Research in IYS
As IYS grows across Canada, research will continue to be very important. New research projects will help speed up the growth of IYS networks across the country. This will ultimately lead to better outcomes, helping young people thrive and succeed in their lives.
How IYS uses research and learnings to improve services
IYS works like a Learning Health System (LHS). This means we use data, evidence and knowledge to keep making our services better. Each as its own LHS, IYS centres/ hubs are focused on giving high-quality services and making positive changes based on what we learn and know. This process also helps us create new evidence as well.
IYS research can take many forms. It involves collaborating with young people, their families, service providers, other community members, and researchers. Some IYS initiatives in Canada are just getting started with their research activities, while others have well-developed and established activities.
Exploring IYS research across Canada
This webpage does not cover all the IYS research going on in Canada. We are excited to add more content to show and celebrate the amazing work of all partners, collaborators, and communities leading IYS research.
Here are some exciting IYS research that teams are leading across Canada.
Youth Wellness Hubs of Ontario (YWHO)
YWHO research prioritizes equity and engagement as we embed the voices of all youth in our services, working to make sure young people can access high quality services within a learning health system.
Examples of YWHO research include using different methods (like Implementation Science, Indigenous methodologies and Black-centred and antiracism approaches, mixed methods community based research) to create standards of integrated service delivery and measurement-based care, guidelines for equity-deserving youth, and addressing the social determinants of health.
YWHO also seeks to better understand the primary and sexual health care needs of youth, the gaps in gender-affirming care, access and use of YWHO services, and youth-driven solutions in the face of climate change. More generally, YWHO research aims to comprehensively understand the role of integrated care services as a critical component of the broader health care system serving youth.
Foundry
Research at Foundry brings together researchers, community members, young people, families/caregivers, and more who share the goal of making a positive change in the lives of young people, families/caregivers and communities by centering their voices in research.
To learn more about research happening across the Foundry network, including current and completed studies, you can visit the Foundry Research Webpage.