New Horizons - Influencing Policy Development as an Integrated Youth Services Network

Background: Integrated youth services (IYS) are transforming mental health and wellness services for young people. Foundry, an IYS network in British Columbia, Canada is leading conversations to increase understanding of the model and explore opportunities to enhance the system-of-care for young people, through a series of policy briefs.

Approach: Four policy briefs were developed to support a broader understanding of IYS and Foundry model of care, as well as key issues that are impacting young people. The first two focused on previously identified issues areas, and the corresponding services/interventions offered by Foundry (walk-in counselling, and Foundry Work and Education, an individualized placement support based program). The next two briefs focused on family inclusion in youth services, and youth homelessness prevention, identified emergent topics arising for young people accessing services, to the Foundry Network of integrated health and wellness centres, and of value for provincial policy understanding and consideration. To ensure a thoughtful, well-rounded and integrated analysis that complemented Foundry's unique system position, each brief was developed through a multi-pronged approach involving literature and jurisdictional scans, interviews and discussions with subject matter experts and service providers, and dedicated engagement with youth and families. Collaborative analysis across multiple teams and perspectives was undertaken to support an intersectional and equity-driven analysis. Young people and family members/caregivers reviewed drafts and provided feedback prior to finalization.

Results: To date, the development of the policy briefs led our network itself to a deeper understanding of how integrated networks like IYS can support youth and their families in both broad and targeted ways. In particular, this work highlights critical intersections between the social determinants of health, such as housing, employment, access to mental health services, and circles of care, and how these can all have profound impacts on a young person health and wellbeing. The policy briefs speak to the strengths and challenges that exist with IYS networks, as well as the opportunities for continued growth and learning to improve services and supports for young people. The work includes numerous recommendations for government partners and other organizations.

Implications: These policy briefs shed light on how IYS networks can help to address a wide variety of policy issues such as housing, timely access to mental health services, family inclusion, and youth-friendly employment and education supports. These briefs are also an example of how evidence, lived experience and data can be brought together and used as levers to advocate for change at the policy level. Foundry is disseminating the learnings and the policy briefs to a wide audience with the goal of sharing the findings and influencing the system-of-care. Our reach will include partners and organizations in the IYS and youth sector, service providers and clinicians, youth and families, and policy makers and government.