The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the principle that young people have the right to be full participants in decisions affecting their lives. Consequently, Health Canada has established this principle as one of its national goals for the health development of children and youth.

This series of case studies examines how municipal, education and government policy-makers can involve youth effectively in their public decision-making.

Health Canada, other governments, institutions, agencies and professionals are actively seeking to involve youth more in a meaningful manner. But our knowledge of such initiatives is scant. A recent literature review (Shannon & McCall, 1997) has described the research on impacts of various models and has categorized these initiatives. The Canadian Coalition on the Rights of the Child is training adult-led organizations in how to involve youth (CMHA, 1997). Another project through a meta-analysis of youth consultations, has examined that youth have been telling governments and is undertaking an environment scan of youth involved in municipal decision-making (Caputo et al, 1998). The Progress of Canada's Children (CCSD, 1998) has reported that more communities across Canada are attempting to involve youth.

However, there has been little serious investigation within Canada on the specific nature of direct youth involvement in decision-making related to youth programs. There has been little critical examination of the process and the impact of such involvement. Are youth truly being empowered? Are we really only reaching young people who are already active and successful in reaching their goals? Have there been any measurable changes to any of the factors that determine the health of children and youth?

This project was designed to examine a facet of youth-led health promotion, namely the involvement of youth in public decision-making. There are several ways that such involvement in decision-making can occur, including:

1. Youth Representatives on Governing Boards

2. Youth Representatives on Standing or Ad-Hoc Committees

3. Youth Advisory Committees

4. Formal Consultations of Youth

5. Delegation of  Programs or Services to Youth Management

In order to capture a representative sampling of different types and settings for this study, a selection was made from among the categories identified in an earlier overview (Shannon & McCall, 1997). That overview listed several settings and sites as being potential places to initiate youth involvement. From that list, this project identified the following examples of youth involvement in public decision-making at the national, provincial, regional and neighbourhood levels:

• The Environment Canada Youth Roundtable (Advisory Committee)

• The Health Canada Challenge to Youth Project

• BC Student Leadership Centre

• A City Youth Advisory Committee

• A Municipal Youth Showcase Program

• A Student School Trustee

• A Police Department Youth Centre

• A BC Healthy School Project

A BC High School Accreditation Process

Development and Validation of Instruments

A set of interview guides/questionnaires was developed for this project based on an Investigative Framework. This investigative framework incorporated materials developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA, 1997) and the Canadian Youth Foundation (CYF, 1996). The criteria for assessing effectiveness were taken from on earlier report on youth-led health promotion (Shannon & McCall, 1997).

This framework was sent to three experts for comments. Each of these experts has been working with youth in related research. Their comments were also incorporated into the framework. The draft framework was also sent to the 12 provincial/territorial CASH coalitions for comments from their respective youth groups.

The Investigative Framework contains several questions that probe each area within the framework. The Framework can be used to assess youth participation in any decision-making process.

Development of Questionnaires

Six questionnaires to implement this Investigative Framework were then developed. These were adapted to each particular example so that information on the process of youth involvement could be collected in a manner consistent with the analytical, critical approach being used for the project. This approach was an attempt to go beyond the simple descriptions of other studies that capture the enthusiasm of the participants but do not always report on impact or the depth of involvement.

Site Interviews

Each site was visited by project staff. Interviews in person or by telephone. Youth and adults that were involved in the programs were interviewed whenever possible. Additional materials about each site were also collected.

Analysis of Results

The interviews and documentation were reviewed and synthesized for this report.