Youth Leadership Plan 1
Table of Contents Introduction 05 Vision & Priciples 06 Values 09 Environmental Scan 10 Capacity Development 12 Healthy Choices 18 2 3
Continually strengthening our investments in youth Introduction: A strong Foundation In 2009, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) embarked on developing a Youth Leadership Plan to improve the reach of its programs and services and initiate the development of longer term, evidence based strategies to guide future investments in youth. An in-depth consultation, a process involving over 500 youth and youth serving organizations, was initiated in 2010 to inform the Youth Leadership Plan. The results of the 2011 Forging the Future Potential Leaders Conference were also used to develop the plan. MACA will use feedback and comment on this document to continually strengthen our investment in youth. 4 5
Our Vision Responsible, responsive community governments, citizens and youth in safe and vibrant communities.. Our Principles Encourage and support: Youth to pursue positive developmental opportunities and participate in programs that assist them in becoming the next generation of leaders. Youth to pursue leadership roles in the development and delivery of initiatives that lead to positive lifestyle choices. Youth to access physical activity, sport and recreation services, which promote personal health and contribute to the quality of life in communities. The promotion, development, and delivery of traditional Aboriginal youth activities that preserve and strengthen northern Aboriginal traditions and culture. Community governments and youth serving organizations that play a vital role in promoting, developing, and delivering specialized activities for youth. Volunteers who play an important role in strengthening the fabric of our communities. 6 7
Our Values NWT youth have tremendous potential to thrive in new and demanding leadership tasks that will be asked of them in future. Strong family and community support are critical to the success of youth. MACA assists youth and youth serving organizations in a professional and progressive manner by striving to be open, honest and respectful of cultures, traditions and community priorities. A timely and effective team approach is promoted within MACA. A partnership approach is utilized to assist youth and youth serving organizations toward sustainable solutions. MACA values and endorses professionalism; an educated, experienced and committed workforce; and proactive individual and team contributions. 8 9
Environmental Scan In 2010, MACA commissioned an extensive consultation of youth and youth serving organizations. Data were acquired from the following six sources: A survey of youth throughout the NWT; A survey of youth-serving organizations throughout the NWT; Regional consultations with stakeholders and key informants; Secondary data in reports published by the GNWT; A high-level review of best practices for youth programs and services in published literature; and Group meetings and interviews with MACA staff. A total of 524 youth surveys were completed from 30 communities. A total of 128 agency surveys were also completed. The data collected set the context for the strategies and planned actions in this report. 524 youth surveys were completed in 30 communities. The Youth Leadership Plan was also shaped by the results of the 2011 Forging the Future Potential Leaders Conference. 10 11
Stragtegies: Build Capacity Build capacity in youth and youth serving organizations by: Facilitating initiatives that promote cooperation between youth and youth-serving agencies Strengthening the capacity of community youth centres and recreation staff through training Leading or assisting with cross-departmental efforts within the GNWT that support youth Planned Actions: Build capacity in youth centres Assist in the development of an NWT Youth Centres forum to facilitate information exchange and program support amongst community youth centres. Review methods of increasing training opportunities for youth centre staff through School of Community Government and other programs. Review methods of assisting youth centres to improve programming and services offered to youth. Build capacity in education Coordinate a review of stay in school initiatives and facilitate intergovernmental / interagency action on the results. Coordinate discussions with educators and education authorities on options to support youth at risk in and out of school. Goal: Capcity Development Build capacity in communities Encourage community organizations to provide coordinated support for youth. Facilitate interaction amongst community, regional and territorial youth serving organizations to improve youth services. NWT youth have tremendous potential to thrive in new and demanding leadership tasks that will be asked of them in future. Strong family and community support are critical to the success of youth. Government plays an important role in capacity development through strategic investments and support. 12 13
Stragtegies: Strategic Investments Make strategic investments in individual youth through: Consistent, high quality training and preparation for projects, Equitable access to programs by youth from all communities, Inclusion of youth program alumni in leadership roles, Connections with other GNWT leadership and staffing development initiatives. Planned Actions: Make strategic investments in youth through implementation of the Youth Ambassador Program. Make strategic investments in youth through mentoring initiatives, includig: Develop and implement a Youth Ambassador Alumni program Review other approaches to supporting youth mentoring initiatives for parents, teachers and other key individuals Review sport coach and physical activity leader training programs and utilize the results to facilitate system wide improvements Support role model initiatives to motivate and encourage youth achievement. Make strategic investments in communications initiatives, includihg: Consult with youth on a regular basis Utilize social and other media to improve communications with youth Develop and publicize program results and successes Continue to update www.proud2bnwt.ca to maintain its relevancy with youth. Goal: Capcity Development Continued Evidence Based Focus on evidence-based programming that strengthen the individual, particularly programs that: Build resiliency Support parental and mentoring involvement Encourage youth stay in school Build on cultural identity Are evidence-based and evaluated. Focus on evidence-based programs through the NWT Youth Corps Review and update existing program funding criteria to ensure the maximum effectiveness of related investments. Support a regular schedule of evaluations of internally and externally funded programs to facilitate improvements and guide future investments. Establish a longitudinal study of the impacts of investments on NWT youth. Celebrate youth program successes to share information and build pride in local achievements. 14 15
Stragtegies: Strategic Investments Make strategic investments in individual youth through: Consistent, high quality training and preparation for projects, Equitable access to programs by youth from all communities, Inclusion of youth program alumni in leadership roles, Connections with other GNWT leadership and staffing development initiatives. Planned Actions: Make strategic investments in youth through implementation of the Youth Ambassador Program. Make strategic investments in youth through mentoring initiatives, includig: Develop and implement a Youth Ambassador Alumni program Review other approaches to supporting youth mentoring initiatives for parents, teachers and other key individuals Review sport coach and physical activity leader training programs and utilize the results to facilitate system wide improvements Support role model initiatives to motivate and encourage youth achievement. Make strategic investments in communications initiatives, includihg: Consult with youth on a regular basis Utilize social and other media to improve communications with youth Develop and publicize program results and successes Continue to update www.proud2bnwt.ca to maintain its relevancy with youth. Goal: Capcity Development Continued 16 17
Stragtegies: Healthy Lifestyle Choices Focus on evidence-based programs that encourage youth to make healthy lifestyle choices by: Promoting an understanding that decisions youth make in everyday life can profoundly affect their health, Promoting collaboration and integration of healthy choices programming. Encouraging the support and commitment of residents, communities, governments and the volunteer sector, Reducing the barriers to making healthy choices. Planned Actions: Incorporate healthy choices role modeling into the Youth Ambassadors Program, Facilitate interdepartmental cooperation on youth programs, Make strategic investments in areas promoting healthy choices through integrated programs, Incorporate healthy choices principles into funding programs, Seek the incorporation of youth support and development initiatives into the GNWT Anti- Poverty Strategy. Traditional Games Build capable and self reliant youth through traditional Aboriginal games by: Recognizing that traditional games are best preserved through continued use and practical application, Identifying areas where traditional games can successfully be incorporated into Department programs, Participating in research and information exchanges on traditional games. Incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into the Traditional Games Strategy Implement an annual traditional games training and education program Support development of traditional games educational materials Encourage new opportunities for youth to participate in Traditional Games activities. Goal: Healthy Choices When NWT youth are supported by their families and communities in making healthy lifestyle choices, they will live longer, be happier, and help strengthen the fabric of our communities. Government and youth serving organizations play a critical role in the development of opportunities to choose a healthy lifestyle and make positive choices. Volunteerism Promote citizenship and community involvement by recognizing that: Volunteers are a major component of the foundation of healthy communities, People volunteer for many and varied reasons, but people s decisions can be influenced by initiatives designed to educate and inspire, Volunteerism is seamless continuum across all groups and ongoing encouragement can influence people s choice to volunteer Provide support to community governments and youth service organizations in promoting youth volunteer programs, Develop opportunities to recognize youth in volunteer and citizenship roles, Continue to foster the spirit of volunteerism within the Youth Ambassador Program. 18 19
20 Department of Municipal and Community Affairs Government of the Northwest Territories Phone: (867) 873-7245 Fax: (867) 920-6467 www.maca.gov.nt.ca