10 Principles for IYS

FIYSNPrinciples

May 18

When the Federation of Integrated Youth Services Networks (FIYSN) began, members collectively identified the need to create common IYS principles to guide the development and implementation of IYS in Canada. Having these principles would help achieve greater consistency and ground the collaborative work in shared understanding.

Download the document

Starting in January 2022, Foundry and Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario co-led the development of a set of principles using a Delphi consensus-building process.

The resulting 10 Principles for IYS were foundational to the P an-Canadian Guidance for IYS: 10 Principles for Improving Integrated Care for Youth.

Ten Principles for Integrated Youth Services (IYS)

Engaging

Engage youth and family members/caregivers/supporters in development, co-creation, decision making and governance

Collaborative

Are delivered through effective, collaborative partnerships

Accessible

Are easy to find and access, have low or no barriers and are experienced as a seamless continuum

Youth-centred

Are youth-friendly, developmentally appropriate, strength and relationship based, and inclusive of all youth

Responsive

Are responsive to stated needs and respectful of choice/self-determination

Culturally safe

Are culturally safe, recognize intersectionality and able to support Indigenous youth

Socially just

Commit to social justice through anti-oppressive, anti-racist and decolonizing practices

Wholistic

Take a wholistic, trauma-informed and harm reduction approach

Health

Intervene early and promote health and health equity

Learn & improve

Continuously learn and improve through the use of data, research, evidence and wisdom

We appreciate and acknowledge the financial support of Health Canada and the coordination by the Standards Council of Canada as part of the National Mental Health and Substance Use Health Standardization Initiative, which made this document possible.

Document

Nancy Zhao