Developing the Core Components of Integrated Youth Services

Presenters and slide deck 

Jennifer Kennedy - Evaluator, Provincial System Support Program (CAMH)
Jackie Franck - Manager, Kenora Youth Wellness Hub

Slides

Key Learnings

  • Core Components are the essential functions, principles, and activities required for an intervention to achieve its desired outcomes. Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) have identified 13 core components by 1) conducting an evidence synthesis, 2) completing practice profiles in consultation with important stakeholders, 3) integrating equity considerations, and 4) incorporating the importance of evaluation and quality improvement. 
  • The YWHO Backbone works in collaboration with each local hub to achieve the right mix of alignment with the core components, while also contextualizing the YWHO model to the unique needs of each community. 
  • The implementation of core components is undertaken through a series of implementation stages. First, hubs work to understand community strengths and needs during the ‘exploration’ stage. They are then supported in aligning the necessary capacities, resources, and operational policies with the hub model as part of the ‘installation’ stage. Next, the ‘initial implementation’ stage is focused on putting the knowledge, skills and infrastructure into action as hub doors are opened to youth and sites begin to ‘learn by doing’. Finally, hubs reach a ‘full implementation’ stage, where the model is fully implemented and the goal becomes long-term sustainability. 

Identified Gaps in Research, Practice, and/or Policy

Shortcomings in data collection and outcome evaluation limit the opportunity for monitoring the performance of health systems. The use of standardized measures and outcome evaluations to unobtrusively collect information from youth accessing services and their caregivers can help determine where improvements or refinements may be required to the way a program or service has been implemented, or how resources can be better allocated. 

Contact Email of Presenters

Jackie Franck - jackie.franck@kenorachiefs.ca
Jennifer Kennedy - Jennifer.kennedy@camh.ca 

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