Supporting Communities to Create Places Where All Youth Thrive

Supporting Communities to Create PlacesWhere All Youth Thrive

A free web-based resource for leaders in communities and schools across Ontario who work with youth ages 12-19

YouThrive acknowledges the support of the Government of Ontario.

YouThrive.ca

What is YouThrive?

This session is designed to provide:- Introduction to YouThrive- Overview of development process, content, and key

concepts- Opportunity to learn about

the YouThrive partnership- Orientation to its practical use

YouThrive.ca

Session Objectives

• To learn what supports were needed to implement the revised Health and Physical Education curriculum, extensive consultations were conducted in 2008-2010

• Results revealed an overwhelming need for supports and resources that:– Extend and reinforce the learning related to: healthy eating,

tobacco use and exposure, alcohol/substance misuse, and mental health

– Apply the Foundations for a Healthy Schools Framework– Reinforce and further advance the vision and expectations of

the H&PE curriculum, and other key provincial policies

YouThrive.ca

The Need

• Partnerships with leading agencies in mental health, substance use, tobacco use, and youth engagement

• Funding secured from the Government of Ontario through Healthy Communities Fund

• Environmental scan of existing resources• Needs assessment with community health, public health,

education, and parks and recreation leaders

YouThrive.ca

The Response

• Majority of respondents identified a gap in mental health resources

• Respondents felt that the development of a resource would meet their needs, and help to close the gap

• Respondents wanted a resource that was interactive, practical, and easily accessible (online)

YouThrive.ca

Needs Assessment Key Findings

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to YouThrive

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to YouThrive

Key Question:• How do we help young people to successfully

manage life’s ups and downs, and to avoid acting in ways that can harm their health?

Answer:1. Apply a health promotion approach to promote

young people’s health and well-being2. Address factors that enhance mental health and

create supportive environments

YouThrive.ca

The Theory Behind YouThrive

• Health Promotion Action #1: Build healthy public policy

• Health Promotion Action #2: Create supportive environments

• Health Promotion Action #3: Strengthen community actions

• Health Promotion Action #4: Develop personal skills

• Health Promotion Action #5: Re-orient health services

• Cross-Cutting Strategy #1: Youth engagement

• Cross-Cutting Strategy #2: Social inclusion and equity

YouThrive.ca

The Theory Behind YouThrive

1. Apply a Health Promotion Approach

YouThrive.ca

The Theory Behind YouThrive

2. Address factors that enhance mental health & create supportive environments

• Key determinants of mental health:– Social inclusion– Freedom from discrimination and violence– Economic participation

• Resilience• Engagement

YouThrive.ca

YouThrive Video

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Make the Links

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Make the Links

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Success Stories

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Action Now

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Take Stock

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Prioritize

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Strategize

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Act

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Reflect

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Repeat

YouThrive.ca

YouThrive.ca in Your Setting

How could you use YouThrive.ca in your school, community, or organization?

YouThrive.ca

YouThrive.ca in Your Setting

• Can be used for:– Professional development– Train-the-trainer– Funding proposals– Activities to do with youth– H&PE classes– Drawing upon information from website for articles on

youth in different contexts• YouThrive introduces a theoretical framework

that can be applied to work with youth– Does not provide a precise recipe to apply– Rather an overall framework to inform work with youth

YouThrive.ca

Connecting You to Help

YouThrive.ca

Contact Information

Ryan Albright, ryan@ophea.org

Marianne Kobus-Matthews, marianne_kobusmatthe@camh.net

Gail Glatt, gglatt@ontario.cmha.ca