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Integrated Youth Services

The Government of Saskatchewan continues to advance a plan to better serve the needs of youth and their caregivers, through coordinated access to a variety of supports and services.

The government is investing $3.4 million in 2023-24 to support the continued development, implementation and operations of an Integrated Youth Services model for Saskatchewan. The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan is providing provincial leadership for consistent implementation.

Contracts have been awarded to four organizations to lead Integrated Youth Services sites in their communities:

  • YWCA Regina in Regina;
  • YMCA of Regina in Moose Jaw;
  • PARTNERS Family Services in Humboldt; and
  • Sturgeon Lake First Nation Health Center in Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

Site development and hiring of staff are underway. It is anticipated that sites will begin operations in 2024-25.

Integrated Youth Services is a national and international movement, aimed at transforming how youth and their caregivers find and access the resources, services and supports they need.

Integrated Youth Services offers rapid access to evidence-based, integrated, culturally safe and youth-targeted services and supports, with a focus on prevention and early intervention, for youth aged 12 to 25.

Integrated Youth Services include a range of core services and supports, typically:

  • mental health and addictions services;
  • physical health services;
  • education, employment and training supports;
  • social and community services;
  • youth and caregiver peer supports;
  • cultural and traditional supports; and
  • other services as identified by community need.

For a pan-Canadian perspective of integrated Youth Services, the Bell-Graham Boeckh Foundation Partnership has created the IYS for social 2021 Saskatchewan video.

News Releases

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is Integrated Youth Services (IYS)?

Integrated Youth Services is a national and international movement, aimed at reimagining and transforming how youth and their families find and access the resources, services and supports they need.

2) What is an Integrated Youth Services site?

Integrated Youth Services sites provide rapid access to evidence-based, integrated and culturally safe youth-targeted services and supports, with a focus on prevention and early intervention, for youth ages 12 to 25.

3) How many Integrated Youth Services sites are being planned for Saskatchewan?

In Saskatchewan, Integrated Youth Services hubs will be implemented in four communities. Contracts have been awarded to the YWCA Regina in Regina, YMCA of Regina in Moose Jaw, PARTNERS Family Services in Humboldt, and Sturgeon Lake First Nation Health Center in Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

Site development and hiring of staff is underway. It is anticipated that sites will begin operations in 2024-25.

4) What will Integrated Youth Services look like in Saskatchewan?

Integrated Youth Services sites will support youth and young people aged 12 to 25 and their caregivers by co-locating and integrating a range of youth-targeted services and supports in one location, including:

  • mental health and addictions services;
  • physical health services;
  • education, employment and training supports;
  • social and community services;
  • youth and caregiver peer supports;
  • cultural and traditional supports; and
  • other services as identified by community need.

Services and supports will focus on prevention and early intervention, and will aim to reduce barriers to accessing services and connect youth with the right services, in the right place and at the right time.

Community partnerships and co-designing services with youth and caregivers are key components to Saskatchewan's Integrated Youth Services model.

5) Who will lead Integrated Youth Services in Saskatchewan?

In 2022-23, the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan was selected to lead Integrated Youth Services as a Backbone. A Backbone is responsible for implementing a comprehensive provincial Integrated Youth Services model, developing strategic partnerships, and providing leadership and ongoing support for implementation and long-term operations of physical Integrated Youth Services sites in addition to virtual services.

6) How will youth and families be engaged within the Integrated Youth Services model?

Engagement with youth, caregivers and other stakeholders will occur during planning, implementation and service delivery.

Co-designing with youth is a key element of Integrated Youth Services. Including the voices and experiences of youth will help to ensure that the Integrated Youth Services model is achieving its goals: services and supports co-designed with youth, for youth.

In June 2023, the John Howard Society concluded a call for youth to serve as a member of the provincial Integrated Youth Services Youth Co-Design Team. Team members are Saskatchewan youth aged 12 to 25 with lived or living experience with mental health or addictions challenges, or other experiences in accessing services and supports.

Members of the Youth Co-Design Team are using their voices and lived or living experience to inform the Integrated Youth Services model for Saskatchewan, guiding the development and implementation of services that align with the strategic direction and overall vision for Integrated Youth Services in the province.

7) What has been the process for selection of communities and lead organizations to operate Integrated Youth Services sites?

In June 2023, the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan issued a provincial call for proposals process to identify and select a minimum of three communities and lead organizations to operate Integrated Youth Services sites. Using standardized assessment criteria, a scoring committee led by the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan determined the successful applicants that best demonstrated need and readiness to lead an IYS site in large urban, medium urban and rural/northern communities. The YWCA Regina (for Regina); YMCA of Regina (for Moose Jaw), and PARTNERS Family Services (for Humboldt) were the successful proponents through this process.

Sturgeon Lake First Nation had previously offered an integrated model of care to youth in their community as part of a national research project. The valuable contributions to developing and delivering integrated youth services achieved through this project have been recognized provincially and nationally. Sturgeon Lake First Nation Health Center accepted an invitation to join Saskatchewan's Integrated Youth Services network as an additional funded Integrated Youth Services site, increasing Saskatchewan's commitment from three sites to four.

8) What will the provincial funding be used for?

In 2023-24, $3.4 million in provincial funding supports implementation of the Integrated Youth Services model, including operational funding for the Integrated Youth Services sites.

9) What do we hope to accomplish by establishing IYS in Saskatchewan?

Integrated Youth Services aims to better serve the needs of youth through improved access and coordination to a range of youth-targeted services and supports.

10) What role does philanthropy play in Saskatchewan's Integrated Youth Services model?

In jurisdictions across Canada, philanthropy has played a key role in supporting Integrated Youth Services. The Government of Saskatchewan looks forward to discussions with philanthropic partners to achieve a shared and comprehensive vision for Integrated Youth Services in Saskatchewan.

11) What if I have questions about Integrated Youth Services in Saskatchewan?

Inquiries can be directed to:

Crystal Nieviadomy
Integrated Youth Services Project Lead
crystal.nieviadomy@health.gov.sk.ca

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