Youth Policy: What Works and What Doesn’t? A Review of Youth Policy Models From Canada and Other Jurisdictions

In recent years, several governments around the world have recognized the need for policy responses to systemic youth issues and have undertaken policy reforms that focus on youth. Scholars and policy makers alike have developed new perspectives and tools for framing contemporary youth issues and have made the case for a more positive, proactive approach to supporting youth. Currently, the range of youth policies and strategies represents a patchwork of agreements among various levels of government, ministries, departments, communities, and stakeholders. Most youth service providers rely on short-term funding from multiple sources, which results in short-term or time-limited initiatives that are difficult to sustain or integrate with long-term planning, and challenging to evaluate for effectiveness. This report is a review of formal policy responses to systemic youth issues from various jurisdictions in Canada and internationally. It reviews policy and legislative frameworks related to youth at the local, regional, and national levels. The purpose of this review is to document existing youth policy models and legislative frameworks and identify the policy mechanisms that contribute to long-term positive outcomes for youth. The findings of the review and lessons learned are outlined below.