Welcome to the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health’s ( JCSH) Youth Engagement (YE) Toolkit. This Toolkit is intended to:
- Help communicate the importance of youth engagement as a key approach to implementing comprehensive school health;
- Provide research and rationale for practicing youth engagement in schools, school boards and districts, government ministries, health regions and community organizations;
- Provide a “how-to” resource of effective practices to support youth engagement in these contexts.
- Provide research and rationale for hybrid learning while equipping educators and adult allies with effective strategies for engaging students in virtual environments.
Navigating the Toolkit
This eBook toolkit was designed to enhance the experience of the reader through video and quick links to tools and resources.
Review the video tutorial to familiarize yourself with the eBook tools.
To see the “Navigating the Toolkit” video click above.
Acknowledgements
This toolkit was created for the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health by the Students Commission of Canada, lead organization for the Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement. It draws heavily on videos and photos from 30 plus years of Students Commission projects. Thanks to all those youth and adults who have helped demonstrate what engagement looks like.
Toolkit Modules
Access each individual module below.
Module 1: Introduction
This eBook is designed to give you insight into the “how” and “why” of YE, as well as the outcomes you can expect. Youth engagement recognizes young people’s right to participate in decisions that impact them and acknowledges the great skills and strengths they bring to the table.
Module 1: Introduction
This eBook is designed to give you insight into the “how” and “why” of YE, as well as the outcomes you can expect. Youth engagement recognizes young people’s right to participate in decisions that impact them and acknowledges the great skills and strengths they bring to the table.
Module 2: What is Youth Engagement?
The Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement defines youth engagement as the sustained and meaningful involvement of a young person in an activity focused outside of themselves.
Module 2: What is Youth Engagement?
The Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement defines youth engagement as the sustained and meaningful involvement of a young person in an activity focused outside of themselves.
Module 3: Youth Engagement in Action: Initiating Youth Engagement
This “how-to” section describes the hands-on process, offering tools and evidence-based practices to effectively engage young people both in-person and online. The How-to Guide is organized by the CEYE Conceptual Model of Youth Engagement and provides tips and techniques to initiate, sustain, and deliver meaningful youth engagement programs and activities.
Module 3: Youth Engagement in Action: Initiating Youth Engagement
This “how-to” section describes the hands-on process, offering tools and evidence-based practices to effectively engage young people both in-person and online. The How-to Guide is organized by the CEYE Conceptual Model of Youth Engagement and provides tips and techniques to initiate, sustain, and deliver meaningful youth engagement programs and activities.
Module 4: Youth Engagement in Action: Qualities of Youth Engagement
While youth engagement contexts and activities vary considerably, there are a number of evidence-based practices and qualities that lead to positive youth developmental outcomes. This section of the How-to Guide will explain these qualities and share practices that support effective youth engagement.
Module 4: Youth Engagement in Action: Qualities of Youth Engagement
While youth engagement contexts and activities vary considerably, there are a number of evidence-based practices and qualities that lead to positive youth developmental outcomes. This section of the How-to Guide will explain these qualities and share practices that support effective youth engagement.
Module 5: Youth Engagement in Action: Sustaining Youth Engagement
Depending on their experience, young people may be motivated to stay engaged with a project or initiative or disengage from the opportunity. Sustaining factors involve practices and spaces to maintain relationships, connections, motivation and action. When planning for a youth engagement initiative, think beyond the initial event, meeting or project, to establish mechanisms that will sustain involvement.
Module 5: Youth Engagement in Action: Sustaining Youth Engagement
Depending on their experience, young people may be motivated to stay engaged with a project or initiative or disengage from the opportunity. Sustaining factors involve practices and spaces to maintain relationships, connections, motivation and action. When planning for a youth engagement initiative, think beyond the initial event, meeting or project, to establish mechanisms that will sustain involvement.
Module 6: Youth Engagement in Action: Challenges and Evaluation
Practicing youth engagement is not without its share of challenges. Many people experience resistance to involving young people because of the perceived costs, time commitment or difficulty with incorporating young people into adult structures.
Module 6: Youth Engagement in Action: Challenges and Evaluation
Practicing youth engagement is not without its share of challenges. Many people experience resistance to involving young people because of the perceived costs, time commitment or difficulty with incorporating young people into adult structures.
Module 7: Youth Who Thrive
Many youth face multiple barriers and do not have access to supports, services and opportunities to thrive. Despite the large number of studies that address the question of how to promote positive youth development, there was no current overall summary of this research to form a basis for consistent evidence-based youth programs and services.
Module 7: Youth Who Thrive
Many youth face multiple barriers and do not have access to supports, services and opportunities to thrive. Despite the large number of studies that address the question of how to promote positive youth development, there was no current overall summary of this research to form a basis for consistent evidence-based youth programs and services.
Module 8: Resources and Endnotes
Explore a collated list of resources found throughout this toolkit, along with links to previous video archives and endnotes.
Module 8: Resources and Endnotes
Explore a collated list of resources found throughout this toolkit, along with links to previous video archives and endnotes.