It Matters to Me: Informing Youth Services Delivery

IT MATTERS TO ME: INFORMING YOUTH SERVICES DELIVERY 12 risked being government connected young people, youth who are involved in youth justice, LGBTQSS young people, and homeless youth (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009). This project supported a call for action that required a collaborative approach, which included the investment of influencers engaging in a community impact initiative. This project to project participants, myself, and the broader community. Project participants reported the benefits of coming together to support a cause that supported youth individually and impacted the improved health of our community. They also expressed that the project allowed them to forge new relationships with like-minded community members. The project was beneficial to OCS, for it allowed the agency to demonstrate effective systems-changed leadership by bringing together community agencies for the purpose of working collaboratively on a shared initiative. This resulted in strengthened relationships and trust amongst partners that historically competed for funding. Having a group of champions in one room for a few hours to engage in a knowledge exchange process through the sharing of experiences, offering wisdom, and developing recommendation on the design of a Surrey YISH was an honour and privilege for me to witness. To be privileged to contribute to global change has been an incredible experience that will forever be remembered. For the broader community, this ELP encouraged individuals with various lenses to contribute to a systems-change project. The information gleaned from this project supported Surrey with four Foundry applications by bringing the voice of youth allies to inform the design of a system that best supports young people to successful health outcomes. The change legacy formula that was captured in this project can be duplicated in other communities if they are

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