Youth Shift
Amplifying Youth Engagement in Prevention
Youth Shift is a framework and how-to guide for amplifying youth voice in community-based, upstream initiatives. The Youth Shift framework wraps youth engagement and intergenerational partnership as expanding and evergreening processes woven through all phases of a prevention initiative. Youth Shift provides a holistic approach to fostering youth engagement while offering concrete steps to navigate context-specific challenges:
“It’s very comprehensive...a holistic perspective into tackling everything together at once...while tell[ing] us exactly what we can do, giv[ing] us the exact steps of what we ca be focusing our energy into.” (Working Group Participant)
Following the orientations and ‘How tos’ outlined in this framework can shift the culture of projects and a community toward youth-driven momentum, solutions anchored in youth voice, and intergenerational partnerships that spark belonging.
Background
The Students Commission of Canada partnered with the KDE Hub to form a Youth Engagement Working Group with the goal of co-creating a knowledge product that boosts youth engagement in the implementation of the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) in Canada. Forty-six practitioners, researchers, and youth from across Canada represented 10 communities (9 of which were Planet Youth communities) across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick.
3 Core Factors Drive Youth Engagement
Youth Shift’s encompassing approach offers multiple points of entry into youth engagement from start-up efforts to initiatives with a thriving youth base.
Barriers, Initiators, and Sustainers are 3 critical factors behind amplifying youth engagement in prevention initiatives. Youth engagement is most robust when prevention initiatives pay attention to and take action around these factors throughout prevention initiatives.
Outcomes for youth, adults, and the broader community rise out of focusing on barriers, initiators, and sustainers.
Where to begin?
Barriers
Start with Barriers if removing obstacles and making it easier for youth to take part is a focus.
At the early stages of an initiative or seeking to bring youth into project, barriers and Initiators are key to prioritize.
Sustainers
Sustainers is the place to start if you're hoping to create or deepen meaningful and sustained engagement opportunities for youth.
Outcomes
If you're looking to envision or validate impacts of your projects, Outcomes is the place to begin.
Download the Full Youth Shift Framework and Guide
Amplify Youth Engagement for Your Project
To dive deeper into Youth Shift or connect with us around youth engagement with your project email us to learn more about Youth Shift.
Suggested citation — Drabenstott, M.; Ward, T.; The Students Commission of Canada. (2026). Youth Shift Framework: Amplifying Youth Engagement in Prevention. https://www.studentscommission.ca
Artistic Design by Todd Ward, Artistic Director at The Students Commission of Canada