Member sneha_18
MemberForum Replies Created
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Educational videos and modules such as this one helps for the population to better understand the gaps in our social systems, I believe that everyone should be informed on the racism towards black communities, not just those that work with the black youth. That way if everyone had the education and knowledge provided to them, it may help those to get a better understanding and to hopefully help close up some systemic gaps.
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I agree with much of what has been shared here so far and don’t have anything new to add. I am curious about the increase in public white-supremacist hate both propaganda and individual acts of violence on this and the other side of the border. I feel that political inaction and collusion in many cases have given rise to ABR and legitimizes ABR in the eyes of those who seek a platform for hate, permission to discriminate, and a need to exert power over Black, Indigenous and racialized communities. I’m curious about what I can continue to do lessen both the impacts of ABR on the youth I serve and how to create safer spaces for joy and celebration.
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A great tip I have seen is using data visualization to capture the audience, it displays the information in a way that can be straightforward and engaging. You want people to be able to easily understand what you are telling them, and it is important to make it accessible. You also want to make it appealing, so it is not just another report with words and numbers.
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That’s right! Depending on what platforms are available, data visualizations can be amazingly complex or simple. I lean heavily on PowerPoint although in my previous role we had access to qualitative research analysis software called MAXQDA. It is similar to NVivo, but can also do mixed methods analysis. When I was sharing research results to the agency I was working for at the time, people so appreciated the visualizations that allowed them to understand the stories in greater depth.
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Our program utilizes Sharepoint, wherein all program data is saved electronically, any hard copy files are scanned for ease of access.
Files are managed by Cohorts, and then participants- all relevant client files can be found and managed there.
This can be improved with a linear and consistent file management system implemented by team and management to track program data. -
The program collects the following data:
- Client registration which includes demographics ranging from age, gender, immigration status, indigenous status,
- Workshop attendance
- Submission of assignment
- Client surveys
The program could implement surveys based on program activities and workshops so program staff can understand if the activities and workshop are relevant, or if there is anything missing that clients want to learn or discuss.
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Evaluation can improve youth programs because it centers youth voices and experience which can enhance service delivery. Evaluation allows for reflection, it offers understanding of how service is perceived by participants, and the impact of services. It lets you know what you’re doing right and where the gaps are. It allows you to come up with a plan, to take action and implement these changes so services can be improved. It gives youth programs opportunities for improvement.
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The key components to our youth program’s “recipe” include:
- Providing clear expectations and outlining instructions throughout the program
- A monthly calendar, and daily agenda so clients know what to expect and prepare for
- Building relationships and using transparent communication with clients, and maintaining relationships even after client has exited program
- Utilizing resources to provide guidance and support to clients
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Good practices for making sure that youth can make an informed decision about participating in an evaluation of a youth program include:
- Inform participants about the evaluation being conducted, the purpose, the scope and potential impact of the results, as well as the risks and benefits involved
- Make resources and supports available
- Acquire written and verbal consent
- Ensure consent forms are accessible, language and formatting
- Underline that participation is voluntary, and that there are no penalties
By utilizing these practices, participants should have a clear and concise understanding of what their participation encompasses.
In terms of respecting ethical principles such as confidentiality and anonymity in evaluations, it is important to be transparent about the following:
- the identity of participants will be removed and that all participants will remain anonymous
- what the data will be used for and how it will be used
- who will have access to this data
- data storage in relation to privacy and security
It is important to be available to address participant questions and concerns and communicate at each step of the process to ensure the confidentiality and anonymity of clients is upheld and safeguarded.
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A major challenge faced by organizations and youth programs is a lack of funder engagement wherein, “funders do not spend
enough time at programs and therefore do not have a good understanding of the context and realities of the
youth sector”. Funders understand and evaluate a program primarily based on reports, which often seek to offer highlights and successful program results from a limited perspective. Furthermore, funders primarily engage with management and do not have a well-rounded understanding of the impact of work being done by front line staff, as well as the indirect impact on participants and lack an understanding of the realities when it comes to youth programming.Programs should seek to engage funders in attending programming events or round tables, offering them the opportunity meet staff and participants and gain an understanding of how a program is truly successful or where it is lacking in and outside of the program goals. It is a way for both an organization and funder to engage in the reality of youth programming, and how both can seek to improve and lead participants to success.
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Evaluation is like a disco ball because it casts a light on all those in the room (in this case the program) and ensures that multiple perspectives are seen and acknowledged during that time.
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Looking at this from a Youth Engagement lens, my initial response to this question is to amplify Black youth voice and carry the mentality “nothing for Black youth (and families) without Black youth (and families)”. To engage in co-development and partnership would be key in designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector. This means that service providers welcome and encourage youth to work together in developing different services, or processes that impact them. It’s not enough to just say that we care about Black youth voice, simply for the sake of saying it (this is tokenism!), but rather, we must build authentic relationships with Black youth and ensure that youth expertise is respected and valued. Let Black youth and families be the leaders in their care. As the module taught: Listen, listen, listen.
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As mentioned throughout almost all of the responses below, I agree completely that using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research data can highlight and challenge the impact of anti-Black racism for youth and their families. Quantitative research can draw on the prevalence of anti-Black racism that youth and families experience in a larger scale (province-wide, country-wide prevalence for instance), and provides more statistical data to prove that anti-Black racism is still all too common – since that is still something that is argued in society, especially a multicultural society such as Canada), as well as the impacts of anti-Black racism and oppression. In this module there was a tremendous amount of emphasis on the statistical evidence of mental health issues that develop as a result of racism – using this information as a general guideline to make changes in a smaller system (agency/organization wide) could be an effective strategy. However, I believe the real impact comes from qualitative data and really calling on Black youth voices to share their experiences and the impact of anti-Black racism in their daily lives. Qualitative data in my opinion is the humanity in research, where people are people, not just numbers or statistics. I think many would agree it’s one thing to see percentages on a screen, but when you’re listening to someone’s story, that is impossible to ignore. Pulling on those elements of research is where the motivation to change will lie.
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The Government of Canada is engaging with youth to develop the second State of Youth report, an effort to understand “the challenges youth face, from finding jobs to accessing mental health support, and outline steps to create better opportunities for the future. The report is based on Canada’s Youth Policy, which reflects the values of young people in Canada and represents a whole-of-government approach aimed at improving youth outcomes and involving young people in federal decision-making.”
Young people aged 16-29 and living in Canada can participate in two ways:
1) through the online engagement tool; or
2) through one of five consultation sessions, scheduled for:
-February 17, 6:30-7:30PM EST
-February 19, 6:30-7:30PM EST
-February 24, 6:30-7:30PM EST
-February 26, 6:30-7:30PM EST
-February 27, 6:30-7:30PM EST
The engagement period is now open until March 16, 2025.
Check out the first State of Youth report, published in 2021, on YouthREX’s Knowledge Hub!
canada.ca
Canada’s Youth Policy - Canada.ca
This page describes Canada’s youth policy. It includes the vision, objectives, guiding principles, six youth priorities, and Government commitments going forward.
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Ensure that all program materials and services are available in multiple formats (e.g., plain language, different languages, audio, and digital accessibility features) to meet diverse needs.
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Re-imagining work with young people and their communities through a healing-centered practice requires shifting from a deficit-based model that focuses on trauma to a strength-based, culturally responsive, and community-driven approach. Here are some key strategies:
1️⃣ Reframing Healing as a Collective Process
- Move beyond individual trauma treatment and recognize healing as a shared experience rooted in relationships, culture, and community.
- Incorporate restorative justice practices that help young people process harm and rebuild trust.
- Foster intergenerational connections where elders, mentors, and peers support healing and growth.
2️⃣ Centering Youth Voices and Agency
- Shift from a service delivery model to a co-creation model, where young people help design and lead programs.
- Support youth-led initiatives, activism, and decision-making spaces in organizations and policy discussions.
- Use storytelling, art, and cultural expression as tools for youth to reclaim narratives and build resilience.
3️⃣ Embedding Culturally Affirming and Holistic Practices
- Integrate indigenous, spiritual, and culturally rooted healing methods, such as drumming, mindfulness, nature-based therapy, and community rituals.
- Recognize structural and historical oppression and support decolonized mental health frameworks.
- Train professionals in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and healing-centered engagement.
4️⃣ Expanding Possibilities through Strength-Based Approaches
- Identify and amplify youth strengths, dreams, and aspirations, not just their challenges.
- Offer mentorship, skill-building, and leadership programs that empower youth to see themselves as changemakers.
- Foster spaces where young people can envision new futures and take ownership of their healing journey.
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Evaluation is like a puzzle piece because once all the pieces correctly fit, you have a completed puzzle (or picture) that fits together perfectly. And the process of putting the pieces all together takes time, can be messy (mistakes along the way) and you have to make a conscious effort to stay consistent to reach the end.
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Meet with and/or survey the Black youth in our community and find out what they need from our organization that would make them more likely to participate in activities that we host. Programs for Black Youth need to be designed, created and implemented with the community’s cooperation. They need to be involved every step of the way.
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One simple thing you can do to make your youth program more accessible is to offer multiple ways for youth to engage, such as drop-in options, virtual sessions, and flexible scheduling. This ensures that youth with different needs, transportation challenges, or busy schedules can still participate. 🚀
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I can prioritize uplifting black youth voices in my work, whether it is to co-design a resource, provide opportunities to showcase strengths or ensuring proactive methods to include them in discussions and decision making.
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I think one of the biggest ways to do this is through co-design. Co-design youth services with members of the Black community, Black service providers, Black youth and their families. Prioritizing funding for services, education and access to care is crucial as well. Getting buy-in and engagement from members of the community who have the power and privilege to sustain services that benefit and invest in black youth and their future.
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Anti-Black racism continues to be a problem in Ontario (and Canada as a whole) for a variety of reasons. It is perpetuated by major systems including the criminal justice system, health system, and education system. If that wasn’t enough, anti-Black racism and perpetuating racist ideologies are also depicted and reinforced in mainstream news and media around the world (stereotypes, violence, substance misuse, etc.). A lot can also be said about the lack of education and misinformation around slavery in Canada. Honestly, if people don’t take initiative to learn about the history of Black individuals in Canada, it is not talked about in the school system (or at least it wasn’t in my day) and so we exist in this state of “oh I didn’t know it was that much of a problem here”.
Despite efforts of multiculturalism in Canada and Ontario specifically, of Black resistance, of agencies attempting to use an “anti-oppressive” lens and this emphasis on inclusivity, this province is still very much geared towards the white man, and more “Eurocentric” views and ideologies. It takes a tremendous amount of self-awareness to reflect on oneself and determine how our own actions, thoughts, beliefs, privilege, might be perpetuating or playing a part in anti-Black racism. Perhaps it’s been engrained in us through generations, or we have people in our lives who are more outward about their narrow minded belief system. Maybe we are consuming the wrong type of media or information. While anti-Black racism is a systems issue, it is also up to each and every one of us (white people) to do that reflection piece and make real change. For many, that seems like too much effort. I see it in the work I do – Black history month comes around and all of a sudden people are reflecting and talking about anti-Black racism in our work, but what about every other day of the year? Real change takes dedication and effort that so many people are unwilling to put forth. Combatting hundreds of years of anti-Black racism won’t happen in a day, but Ontario definitely still has a long way to go.
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I think this question could be answered in many ways depending on the type of evaluation being utilized. For example, we are working on an implementation process evaluation. So we aren’t really trying to “prove” anything, but rather understand what is going on. In this case, I think for the evaluation to be impactful and truly improve the program, there needs to be buy-in from all stakeholders. After the evaluation, there will need to be support to implement the identified changes and work to improve the program and the experience for end-users. Additionally, I believe beyond “buy-in” there needs to be established trust during the evaluation process so that the youth and other partners involved will be comfortable and honest sharing their genuine experiences so that the program can truly be improved and tailored to their needs.
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The many examples shared here are wonderful and feel so accurate! Here is my attempt:
An evaluation is like a movie trailer because it contains all of the big moments to capture your attention and then when you watch the movie you will discover all of the finer details and unique elements that make it up.
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Critical ‘ingredients’ in our programs ‘recipe’ are:
– Building relationships and partnerships with school divisions
– Recruiting youth with different experiences and abilities to be “youth influencers”
– Empowering the youth influencers to lead peer education sessions
– Supporting the youth to contribute to a podcast on topics important to them (each year different youth develop a new season of content)
– Developing unique card games that include information relevant to the program that can be requested for use in classrooms after the intervention
– Engaging adult mentors from the community to provide additional support to youth.
These are some elements that have really helped our program and it wouldn’t be the same without them!
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love the empowering “youth influencers” idea!
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There are many ways to support youth to make an informed decision regarding participating in an evaluation. One of the most critical in my experience is having clear and open communication. This communication must flow through many networks – potentially their parents/legal guardians, their school, other organizations/programs they are involved, and of course, them! It is important that any relevant parties involved are fully aware of the requirements and responsibilities of participation and what the intended outcomes are. Things such as time commitments, tasks, and who they are interacting with are all very important to effectively communicate. A problem that can arise if such things are not properly communicated is youth eventually dropping out of the evaluation.
There can be challenges in protecting anonymity or confidentiality when working in settings with youth, particularly if the youth have previously established relationships. It may not be possible to ensure that youth won’t discuss things that are meant to be anonymous or confidential. A way to mitigate this is to have a clear conversation with the youth describing what anonymity and confidentiality means and how they can support and respect one another in this area.
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We are currently struggling with the challenge of ensuring that youth are being engaged meaningfully in the evaluation. There are areas where I think we are achieving this, however, a specific area where we are struggling is with forming an advisory committee. It is very difficult to make decisions regarding which youth/how many youth to have on the advisory committee. Would we love to include everyone? Of course. Is that feasible? Unfortunately, no. So that is our current grapple, trying to ensure that the youth who are engaged feel valued and like their contributions are important and meaningful even if they are not on the advisory committee.
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A few ways we could deal with this: 1) ask for volunteers (and hope everyone doesn’t volunteer?) 2) include youth who have been involved the longest, or 3) have them nominate each other. Open to other suggestions if anyone has any! Thanks!
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January is National Mentoring Month in Canada!
ICYMI, MENTOR created an online toolkit — Connecting Critical Mentoring & The Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring — to support mentoring organizations and programs with the resources, scholarship, and practices they need to meaningfully work alongside youth experiencing marginalization.
How do you define ‘critical’ mentoring? What mentoring practices have you found to be effective in your work with youth?
Don’t forget to visit the Mentorship collection on YouthREX’s Knowledge Hub for more resources!
