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Moving forward
The research and input from youth presented in this document represents our current understanding of the ways young people develop. It also presents the views of a sample of Ontario's youth on how we can support them to succeed. This document is intended as a resource that will help support the positive development of young people, whether that involves developing programs or lesson plans, mentoring, community planning or designing policies. Moving forward, the information provided in this resource is meant as a tool that can be adapted, specialized and updated to suit the needs of youth in your community.
Make it relevant
This resource is designed to support work across provincial
and local contexts
This resource is a step toward improving the way that young
people are supported into adulthood in Ontario. It is intended
as a tool that can be used to foster integration and collaboration
across the youth-serving sector, and a platform for continuing
conversations about how services can be better aligned to
support youth. It also relies on the understanding that all those
who have a role in supporting youth will use, adapt and advance
the information in this resource to suit the needs of youth in
communities across the province—from frontline service provision
to developing specific community programming and organizing
broader provincial planning.
The resource can be used to identify key opportunities to introduce new programs, services or supports for youth in your community. It could also be used to generate ideas about how to enhance existing services by integrating positive developmental opportunities into current programs and practices.
It also provides an important platform for ongoing dialogue
It is our intent that this resource will also serve as a valuable tool
to prompt discussion and action at the government, community,
organizational and family levels.
Government: partnering across ministries/departments, various levels of government and youth-serving organizations to align and focus services, policies and programs toward positive development.
Communities: partnering with community organizations to develop local networks that align efforts and create an awareness of the services offered by the community.
Example:
Ontario Best Start Networks
Ontario's 47 local Best Start Networks play a key role in the development and evolution of an integrated local system of early years services. The networks have been established and are recognized as the planning body for the province's Best Start strategy. They are well positioned to foster community collaboration through their broad representation and in their development of a common understanding of the vision and goals that need to be achieved.
Service Providers: reforming programs in partnership with youth to engage them in the design of programs and implementation strategies.
Example:
Partnering with youth to create space for youth leadership
Providing this platform allows for youth-led social innovation, and engages young people in collective leadership and decision making. Not only does this approach provide an opportunity to develop strategies for service delivery design in collaboration with youth, but it also provides an opportunity to develop transferable skills and boost the self-efficacy and self-esteem of participating youth.
Example:
Including youth in decision making
Including youth in decision making positions within your organization is an excellent way to incorporate youth perspectives into your work. For example, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres has two dedicated seats on their Board of Directors for youth aged 18–24. Another way to include youth is to support and validate youth-led organizations.
Families: rethinking and enhancing daily routines to support their youth’s development.
Example:
Modelling a confident understanding of your own skills and
capabilities allows youth to learn behaviours that will increase
their self-confidence to complete challenging tasks
Youth learn to be confident in their own abilities by internalizing the confidence displayed by role models in their lives. Providing youth with leadership opportunities (for example, planning family dinners or activities), and talking through the process or problem with youth, allows them to realize both their capabilities and limitations, and to build confidence as they complete challenging tasks.
Adapt this information to local needs
While this resource explores many "typical" aspects of youth
development, it offers this information with acknowledgement that
no two individuals are alike, and that context also plays an important
role in the development of every early adolescent, adolescent and
young adult.
For example, individual differences associated with ability, culture or identity will result in different pathways, as youth face unique opportunities and challenges. Likewise, environmental differences also have an impact on development, affecting the supports, opportunities and experiences that youth have access to. Also consider the spirit or sense of self in adapting your approach to supporting individual youth.
In the end, you know the youth you serve best. While using this document, consider the social, cultural, economic and geographical factors specific to youth in your community and how best you can support their development.
INSIGHT: IN THEIR
OWN VOICES
"As a first generation Canadian, my parents don’t necessarily sit my siblings and I down to talk about serious issues such as using protection and substance abuse."
"I used to play house league soccer and basketball at school—I have Down Syndrome and the coaches didn’t feel comfortable with me."
"My parents never had money to put me in extra-curriculars so I never stuck to anything because I never took up anything."
A living document
Our knowledge continues to evolve
This resource has brought together the best research and evidence
on youth development available in 2011. It is clear, however, that
the developmental research field is growing by the minute and that
there are still gaps in this research. Similarly, the youth input that
was gathered and reflected in this report is based on a sample of
today’s young people—it is expected that youth across
Ontario may have different experiences and ideas about the
supports and opportunities that they will need in the future.
This resource is intended as a living document
This resource was created with the intent that it become a
"living document" that is adapted and specialized to suit the
needs of governments, communities, providers and families over
time. It is important that we collectively remain current with new
evidence, approaches and knowledge as they become available,
taking an adaptive approach to harnessing and reflecting these
advancements in our work with youth. Involving youth directly in
ongoing conversations about their development will also help to
ensure that this remains a living document that is relevant and
personalised to meet the changing needs of all youth.
Working together
Supporting youth requires that we work collaboratively
There are many actors involved in supporting youth throughout
Ontario—including governments, communities, frontline providers,
and parents. These individuals and organizations have exceptional
knowledge, expertise, insight and experience in supporting the
development of youth.
Given the complexity of young people’s lives, and the youth services sector, it is clear that no one organization or group can single-handedly address and support all aspects of youth development. However, in partnership, we can effectively support the success of young people in Ontario and have a significant impact.
Ultimately, this resource is intended as a tool that fosters the development of a common language and understanding of youth development, placing young people at the centre of an integrated system of supports that maximizes their positive development.