Review: Moving From Knowledge Gathering to Implementation Through Collaboration, Youth Engagement, and Exploring Local Community Needs

Abstract

This article describes a two-phase, multi-sectoral project aimed at enhancing youth services addressing substance use in Ontario. In the information gathering phase, a youth-focused website and survey, focus groups, and interviews were used to elicit perspectives from multiple stakeholders. In the implementation phase, capacity-building and consultations on transition-aged youth needs were conducted to inform youth transition-readiness checklists. We discuss the importance of engaging youth as collaborators as well as respondents and the processes used to tailor findings to local contexts for implementation.