The collaboration between The Dam and EMC will focus on the diverse youth groups and others in Mississauga, aiming to address substance use and mental health concerns through culturally sensitive and community-driven approaches.
The Planet Youth Mississauga (PYM) team lead three Community Action Teams (CATs) in Erin Mills, Meadowvale, and Cooksville, which include more than 40 multi-sectoral stakeholders representing school boards, public health, police, newcomer agencies, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and faith communities. CATs are engaged throughout the entire Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) process, including participatory interpretation of survey data and collective priority setting. PYM also intends to establish a more consistent youth presence on CATs, ensuring interventions are co-designed. PYM will continue to work with schools to deliver the Planet Youth survey to grade 10s. Mississauga communities are some of Canada’s most culturally and linguistically diverse urban communities, including a high proportion of newcomers who may also face literacy barriers. PYM will collaborate with schools and settlement agencies to develop appropriate communication and engagement tools for students.
This project is a collaborative effort between The Dam (Develop, Assist, Mentor) and Erin Mills Connects (EMC), two organizations dedicated to supporting youth and families in Mississauga.
Research collaborative
PYM is working with University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy (CCDMP) to implement a mixed-methods evaluation plan grounded in community-based participatory research. A pre- and post-assessment of school-based data will explore youth experiences and needs in the initiative’s three target communities, as well as the impact and fidelity of interventions.
Lead organizations: The Dam and Erin Mills Connects
Websites: The Dam • Erin Mills Connects • Planet Youth Mississauga
Contact: Catharine Chamberlain
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Planet Youth Mississauga (PYM) focuses on youth attending schools in three Mississauga communities.
This project is funded as part of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP). Learn more here.
