Abstract
BackgroundBy integrating Youth–Adult Partnerships (Y‐APs) in organizational decision making and programming in health‐care settings, youth can be engaged in decisions that affect them in a way that draws on their unique skills and expertise. Despite challenges, Y‐APs can have many benefits for youth and adults alike, as well as for the programmes and initiatives that they undertake together.ObjectiveThis article describes the development, implementation and success of a Y‐AP initiative at the McCain Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a large urban hospital.MethodThe McCain Y‐AP implementation model was developed based on the existing literature, guided by the team's progressive experience. The development and implementation procedure is described, with indicators of the model's success and recommendations for organizations interested integrating youth engagement.ResultsThe McCain Y‐AP has integrated youth into a wide range of mental health and substance use‐related initiatives, including research projects, conferences and educational presentations. The model of youth engagement is flexible to include varying degrees of involvement, allowing youth to contribute in ways that fit their availability, interest and skills. Youth satisfaction has been strong and both the youth and adult partners have learned from the experience.DiscussionThrough the McCain Y‐AP initiative, youth engagement has helped advance numerous initiatives in a variety of ways. Flexible engagement, multifaceted mentorship, reciprocal learning and authentic decision making have led to a successful partnership that has provided opportunities for growth for all those involved. Health‐care organizations interested in engaging youth can learn from the McCain Y‐AP experience to guide their engagement initiatives and maximize success.
Highlights
Youth voices are imperative to inform decision making and programming that directly impact youth
Collaborative relationships in which youth can interact with adults and engage in shared decision making and programming are referred to as youth–adult partnerships (Y-A Ps).[1]
There have been recent efforts to introduce Youth–Adult Partnerships (Y-APs) into the mental health-care system,[10,11] research remains limited
Summary
Youth voices are imperative to inform decision making and programming that directly impact youth. Creating Y-APs can be challenging, especially in settings where power imbalances are expected, such as in a school environment, or research teams where youth are often seen as consumers rather than stakeholders.[13,14] implementing successful Y-APs requires flexibility, mentorship, authentic decision making and reciprocal learning.[2,8,11] Flexibility involves malleable roles that allow both youth and adults to showcase their skills and talents. YEFs expressed interest in graphic design and were provided with software, time and opportunities to develop these transferable skills They can enhance research team presentations with professional-looking charts and graphics and collaborate with NYAC members to create project visuals. The diversity and enthusiasm of the NYAC group, the successfully developed youth-led projects, the high demand for collaboration and the anecdotal and observational indicators show that the McCain Model of Youth Engagement was implemented with success
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