IYS Knowledge Exchange and Mobilization
IYS is growing across Canada, giving organizations, youth, families, and other partners a chance to work together and share what they know. Various initiatives and regional champions are driving the effort to exchange and mobilize knowledge, expertise and experiences about IYS practice and implementation in the country.
The Federation of Integrated Youth Services Networks (FIYSN)
FIYSN is an innovative network that supports the knowledge exchange and mobilization for the development and implementation of IYS across Canada.
Formed in late 2021 with funding from Health Canada and the Bell-Graham Boeckh Foundation partnership, FIYSN has brought together organizations from across the country to lead the development, implementation, and expansion of IYS. The group’s vision is to be leaders in improving access to quality integrated health and social services for young people in Canada.
FIYSN has members from all 13 provinces and territories, including existing, emerging and proposed IYS networks. It serves as a community where members share experiences, challenges, and innovations about developing and supporting a network of IYS centres/ hubs.
Over the years, FIYSN has found many ways to support knowledge sharing and collaboration through:
Creating communities of practice
Facilitating knowledge requests between partners on various topics
Organizing virtual meetings and in-person gatherings
Creating webinars, videos and resources together
Central to these activities is the goal of fostering brave spaces, where members are comfortable being open with each other, where trust and curiosity thrive.
Together, FIYSN members are working towards the same goal — a future where every young person in Canada has access to the support they need.
