Our Priority Areas

Mental Health and Addictions

Youth have faced worsening mental health during the pandemic, stigma preventing them from seeking support, and family, friends, and mentors do not have knowledge on how to support them. 
 

Long-term changes we would like to see in this area include:

• Mental health supports are incorporated into each high school

• Stigma is eliminated as a barrier to accessing mental health and addiction services for youth

• Community agencies work with youth to understand how to better service them

• Barriers to accessing mental health services including in rural settings are improved

• Youth across all of Oxford County can easily access local mental health and addiction supports

• Youth report improvements on their mental health

Accessibility of Information

Youth struggle to find clear and organized information on post-secondary options, youth services, resources, work/volunteer opportunities, post-secondary funding, and more. 
 

Long-term changes we would like to see in this area include:

• Local leaders understand how to promote local resources and what information is accessible for youth

• There are physical locations where youth and parents can access all the information they need

• Information is offered to youth and parents in locations they naturally access

• Youth are able to easily find the information they need about a variety of supports

Rural Challenges

Youth living in Oxford's rural communities face further barriers, including transportation, lack of work, volunteer and recreational opportunities, limited access to technology, and a general sense of isolation. 
 

Long-term changes we would like to see in this area include:

• Rural youth are aware of and able to access after school programming in their home communities

• Transportation, internet, and technology barriers have been removed for rural youth

• Rural youth do not feel at a disadvantage because of where they live

• Rural youth feel a sense of belonging in Oxford County 

Youth Futures & Employment

Youth are not consistently exposed to a variety of career and educational paths or how to achieve them, and there is a lack of resources available and low awareness of those supports that do exist.
 

Long-term changes we would like to see in this area include:

• Youth have access to a variety of resources to fund their post-secondary education

• Youth are aware of various career and education options

• Youth have increased awareness of youth employment services and are accessing them

• Youth are exposed to a variety of career options, taught how to prepare for them, and connected to additional information when needed

Youth Inclusion

Youth are rarely consulted or included in processes related to decisions that affect them (e.g. service provision, promotion, funding decisions), and do not have a forum for their feedback and voice to be heard by local leaders. 
 

Long-term changes we would like to see in this area include:

• Local leaders understand issues affecting youth because they engage youth in meaningful ways

• Free, safe, youth-led social spaces exist in Oxford County

• Indigenous youth feel included in Oxford County services and programs

• Youth feel their voice matters in their community and they have accessible opportunities to share their experience, perspectives, and opinions