What is Integrated Youth Services?
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a global movement, focuses on transforming how youth, young people and their families find and access resources, services and supports they need.
The IYS hubs will be physical spaces to support youth aged 12-25 across Saskatchewan reach their full potential by including a range of youth-targeted services and reducing existing barriers to accessing needed services.
The goal of Saskatchewan’s model is having communities quickly connecting youth with the right services, in the right place and at the right time.
IYS hubs offers a range of services that include, but are not limited to:
- Mental health and substance misuse services;
- Primary care, sexual health, and harm reduction services;
- Education, employment, and training supports;
- Social and community services;
- Youth and family peer support; and
- Other services as identified by community.
Are there other jurisdictions in Canada using the IYS Model?
Yes! Integrated Youth Services (IYS) has been rapidly gaining momentum across Canada. Many provinces, service providers, youth and families, as well as Indigenous communities, have embraced this community-based model of care. Below is a list of provincial IYS initiatives with several more in development:
What is a lead agency?
A lead agency is an organization contracted to lead the establishment and operations of an IYS Youth hub in a Saskatchewan community. Lead Agencies sign an Operating Agreement with the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan for the delivery of services.
What is a backbone team?
A backbone team is a team of staff, employed by the Administrative Host, responsible for providing comprehensive support that drives all aspects of the IYS transformation, the successful establishment of the IYS sites, stakeholder engagement, clinical service innovation, communication and research, evaluation and reporting.
What is a youth hub?
A youth hub is the physical, purposefully built spaces established in communities, through which Lead Agencies and partners operate and offer services. IYS Youth hub and Integrated Youth Service sites are used interchangeably.
What is the youth co-design team?
The members of the Youth Co-Design Team will guide the development of projects and initiatives that support the overall goals and vision of IYS in Saskatchewan by sharing their own experiences and ideas as a young person.
What is stepped care?
Stepped care is delivering the most effective, yet least resource-intensive treatment first; services and supports provided are scaled up or down to match the level and intensity of need.
What is integration and co-location?
Integrated services and co-location mean that youth can get everything they need under one roof; a comprehensive array of services. Youth hubs are designed to provide youth and their caregivers with early intervention opportunities and rapid, seamless access to a continuum of mental health and substance use services in easily identifiable, low-barrier, youth-friendly locations.
Being co-located in close physical proximity helps ensure that service providers participate in frequent informal consultations, develop mutual knowledge, and information-sharing, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and work collaboratively. Furthermore, co-location increases availability of service providers and improves the organizational culture which enhances safety and quality of services.
What is the Saskatchewan Integrated Youth Services Advisory Table?
The Saskatchewan Integrated Youth Services Advisory Table provides technical advice, subject matter expertise, and guidance to the backbone team in areas that align with the strategic direction for IYS by supporting the backbone team in the foundational work necessary to implement and operationalize the endorsed IYS model for Saskatchewan.