Align our youth employment and housing programs to federal and provincial policy development. 360°kids will communicate with provincial and federal officials regarding our existing approaches to support vulnerable youth that directly align with housing, health, and employment to improve outcomes for vulnerable youth.
Read more
Youth mental health and addictions – community capacity and operating funding 360°kids will communicate with federal decision-makers regarding youth mental health and addictions priorities, with a focus on expanding access and community capacity. Will seek to help identify and shape upcoming federal youth mental health funding mechanisms (including how community-based organizations can access health-specific funding streams). Advocate for operating funding models that enable youth-serving organizations to deliver prevention, early intervention, and wraparound supports. Position 360°kids' integrated prevention and wraparound model as a value-for-money investment that reduces downstream costs in emergency care,policing, and social services. Ensure youth voice and equity perspectives are incorporated into youth mental health and addictions policy and funding approaches.
Integrate funded mental health, mentorship, and early intervention supports into YESS-funded placements. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the redesign and delivery of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), to ensure that funded mental health and wraparound supports are embedded alongside employment placements. Advocate for including dedicated federal funding (through contribution agreements and/or program requirements) for counselling, mentorship, early intervention, literacy and peer supports being delivered. Ensure supports are available for youth facing barriers such as homelessness, disability,newcomer status, and Indigenous identity. Improve outcomes such as training completion, job retention, well-being, and reduced crises or program dropouts.
Affordable Housing (including within Build Canada Homes) by incorporating youth housing, homelessness prevention, and wraparound supports. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding the design and implementation of Build Canada Homes alongside the important goals of federal departments (including Finance, PSPC, and Health) and agencies, and related federal housing measures. Advocate to ensure youth supportive/transitional housing and homelessness prevention are incorporated into program objectives, eligible activities, and funding criteria. Recognize the role of wraparound supports (mental health, employment, family/natural supports) in stabilizing youth housing outcomes. Advance pilot opportunities with 360°kids to demonstrate scalable approaches and measurable outcomes.
Data and outcomes reporting capacity – support to expand tracking and align reporting with federal priorities. 360°kids will communicate with federal officials regarding resources and supports to expand data tracking capacity and outcomes reporting, including where such capacity can be supported through program funding. Will advocate to increase support to expand data tracking capacity for housing and employment outcomes. Aligning reporting with federal priorities and program reporting templates to demonstrate measurable results foryouth, communities, and the broader economy.