Grant: Other: IYS-Net Phase 2 - Provincial Stream Grants

Poor access to youth mental health services requires urgent action to ensure youth receive the right care at the right time. Integrated Youth Services (IYS) aim to overcome these challenges by providing low barrier, youth-centered, and culturally safe care. Kickstand, Alberta's IYS initiative, provides a network of services to diverse youth and is now positioned to enhance data systems that track youth served, services provided, and quality of care. The Core Grant proposal describes two projects to:1) co-design Kickstand360, a provincial Learning Health System (LHS) to provide continuous feedback, build knowledge, and improve practices and policies to address youth mental health and substance use needs; and 2) develop the StandOUT Lab, a youth engagement learning hub offering opportunities to co-design and research LHS processes and IYS related topics. In collaboration with youth, service providers, and community members, this project prioritizes equity, inclusion, intersectionality, and accessibility across four goals: (1) strengthening governance across Kickstand sites to integrate diverse youth voices in decision-making; (2) co-designing and implementing data systems to reflect youth needs, experiences, and outcomes; (3) developing, implementing, and evaluating Kickstand360, a scalable LHS for continuous learning and improvement; and (4) launching the StandOUT Lab, a youth-led research initiative providing training, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. The Data Proposal outlines collaborative approaches to define what, how and when data will be collected, used and shared back with youth, family members and providers of the Kickstand network. Youth are central collaborators, ensuring their voices shape effective and inclusive solutions. By embedding an LHS within the Kickstand network, the core and data projects will sustainably improve youth mental health and substance use services and outcomes in Alberta, while advancing IYS knowledge across Canada.