Esther Nicholson Youth Advisor for the Youth Engagement Working - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

žEsther Nicholson –Youth Advisor for the

Youth Engagement Working Group (YEwG)

žSelina Buesink – Adult Ally for the Youth

Engagement Working Group (YEwG)

The 2016 year in review and a discussion about the 2017 year

žWe used a Youth Engagement model žWe incorporated Family Engagement

practices

žWe had staff who were eager to

implement

žWe had youth who were eager to lead. žWe also promoted hiking at a variety of

community events and held experiential hiking opportunities.

žYouth engagement produces many

benefits on organizational levels through, for example, ensuring better decision- making by having youths’ ideas and needs represented.

žAs such, Lynwood Charlton Centre

endeavors to make all possible efforts to ensure meaningful youth involvement within the organization.

žAs part of the Centre’s commitment, a

Youth Engagement Working Group (YEwG) was developed in 2009.

žBoth Lynwood Charlton staff members

(adult allies) and youth advisors are a part of the group’s membership. Two Staff: Selina Buesink and Matt Kozma Two Youth Advisors: Esther Nicholson and Ethan Murray-Leung. As well as 10-20 youth members

“Youth Advocating for Youth” YEwG consists of youth from across the City of Hamilton between the ages of 13-25, combined with a couple adult allys. YEwG members identify that the advantages to having both youth and adults as decision makers is that each brings forth qualities that improve decision –making outcomes. The YEwG host events, attend forums, host workshops, develop agency policies, and look at community initiatives and see where they can help. #stompoutstigma #youthadvocatingforyouth #mentalhealth #payitforward

Every year, YEwG opens up the applications and allows any interested youth to check out the program and see if there are any aspects of the YEwG that interests them. Every year, the YEwG work to implement a variety of programs, initiatives, plans, and events that can appeal to a variety of people. That way youth have choice in how they want to engage, and where they want to invest their time.

1.

Youth are eligible to receive volunteer hours for any time spent at meetings, events, or time spent doing YEwG related activities

2.

Youth can meet other people who have similar interests.

3.

This can go on their resume

4.

This opportunity can also lead to greater awareness of mental health and help break down stigma barriers.

žMatt and Selina were

trained to be hike leaders.

žThe YEwG were then

trained immediately after the training.

žYouth mapped out a different hike every

• ther week.

žThe map had to be labeled, parking had

to be identified (or bus route if applicable), and was posted to a private facebook page.

žYouth assisted in the pre-post measures

and rolled up the data at the end of the program in November.

žWe never repeated a trail.

žYouth were welcome to invite family

and/or friends on a hike.

žFamilies would join on the moodwalk and

participate in the surveys as well.

žWe noticed a strong link between family

engagement and youth engagement. Youth were leaders, whilst family engagement strengthened.

žYouth participated in the social media

updates and assisted in promoting the Moodwalk program.

žFacebook.com/yewghamilton žTwitter @YEWG_Hamilton žAnd of course on their own social media

platforms.

Mood Walk Data Summary

The average happiness increased by 16.87% across all Mood Walks. The average anxiety decreased by a total of 58.51% across all Mood Walks. The average energy level went up by 23.53% across all Mood Walks.

žYEwG will team up with one of our

Residential programs to help with the Mental Health walkathon around the Bayfront.

žThis will occur as an event during

Children’s Mental Health week.

žThe Data proves it. žBut we knew it all along. žWe can genuinely tell our friends and

family…