Guiding Principles

FNP will engage and connect with youth across the GTA in the following ways:

• Forming partnerships with schools and community groups that already do outstanding work with youth.
• Working towards greater online visibility for youth and ensuring our online communication conveys transparent and clear information about our service.
• Embracing a health equity lens to pursue and expand outreach to ensure otherwise under-served communities know about FNP.

FNP recognizes the very real internal and external barriers to accessing care reinforced by factors such as stigma. We will work to address these barriers by:

• Supporting MHA awareness in the GTA community through presentations and written information for youth-serving groups or schools.
• Advocating for youth-friendly and youth-informed care to stakeholders in the MHA system.
• Involving youth in the co-creation of external multimedia presentations to transmit research and practice findings in youth-friendly ways.

FNP is committed to engaging directly with youth to empower them to guide FNP policies, and practice and influence system transformation. We will achieve this through:

• Implementing and investing resources in a Youth Advisory Council at FNP.
• Exploring and creating youth staff role(s) at the FNP to embrace the value of peer-topeer support.
• Reviewing FNP policies and practices to ensure youth autonomy is supported in their care trajectories.
• Creating opportunities for youth to share ideas and priorities for improving the youth MHA system through research and practice.

FNP will demonstrate our ongoing commitment to youth engagement by instituting sustainable practices to continually partner with youth to co-design and co-develop various activities and initiatives including:

• Creating spaces to allow youth partners to develop and implement initiatives at FNP.
• Evaluating our youth engagement efforts in partnership with youth, to ensure positive outcomes for youth and families and high satisfaction with our program.
• Ensuring this strategy remains dynamic and responsive to youths’ needs through ongoing evaluation and re-development.
• Reporting the outcomes of our efforts to youth-friendly conferences and publications and beyond.

FNP will be youth-centered in all elements of the navigation process, to prioritize that youth are heard and have the tools to connect with the care they need in the MHA system. We will accomplish this through:

• Forming authentic relationships and providing youth with the opportunities to connect with FNP throughout the navigation process.
• Ensuring youth-friendly language in FNP communications.
• Exploring a broad array of virtual and in-person MHA services across the GTA so FNP can best meet the access needs of youth seeking MHA care.
• Providing youth-friendly options for connecting with FNP.
• Supporting youth to understand their options for care and the larger MHA care landscape.
• Supporting connection to, and participation in, high-quality and youth-friendly services and resources.
• Ongoing training and skill-building for all FNP staff.

FNP will ensure an environment of respect for the diverse situations and systems impacting youth, and their preferences in seeking MHA care. This includes:

• Recognizing the role of given and chosen family systems in youths’ recovery journeys, and providing support for youths’ preferences and needs.
• Embracing allies as supports to young people seeking care.
• Committing to making FNP a place where youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences can feel a sense of belonging and comfortable bringing their full selves into their experience with FNP.