The overall vision of Planet Youth Haldimand-Norfolk is that local youth are healthy and happy, connected to their families and communities, and able to achieve their full potential.
The Planet Youth Haldimand-Norfolk project aims to engage all youth in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties, addressing the high-priority issue of substance use identified within the community. The project seeks to enhance community engagement with youth and youth-serving sectors by continuing to develop a community coalition to implement the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM). Three action teams will be established across the region’s dispersed communities. Interventions will be identified based on data collected from grade 10 students, and youth engagement activities will be selected in collaboration with coalition partners.
The Grand Erie Public Health Unit (GEPH) was formed in January 2025, following the merger of Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and the Brant County Health Unit. It services rural communities across Haldimand and Norfolk counties and provides leadership for this project. GEPH provides a range of health programming and initiatives including its substance use prevention program, running for over two decades. GEPH leverages strong cross-sectoral partnerships with schools and community organizations, including those serving priority sub-groups.
Lead organization: Grand Erie Public Health
Contact: Josh Daley, Health Promoter; Lina Hassen, Health Promoter
Location: Haldimand and Norfolk Counties
Haldimand and Norfolk counties are located on the shores of Lake Erie in Southwestern Ontario and are mainly agricultural rural areas, with beautiful trails, beaches and close-knit communities.
This project is funded as part of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP). Learn more here.
