Barriers
Barriers prevent or limit youth engagement in prevention initiatives.
Youth might not believe the impact of it if it’s just another project in the pile that exists that promises to focus on making things better for them.
(Working Group Participant)
Initiating, intergenerational, and time—these are the key barriers that keep youth from engaging with prevention initiatives. Importantly, there are strategies adults can employ to overcome barriers and boost engagement.
Initiating Barriers
- Youth are unaware of effort
- Youth don’t believe the vision
- Youth don’t know how to contribute
- Participating is inaccessible
How to Remove Barriers
- Increase project awareness and accessibility by meeting youth where they are (virtually and in-person)
- Provide safe, free, and convenient, transportation to all activities
Intergenerational Barriers
- Lack of trust among youth and adults
- Adults are ‘not listening’
- Youth voice can be tokenized
How to Remove Barriers
- “Let youth speak for themselves” and listen with curiosity
- Design processes that encourage youth engagement
- Report back how youth voice is making a difference
Time Barriers
- Youth take addition time and effort to reach
- Youth have conflicting priorities (e.g., school, home, job)
How to Remove Barriers
- Shift project timelines around youth, even if that means slowing momentum
- Dedicate resources (time, person(s), money) towards meaningful, sustained youth engagement
“Youth engagement should be at the centre - not something that adults do as a 'side' – [it takes] time and resources dedicated to this.”
(Working Group Participant)
Overarching Principles to Remove Barriers
There are 3 overarching principles to consider throughout an initiative to monitor and remove barriers:
- Meaningful, sustained youth engagement is driven by adult champions and dedicating resources for more youth to connect, share, and take part.
- Meet youth where they’re at: in communications, timelines, and project activities.
- Continually evaluate what barriers are or could be restricting youth engagement.
Jump to other Key Sections of Youth Shift
“Create a way to ensure projects do not move forward without youth voice informing and deciding.”
(Working Group Participant)
More on barriers and strategies for removing them can be found in the Youth Shift download!
Download the Full Youth Shift Framework and Guide