Youth Impact Survey

CYPT logo

In partnership with the Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT) of Waterloo Region, we sought to explore the experiences of well-being for youth (ages 9-18 years) living in the Waterloo Region. We used the Youth Impact Survey (YIS), a tool that was developed based on UNICEF’s Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being, which explores nine dimensions of youth well-being:

YIS Tree
4 phases

Each survey cycle includes 4 phases:

  1. Surveying: collaborate with youth to prepare the survey and collect data
  2. Sharing the data: present data, create data reports, and publish results
  3. Action plan: conduct Sense-Making Sessions with youth to discuss the findings of the YIS, to hear youth perspectives on next steps, and to get youth feedback on the YIS
  4. Action: implement action items identified during phase 3

So far, we have collected data in 2020 (n = 297), 2021 (n = 1074), and 2023 (n = 2661), and we are planning to collect data again in 2026.

Publications

Brown, B., Browne, D. T., & Child and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (2024). Youth mental health in a Canadian community sample during COVID-19: Exploring the role of perceived sense of belonging. Journal of Community Psychology, 52(6), 720–738. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23125