Youth in CareTransition to Adulthood : Needs and ResourcesDevelopment of a youth peer support network

Presentation content

1. Introduction

2. Quebec youth in care - transition to adulthood

3. Réseau l’Intersection de Québec (RIQ) Historical perspective Goals Governance structure

4. Conceptual framework Peer support Civic life participation Partnership

5. Evaluation process

1. Introduction

Largest Canadian province : area 1 667 441 sq. km (15% NTA - 17 administrative regions)

Population : 8 million [2nd largest (23% NTP) - French speaking -79%; english 8%]

Capital : Quebec City (Old historical district on UNESCO’S World Heritage List )

Area : 454 sq. km (city) Population : 530 168 inhabs.

Aged 0-24 years = 25%

Quebec City

Province of Québec

1. IntroductionCentre jeunesse de Québec – Institut universitaire State institution whose reason is to help youth and families

overcome adversity and promote personal, family and social well-being.

Three missions Child welfare institute (1/16) Rehabilitation institute for youth with

social problems University institute of social services

1. IntroductionCentre jeunesse de Québec – Institut universitaire Six aspects must be covered to fullfill this last mission as a

university institute :1. Research (must pertain to the organization's mission, needs

and priorities)2. Education and practical training (Interveners, professionals

and students)3. Knowledge transfer 4. Development of innovative practices 5. Evaluation (Interventions’ efficiency and outreach as well as

experimentation and support in the development of innovative practice)

6. Research outreach

2. Quebec youth in care - transition to adulthood

At the Centre jeunesse de Québec-Institut universitaire , nearly 900 youth graduate from care every year.

Youth in transition face many challenges : Lack of family support Low income (education, training, social skills) Residential instability Substance abuse Emotional distress Etc.

2. Quebec youth in care - transition to adulthood

The importance of peer-support Several researchers suggest that initiatives based on peer-support

should be encouraged. Peers might represent a significant source of support during the

transition to adulthood.

«Peer support is about understanding another’s situation empathically through the shared experience of emotional and psychological pain. When people find affiliation with others they feel are ‘like’ them, they feel a connection. It is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful».(Mead, 2001).

3. Réseau l’Intersection de QuébecHistorical perspective This initiative was inspired by Youth in Care Canada, also known

as the National Youth in Care Network (since 1986). This organisation is driven by Canadian youth and alumni from care.

2010Project proposal

2011Youth

consultation

2012Gathering youth

and potential partners

2013Selecting a

coordinatorFunding

Committee set up

2014Non-profit

organization status

Summer program activities

Official launching

3. Réseau l’Intersection de Québec

Goals Provide material, informational and emotional support to youth

aging-out of care

Enhance transitioning youth’s social network through peer-support

Maximize the use of available resources through partnership; Increase young people’s participation in their community’s civic

life Install a dialogue between youth and decision makers regarding

social services meant for youth aging out of care

3. Réseau l’Intersection de Québec

Governance structure

Board members

Partner’s committee

Youth’s committee

Volunteer’s committee

General assembly

4. Conceptual framework

favors a youth-adult shared control participation. Involved adults act as models for youth and offer various types of support. Tasks and responsibilities are distributed between adults and young people according to each one’s interest and expertise.

Authors suggest that an approach which puts forward principles of shared control between adults and young people is susceptible to offer optimal conditions for youth’s empowerment. Indeed, youth who are connected to adults with resources increase their social capital. Adults can expand youth’s social networks by exposing them to other influential adults.

4. Conceptual frameworkPeer supportHelp offered by individuals sharing similar life experiences results in : better connection more authentic empathy normalizes emotional reactions arouses feelings of hopeMany authors mention that youth value adults that bare a likeness to them, that is, have similar life experiences and faced similar challenges. It seems to give them more credibility, make them more trustworthy.

is a peer support network (young coordinator, social grouping of youth sharing similar life experiences). We hope RIQ will: increase youth’s thrust (hopefully through non-judgmental attitudes) increase youth’s willingness to share their life experience and thus receive

the help they really need offer mutual support Increase youths’ leadership and empowerment

4. Conceptual frameworkCitizen participation Citizen’s contribution to finding answers to their community’s needs. This contribution

implies a shared dialogue with other citizen’s in order to transform and improve community life.

The RIQ wishes to educate and guide young people aging out of care towards an increased participation in their community’s civic life . Let them be change agents in their community’s development. Young people who are involved in producing knowledge that impacts policy and action in their communities may develop a stronger sense of responsibility towards others.

Citizenship education

Citizen participation

Exercise of political power

4. Conceptual frameworkCitizen participation

Citizen participation benefits in many ways : Better understanding of community issues More effective answers to community needs Adequacy between community needs and services Redistribution of power, resources and information Development of citizen knowledge and competencies

For youth, citizen participation may results in : Increased self-esteem Better understanding and appropriation of what is at stake Acquisition of new competences and skills Increased life quality

4. Conceptual frameworkPartnership

Integrating existing services is a challenge.

Partnership, that is a “shared project based on a commitment between different social actors in which the mission, the goals, the strategies and the duration are precisely defined” (Ninacs, 2002 : 201) is primordial. This partnership is not about creating new services for the community. Instead, it seeks to add value to existing services and to promote the integration of those services.

By involving many partners, this initiative seeks to ensure that community services are known to youth aging out of care, are available to them and are coherent with their expressed needs.

4. Conceptual frameworkPartnership Several partnerships have been established within the community. Targeted services are from three main areas :

Housing Employment Social integration

5. Evaluation processResearch objectivesDescribe the needs and available resources for youth aging out of careEvaluate eventual effects of the Réseau l’Intersection de Québec initiative

Research questions 1. What are the needs of aging out of care youth ?2. What community resources are available to support these youth?3. What are the stakeholder’s perception of the peer-support network

initiative ?

Youth

Participants Child welfare workers

Partners

5. Evaluation processQuestionnaires (variables)

Par

tner

s

Chil

d w

elfa

re w

orke

rsYou

th

Independent livingAwareness of available resources

Perceived and received social support

Adult-youth collaboration

Empowerment

Citizen participation

Awareness of available resources

Partnership

Adult-youth collaboration

Citizen participation

Expectations about the peer-support network

Awareness of available resources

Services integration

Adult-youth collaboration

Citizen participation

Expectations about the peer-support network

5. Evaluation processQuestionnaires (examples) Independent living : employment, education, housing

Awareness of resources : victimization, substance abuse, food supply

Social support : scope, connectedness, types of support

Adult-youth collaboration : respect, communication, information access

Empowerment : self-esteem, autonomy, optimism, power

Citizen participation : abilities, active participation

Partnership : sharing resources and responsibilities, coordination

Services integration : communication, cooperation, collaboration

5. Evaluation process

Research schedule

Spring 2014Development of research design

Scientific evaluation

Summer 2014

Ethic committee approval

Fall 2014Experimental

project

Winter 2015Apply for grant

funding

Spring 2015Knowledge

transferPursue the evaluation

process

Contact informationResearcher : Marie-Claude Richard, Ph.D. Laval University, Quebecmarie-claude.richard@psy.ulaval.ca

Research programing manager :France Nadeau , MSW Centre jeunesse de Québec-Institut universitaire, QuebecFrancenadeau.cj03@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

THANK YOU!TAK !

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