The Oxford County Youth Strategy - We need YOUth!

Community leaders and service providers in Oxford County are committed to doing everything possible to give young people the opportunities they need to achieve their full potential. They also recognize the amazing ideas and energy that youth have to offer, and know that it is critical for youth to have a lead role in the planning and delivery of programs and services that aim to give them the opportunities they need.

A group of local providers have rallied together to initiate the Oxford County Youth Strategy. The OCYS strives to give all County youth ages 12-30 a chance to impact service planning and delivery through a number of opportunities, including:

1. Giving their opinions on issues that are important to them and the changes they would like to see; between February and March 2007, youth will have opportunities to be heard through surveys, focus groups and interviews; in late April/early May, they'll vote to prioritize issues, and brainstorm strategies to address them;
2. Participating in the collation of research data and presenting the information to other youth and the broad community; local forum are scheduled to begin in late April and opportunities are available to participate in forums outside the County as well;
3. Supporting communication strategies such as social marketing, website development and the creation of a service inventory that will help youth (and the community) to identify and locate the programs and services they need.

The OCYS will be planned and implemented through a number of youth teams. The learning opportunities, responsibilities and timelines for each of these teams are described below.

The OCYS: Youth Teams

Note: Teams and tasks are subject to change enhancement following youth involvement! Timelines are also approximate.

We're looking for Oxford County youth ages 12 to 30 who are ready for a change and want to make a difference in their world! All youth are welcome, including those that are:

• In school (elementary - gr. 7 & 8, high school, college or university);
• Not in school;
• Employed; either part time or full time;
• Unemployed;
• In training or seeking training;
• Living in the city or in the country; and,
• Living with their parents, on their own or no where in particular.

What to expect...

Teamwork will be a central theme for the OCYS teams, both within and across teams, as the activities are all interdependent. The teams will frequently interact, giving participants exposure to each team's specific activities. While each team's responsibilities will vary, most youth will have opportunities to build or refine skills some or all of the following:

• Leadership and teamwork;
• Presentation and public speaking;
• Project planning and coordination;
• Writing, including report writing; writing content for marketing materials;
• Data management, including survey data collation and presentation;
• Website design and maintenance;
• Social marketing and research;
• Event planning; and,
• Group facilitation.

Youth could use the OCYS team opportunities to earn Community Service Hours, complete co-op placements, complete school projects, and gain sense of civic responsibility and community.

NOTE: There is potential for summer job opportunities to develop through this project, and youth involved prior to the summer will be excellent candidates for those positions.

Resources available to the youth are expected to grow and develop as the OCYS evolves. Examples of expertise currently available to OCYS youth participants include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The OCYS Project Coordinator, Kirsten McKinnon - a professional coach with extensive experience in social research, community planning, funding and capacity building, program and policy development. Kirsten is a former career counsellor with experience in counseling and program delivery for youth.
• Community Employment Services (CES), a leader in community development and career assessment, counselling and job opportunities for youth. With offices in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Norwich, CES' experienced team of youth employment counsellors offers a broad spectrum of employment and training supports, including:
  • Career exploration, resume development, interview preparation;
  • Referral to employment opportunities, including summer job placements and volunteer opportunities;
  • Youth Worker Awareness Programs and WHMIS training; and
  • Apprenticeship information.
• The Fusion Youth Centre in Ingersoll, a centre developed by and for youth that boasts a broad range of youth-driven recreation, employment and technology opportunities for youth. It is an amazing facility that includes a gymnasium, music equipment, and a technology centre. For more information, go to www.fusionyouthcentre.on.ca.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (see below and www.dukeofed.org for more information) and The Ontario Rural Council (TORC), which is hosting a youth forum in March 2007 (see www.torc.on.ca for more information)
  • The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Canadians Challenge is an exciting self development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their community and the world.
• The Oxford Small Business Support Centre, whose mandate it is to support community economic development and small business growth, includes youth initiatives in its strategic objectives (see www.osbsc.on,ca for more information.)

The Service Inventory Team

Youth are needed to develop a service inventory that documents and maps all services available for youth ages 12-30 in Oxford County. The inventory will be an important component of the "Youth Matters" report which is a primary product of the OCYS. It will identify services that are or are not accessible in terms of addressing the priority issues of local youth, and will provide powerful anecdotal information, describing real life scenarios of youth seeking services within Oxford County.

This inventory will be launched at the OCYS youth forum in late April/early May, with all youth participants receiving a copy of the inventory. The inventory will then be widely distributed to County youth as well as service providers to support their referral processes. There may be opportunities to create an online version of this document as well. At a minimum, the OCYS Service Inventory Team will work with the OCYS Technology Team to ensure Internet access to information about the inventory.

Youth will have opportunities to network with local service providers and achieve an understanding of available community services; a veritable goldmine for any youth that needs to navigate through the current system of services!

The inventory will respond particularly to the issues identified in the survey portion of the OCYS (survey data anticipated to be available by late February/early March). The youth will consult with other youth and service providers to outline typical service access scenarios and describe the process of trying to access service. They will research existing service inventories (both online and hard copy) and develop one of their own that meets the needs of Oxford County youth.

Members of the Service Inventory Team can expect to participate in some or all of the following activities...

• Review existing models and inventories within and outside of Oxford County (e.g., inventories created by other organizations and municipalities) to identify available information and potential format - January - February
• Create inventory template for completion - February
• Generate list of service providers - February
• Confirm list with service providers - February
• Contact service providers to collect information (including promotional material) on available services - February
• Populate template with available information - February
• Work with County staff to map available services throughout the area, identify apparent service gaps - March
• Identify services that are/are not available/accessible to address issues revealed through survey research - March
• Interview youth and service providers about their experiences of finding services/helping youth to find services - March - April
• Document the stories and experiences of youth and service providers based on interview data - March - April
• Design an easy-to-use youth inventory (may include online development) - April
• Support inventory printing and distribution - April
• Present summary of inventory at youth forum - late April/early May
• Create plan for ongoing updating of inventory - May
• Present summary of inventory at forum for youth and service providers - June

The Service Inventory Team is a great opportunity for youth that have skills and interests in...

• Research (reviewing Internet and telephone directories);
• Interviewing others (such as youth or service providers by telephone or in person);
• Descriptive writing (such as describing the experiences of youth trying to access service);
• Organizing information into easy-to-read formats (such as tables, graphs, etc.)
• Working with technology (spreadsheets, mapping software, graphic design)

The Service Inventory Team will offer fantastic experience to those considering careers in...

Those interested in exploring career opportunities in working with children, youth, families, community development (e.g., social work, child and youth work, psychology, sociology, teaching) writing, research, community planning, graphic design, journalism, technology, computer or media studies may enjoy this opportunity.

The Event Planning Team

Youth are needed to create a successful event(s) (or forum) for potentially hundreds of County youth. This event will give youth the chance to have their say about the issues that are important to them. In our first of approximately four forums, the results of local research will be unveiled and youth participants will vote to determine the issues they view as top priorities. The youth will then work together in small groups to identify short and long-term strategies to address these priorities.

Youth on this team will have the opportunity to work with experienced event planners to create a day that is all about them and what is important to them.

This first forum (Forum #1) will be the priority event to be planned in the coming months, and a second forum will follow shortly thereafter. This second forum will provide youth and local service providers the opportunity to work together to create implementation plans to support the short and long-term strategies generated by youth in Forum #1.

Members of the Event Planning Team can expect to participate in some or all of the following activities...

• Work with host facility(s) to plan seating arrangements, equipment requirements, refreshment selections and ensure all is in place the day of the event - February to event date
• Plan event within predetermined budget - February
• Monitor expenditures and maintain documentation - ongoing
• Support transportation planning to and from event - February
• Work with the Marketing Team to advertise event and arrange media coverage - Feb - March
• Work with Technology team to arrange for videography, computer support for presentations etc. - Feb to April
• Distribute invitations and monitor RSVPs - March to April
• Identify, obtain and organize necessary supplies (e.g., flip charts, markers, name tags) - March to April
• Prepare participant packages - April
• Greet and register forum participants - Event date
• Record information during forum (tally votes, take notes of group discussions) - Event date
• Support the presentation of research results to forum participants - April to event date
• Support the facilitation of group discussions to identify strategies to address priority issues - Event date

The Event Planning Team is a great opportunity for youth that have skills and interests in...

• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Planning and working with people
• Communicating with others in person, over the phone and via e-mail
• Working with and paying attention to details

The Event Planning Team will offer fantastic experience to those considering careers in...

Those interested in exploring career opportunities in event planning careers (weddings, conferences, fundraising), business administration, accounting, hospitality, office clerk and reception positions, research, public speaking and community planning may enjoy this opportunity.

The Technology Team

Youth are needed to develop and support a number of technology and media related components of the OCYS. These components will be very important to ensuring ongoing communication and promotion about the OCYS with County youth and the community at large. The Technology Team will definitely be essential to the success of all other OCYS teams.

Members of the Technology Team can expect to participate in some or all of the following activities throughout the duration of the OCYS..

.

• Developing and maintaining the OCYS website, which may include online surveying/polling and other communication strategies (such as blogs, chat rooms, podcasts)
• Videography and photography of OCYS activities and events;
• Developing DVDs, Powerpoint presentations etc. to promote the OCYS; and,
• Supporting teams with technological/computer applications, such as Microsoft Office.

The Technology Team is a great opportunity for youth that have skills and interests in...

• Working with computers, including Internet and software-based technology;
• Web development and design; and,
• Videography and/or photography.

The Technology Team will offer fantastic experience to those considering careers in...

Those interested in exploring career opportunities in information technology, computer science, media studies, the arts, graphic design, videography, photography, television and radio production etc. may enjoy this opportunity.

The Marketing Team

Youth are needed to put some creative flair and energy into promoting the OCYS through the County. This team will be critical to getting the word out so that youth can have their say about what is important to them. Effective marketing will be essential to the success of all elements of the OCYS, from the survey through to the community forums.

Members of the Marketing Team can expect to participate in some or all of the following activities throughout the duration of the OCYS...

• Work with local newspapers, cable and radio stations, etc. to arrange advertising and media coverage for OCYS initiatives and events;
• Developing press kits and media releases;
• Creating content for the OCYS website and other communication strategies (e.g., newsletter, newspaper articles);
• Identifying and implementing strategies to hear from as many youth as possible;
• Plan a social marketing campaign to get youth issues on the community agenda; and,
• Make presentations to individuals and groups to promote the Oxford County Youth Strategy and support members of other teams in doing the same (e.g., provide them with marketing materials etc.)

The Marketing Team is a great opportunity for youth that have skills and interests in...

• Opportunities to be creative and "different;"
• Generating ideas;
• Artistic work and graphic design;
• Writing and organizing; and,
• Working with others.

The Marketing Team will offer fantastic experience to those considering careers in...

Youth interested in advertising, consumer studies, marketing, public relations, public speaking, the arts, television and radio production, social issues, writing, journalism, etc. may enjoy this opportunity.

The Research Team

Youth are needed to support a range of research activities throughout the OCYS. These activities will form the bulk of the information to be included in a final report that will clearly define the priority issues for Oxford County youth and strategies that could be implemented to address them. This report will also identify available services for youth as well as service gaps across the County.

Members of the Research Team can expect to participate in some or all of the following activities...

• Staffing survey stations at youth events - February to March
• Creating spreadsheets, entering data and tabulating survey results - February to March
• Organizing and participating in focus groups - February to March
• Transcribing focus group and interview recordings - March
• Organizing research data into themes - March to April
• Creating graphs and other illustrations of research data - March to April
• Conducting literature reviews and environmental scans (e.g.., reviewing local statistics, other youth issues research) - February to April
• Preparing and delivering presentations - March to April
• Writing reports - March to May
• Supporting the research efforts of the Service Inventory Team - ongoing

The Research Team is a great opportunity for youth that have skills and interests in...

• Working with numbers and information;
• Reviewing information in books or online;
• Interviewing others (such as youth or service providers by telephone or in person);
• Descriptive and report writing (such as describing the experiences of youth trying to access service);
• Organizing information to highlight key points and present in easy-to-understand formats (such as tables, graphs, etc.); and,
• Working with technology (spreadsheets, mapping software, graphic design).

The Research Team will offer fantastic experience to those considering careers in...

Those interested in exploring career opportunities in Information technology and science, sociology, psychology, market research, consumer studies, journalism, counseling, and of course, research of any kind, may enjoy this opportunity.