Frequently Asked Questions
Why?
The long-term goal of Planet Youth Nogojiwanong is to see reductions in rates of substance use and other related behaviours, and improvements to overall youth well-being. Issues and behaviours that we see on the surface tend to be symptoms of deeper and more complex root causes. By finding out what the root causes are, and working as a community to address these, we hope to see change in a positive direction.
Data on youth substance use rates show that our area has rates that are higher than the Ontario average, and as of the last few years, even lower-risk substances are causing high health risks due to the toxic drug supply (for example, fentanyl spiking).But the data we have is out of date – we are missing local, recent data to know how our youth are doing in multiple areas of wellbeing. This approach will help us have fresh, local data that we can use to make positive change in our communities.
We will not be copying the exact actions that Iceland took to address their community priorities. Instead, we will be using the evidence-based process they developed, including a validated survey and planning cycle. This will help us know what our local youth’s concerns are, where they may stem from, and what our strengths are. It will be up to us to identify and implement locally relevant solutions based on that information.
Substance use impacts everyone in various aspects, such as mental and physical health, family breakdown, increased crime, and societal costs. We all pay educational taxes, for example, regardless of whether we have children in the school system or not.
We all have a responsibility to help make our communities better, and any person who parents, lives, works, or interacts with children and youth in any capacity has a responsibility to be a positive influence (protective factor).
How?
Traditional prevention is focused on education – specifically, teaching kids about the dangers of drinking and drugs.
Recognizing that youth outcomes are a direct reflection of the environments in which they live and grow, Planet Youth is focused on creating nurturing community environments where children and youth have the support they need to thrive.
This type of prevention, called “upstream” or “primary” prevention can look like:
Free and affordable recreational opportunities
After school clubs and programming
Positive parenting
Caring adult allies at school and in the community
Having clear and consistent expectations and boundaries
Crucial to this project is centring the voices and experiences of our district’s youth.
Beyond the youth survey, ongoing youth engagement will help to inform local action items.
Do you work with a youth group that may want to have their voices heard? Contact us to set up a youth engagement session or discuss ongoing involvement in the project.
Are you a young person looking to get involved? Please contact us!
When children and families are thriving, the entire community benefits.
By working together, our communities become stronger, healthier, and more supportive. Using an evidence-based approach to identify which aspects of our communities need strengthening will save time and money.
Primary prevention methods are really about creating an environment where everyone feels safe, cared for and valued.
Who?
Planet Youth is all-inclusive and for everyone.
The goal is to improve the social environment for our youth, where we can work together to reduce risk factors, strengthen protective factors, and improve the well-being of all children and youth in Nogojiwanong.
Planet Youth Nogojiwanong - Brought to you by PYSUP is coordinated in collaboration with Lakelands Public Health and the Peterborough Drug Strategy with guidance from the PYSUP Community Coordinating Table.
While the Community Coordinating Table (acting as a steering committee) provides guidance from a district-wide perspective, it is up to the Advisory Committees to create a localized plan to address the risks and protective factors that youth are experiencing in their communities.
Anyone is welcome to join one of our advisory committees and contribute to solutions for all children and youth!
The Surveys
The survey is the main tool that will help us understand what life is like for teens in our communities. We are starting in a couple of Peterborough neighbourhoods in this initial round, and as we build momentum, we plan to expand within the four counties. Starting in February 2026, the survey will be offered every two years to grade 10 and 11 students attending participating high schools.
The survey data is analyzed by our partners at Planet Youth in Iceland, and results are shared widely with the goal of providing our communities with the information needed to develop interventions based on local data.
We require a benchmark of where things are in terms of risk and protective factors, and evidence has shown this is the age group that works the best.
Once we understand the risk and protective factors of each community, we can take steps to improve outcomes for all children and youth. Five years from now, the grade 10 and 11 students we survey will have been in grades 5 and 6 when the first survey was performed. We will be able to quantitatively measure the improvement in our communities over the past five years.
The survey asks questions about substance use and frequency, as well as risk and protective factors within the four environments that have the greatest influence over youth: Family, Peers, School and Leisure Time.
The survey is not just about data collection; it’s a tool for communities to better understand the lives, challenges, and strengths of their youth.
Parents always have been, and always will be, the most important influence in a child’s life. Parents are encouraged to support the surveys by granting permission for their child to participate. The surveys are anonymous. Parents also have a huge role in raising protective factors, as 25% of a youth’s sphere of influence is their family. Interestingly, Planet Youth research has shown that it is not just about the quality time you spend with your kids; it is also about the quantity of time.
The anonymous surveys are an opportunity for youth to have their voice heard. They need to be open and receptive to the process and answer the questions as honestly as possible. Once the survey results are in, our Youth will be part of the consultation process to implement positive action.
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