Youth Engagement as a Tool for
Strengthening Health Promotion
Awareness Initiatives
presented by
Jackie Eaton & Róisín Unsworth
www.skprevention.ca
www.skprevention.ca
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2016,
Saskatchewan
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PreventionInstitute
Institute
Agenda
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Saskatchewan Prevention Institute Programs
What is Youth Engagement?
Youth Engagement Strategies
Youth Community Health Grants Program
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©Copyright2016,
2016,
Saskatchewan
SaskatchewanPrevention
PreventionInstitute
Institute
Partners in Prevention
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Areas of Focus
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• The Youth Action for Prevention (YAP) Program is a youthfocused FASD prevention initiative.
• Using the philosophy of youth engagement as the basis of
the program, youth are supported to create positive
change in their communities.
• Key Principles:
• Youth engagement
• Harm-reduction
• Peer-to-peer prevention
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Background Information
• In Saskatchewan, on average, youth take their first drink at age 13 and are
binge drinking by age 14 (Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, 2009).
• Youth (ages 15-24) report heavier and more frequent drinking patterns than
adults over 25, and more subsequent alcohol-related harms.
• Alcohol-related physical and mental health impacts and social consequences:
 Unwanted and unprotected sexual activity
 Sexually transmitted infections
 Alcohol poisoning
 Physical injury, motor vehicle collisions
 Suicide, abusive or violent behaviour
 FASD
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The Prevention of Alcohol-Related Harms
There is evidence that demonstrates links
between the engagement of young people
and several positive health outcomes,
including:
 decreased alcohol, marijuana, and hard
drug use
 lower rates of school failure and dropouts
 lower rates of the following: sexual
activity, teen pregnancy, anti-social and
criminal behaviours, and depression
(Council on Drug Abuse, 2007; CCSA, 2007).
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Step forward
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Why Engage Youth?
• Youth are experts in youth culture
• Youth are the best advocates for issues that
affect them
• Youth engagement is a key measure in health
promotion
• Youth engagement benefits organizations
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What is Youth Engagement?
“The meaningful participation
and sustained involvement
of a young person
in an activity, with a focus
outside him or herself”
(The Centre of Excellence for Youth
Engagement)
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What is an Adult Ally?
• Is the adult half of a
youth-adult
partnership
• Helps youth have their voices heard through
meaningful engagement
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Adult allies take on many roles:
• Facilitate opportunities for youth to contribute
meaningfully
• Link youth to appropriate support services when
they experience personal difficulties
• Ask guiding questions so youth can work through
problems
• Break down tasks into manageable steps
• Check in with youth
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Degrees of Youth Engagement
Youth-serving
– Targets youth as consumers of a service
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Activity
• Take one card.
• Move around the room and shake hands with
3 different people.
• After you shake hands with a person, write the
person’s name on the outside of your card.
• Once you have 3 names, sit down.
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Degrees of Youth Engagement
Youth-serving
– Targets youth as consumers of a service
Youth-input
– Youth evaluate or provide feedback on a program
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Degrees of Youth Engagement
Youth-serving
– Targets youth as consumers of a service
Youth-input
– Youth evaluate or provide feedback on a
program
Youth-engaged
– Youth are involved in program development
and/or delivery
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Youth Action for Prevention Projects
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Beardy’s & Okemasis Songwriting
Project “Driven”
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Degrees of Youth Engagement
Youth-serving
– Targets youth as consumers of a service
Youth-input
– Youth evaluate or provide feedback on a program
Youth-engaged
– Youth are involved in program development and/or
delivery
Youth-led
– Program concept and/or organization came from youth
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• Youth will be
responsible for
writing, producing,
and engineering their
own song with the
assistance of adult
allies
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Youth Engagement Strategies
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Youth-friendly environment
Strong adult support
Meaningful activities, involvement
Learn and use new skills
Youth-positive phrasing
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• Be available to youth and show genuine
concern
• Give and receive feedback
• Cultivate a culture of fairness
• Provide boundaries, structure, and safety
• Navigate challenges together
• Focus on both youth and adult
development
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Discussion
• What are some strategies that you have used
with youth that worked well?
• What are some strategies that you have used
with youth that did not work well?
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Conclusion
• Youth engagement is a powerful process that
can enhance presentations, resource
development, and youth programs
• Research demonstrates that teaching
strategies that incorporate youth engagement
will be more effective at promoting healthy
behaviours
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Youth Health Community Grants
• Focus: preventing alcohol-related harms
and/or promoting sexual health education
• Youth involvement is a priority
• 3 grant deadlines:
– May 31, 2016
– September 30, 2016
– January 31, 2017
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© 2016, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
References
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Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (2007). A drug prevention strategy for Canada’s youth. Retrieved from:
http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/ccsa-0115222007e.pdf#search youth%20engagement
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Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (2007). Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS): A National survey of Canadians’ use of
alcohol and other drugs. Substance use by Canadian youth. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada. Retrieved from
http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/sc-hc/H128-1-07-499E.pdf
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Centres of Excellence for Children’s Well Being. (2004). What is youth engagement? Retrieved from:
http://www.tgmag.ca/aorg/pdf/Whatis_WEB_e.pdf
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Council on Drug Abuse (2007). How does youth engagement prevent our youth from using drugs? Retrieved from:
http://www.drugabuse.ca/how-does-youth-engagement-prevent-our-youth-abusing-drugs-0
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Khanna, N. & McCart, S. (2007). Adult allies in action. Centres of Excellence for Children’s Wellbeing. Retrieved from:
http://www.tgmag.ca/aorg/pdf/alliesFINAL_eweb.pdf
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National Alcohol Strategy Working Group (2007). Reducing alcohol-related harm in Canada: Toward a culture of moderation.
Retrieved from http://www.aglc.ca/pdf/social responsibility/nationalalcoholstrategy.pdf
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Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. (2009). Youth - Trends & patterns of alcohol use. Retrieved from
http://www.suncountry.sk.ca/gsCMSDisplayPluginFile/show/id/168/menu_id/88/lang_type/en_US/page_type/service/page
_id/7
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Thank you!
Jackie Eaton
Coordinator, Sexual and Reproductive Health Program
jeaton@skprevention.ca
306-651-4308
Róisín Unsworth
Coordinator, Youth Action for Prevention Program
runsworth@skprevention.ca
306-651-4319
If you require further information on any of the topics
covered in this presentation, please visit our website at:
www.skprevention.ca
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
1319 Colony Street, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z1
Bus. (306) 651-4300 Fax. (306) 651-4301
Email: info@skprevention.ca
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© 2016, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute