Grant: Operating Grant: IYS LHS Data Platform

Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a model of care which aims to improve youth's access to high-quality, effective mental health and substance use services. In Canada, the IYS model is being implemented to varying degrees in most provinces/territories, with an emphasis on operating as Learning Health Systems. Collectively, IYS leaders in service delivery and research have been building connections to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, research, and data with the vision of supporting youth to achieve optimal outcomes across Canada. A component of this vision is creation of a multi-network IYS data platform to understand the needs and outcomes of service-seeking youth, explore which services work best for whom, and co-design and develop new services to respond to service gaps and emerging needs. Building on the progress and learnings of a two-network IYS data platform prototype in development in Ontario and British Columbia, the proposed project will advance knowledge and capacities to create learning health system (LHS) and LHS-related data platforms in Canada, integrating different types of data across Canada's IYS networks, ensuring data sovereignty and privacy. The objectives are to: a) set up a state-of-the-art federated pan-Canadian IYS data platform; b) develop a transparent, inclusive, equitable and robust governance framework; c) ensure data autonomy for individual IYS networks while developing a single user interface; d) facilitate youth and family member co-design of data analysis priorities and use cases; e) provide tools to convert data into knowledge; and f) develop and build relevant use cases to improve youth outcomes. The platform will make it easier to access, link and harmonize multi-jurisdictional IYS data. It will facilitate youth, families/caregivers, IYS service providers, Elders, researchers, and system decision-makers/policymakers to work towards the goal of improving MHSU outcomes with and for youth and their families/caregivers.