On Friday April 15, the Ontario Youth Matter Steering Committee attended the day-long Youth Policy Framework Research Forum at the Ontario Science Centre. Those who attended include people from youth-serving organizations, various Ministries (Children and Youth Services, Aboriginal Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration, Community and Social Services, Education, Health Promotion and Sport Directions), the Youth Development Committee (25 youth leaders appointed by MCYS), as well as researchers commissioned to present findings from Universities across Ontario (Brock, McMaster, Western Ontario, Windsor, York). Alvin Curling, co-author of the Report on Roots of Youth Violence showed up to lend his support as a participant as well.
The Youth Policy Framework was introduced as picking up where the Early Years strategy leaves off – by looking at ‘developmental trajectories’ for youth ages 11-25. The MCYS staff and researchers stressed the importance of a user-friendly resource that is holistic, accurate, and useful for everyone including people in the frontlines (families, doctors, teachers, etc), community planning level, and governments. The term ‘maps’ was used as a metaphor for the Youth Policy Framework – the need for clear signposts and indicators in order to make sure youth are on the right path of development. The developmental trajectories presented included 4 domains (physical, cognitive, emotional, social) and with the self/spirit overlapping each domain.
Throughout the day, roundtable discussions were held on the state of research on youth development. These were reports synthesized and collated research based on one or multiple domains, which feeds towards the wider framework. Near the closing of the Forum, it was announced that feedback will be solicited through three ways in the near future:
The day was topped off by a Q&A that sought feedback from youth who were present, as well as adult allies. The Ministry extended a recognition to OYM and thanked us for our leadership in pushing for a Youth Policy Framework. There is still a long ways to go in developing and implementing an outcomes-based framework, but it is encouraging to see the hard work that the MCYS and researchers are putting into releasing the first phase of this resource.
~ Roger Mak, Ontario Youth Matter Campaign Liaison
The Youth Policy Framework was introduced as picking up where the Early Years strategy leaves off – by looking at ‘developmental trajectories’ for youth ages 11-25. The MCYS staff and researchers stressed the importance of a user-friendly resource that is holistic, accurate, and useful for everyone including people in the frontlines (families, doctors, teachers, etc), community planning level, and governments. The term ‘maps’ was used as a metaphor for the Youth Policy Framework – the need for clear signposts and indicators in order to make sure youth are on the right path of development. The developmental trajectories presented included 4 domains (physical, cognitive, emotional, social) and with the self/spirit overlapping each domain.
Throughout the day, roundtable discussions were held on the state of research on youth development. These were reports synthesized and collated research based on one or multiple domains, which feeds towards the wider framework. Near the closing of the Forum, it was announced that feedback will be solicited through three ways in the near future:
- 12 in-person consultations facilitated by the Youth Development Committee across Ontario starting May 1 running till June 5
- An online forum to submit feedback to the same questions posed at the in-person meetings
- Workshop in a box, which will be a toolkit for youth groups and organizations to host their own consultations and send feedback that way
The day was topped off by a Q&A that sought feedback from youth who were present, as well as adult allies. The Ministry extended a recognition to OYM and thanked us for our leadership in pushing for a Youth Policy Framework. There is still a long ways to go in developing and implementing an outcomes-based framework, but it is encouraging to see the hard work that the MCYS and researchers are putting into releasing the first phase of this resource.
~ Roger Mak, Ontario Youth Matter Campaign Liaison
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