E-Learning Event - Engaging Youth in Applied Research: Hope for the Future of Youth Housing

Community-Based Research Canada presents “Young People in Community-Based Research”: our winter 2024 e-learning series. This series will highlight community-based research projects, models, and processes that exemplify participatory engagement of young people in research. An important hallmark of community-based research is that the research is participatory, meaning it involves authentic and meaningful participation of stakeholders in all phases of the research. When research has impacts on the lives of young people, participatory research would involve authentically engaging young people in the planning, design, implementation, and dissemination of research. Within this series we will hear about youth-engaged models and processes for research, as well as research projects that have been driven by young people.

Webinar - Engaging Youth in Applied Research: Hope for the Future of Youth Housing

Youth can be brought to the research table but how does meaningful engagement happen? This webinar will focus on a SSHRC funded applied research project entitled: Co-design of a Youth-led Housing Hub: Developing a Unique and Scalable Housing Model for Youth Living on Their Own in Durham. This project engaged youth aged 16 and 17 who live on their own (independant from their families), known as "Trusteed Youth", to generate knowledge about how to best meet the needs of Trusteed Youth, identify best practices for engaging Trusteed Youth in participatory action research, co-design an evidence-based alternative housing model for precariously housed youth, and determine policy and practice recomendations for supporting youth living on their own. Throughout this multi-year project youth were involved on equal footing with researchers and community service providers every step of the way—from conception of research questions to analyzing findings. This webinar will explore lessons learned and key insights gained for how to best engage youth in applied research projects. Lorraine Closs, principal investigator on the project and Kendra Grant Guanti will co-lead the discussion.

Presenters:

Lorraine Closs, M.S.W., R.S.W, Professor, Faculty of Social and Community Services, Social Service Worker Program, Durham College.

Kendra Grant Guanti, Research steering committee member & Trusteed Youth

Lorraine Closs has been a DC professor in the School of Health and Community Services since 2013. Prior to that she worked for 20 years providing services in the field of social work with the last eight years in senior management positions. Her experience in leading community partnerships for social innovation includes responsibility for the development and operation of several programs including a youth residential program. More recently, as faculty advisor in the Enactus program at DC for 3 years, she was responsible for empowering students to realize their entrepreneurial and social innovation project goals. In 2016 she co-led a successful research study investigating the impact of interdisciplinary field placement. From 2018 to 2020 she was the Principal Investigator of a College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) 2-year research project entitled; Co-Design of a youth-led housing hub: Developing a unique and scalable housing model for youth living on their own in Durham. She is currently leading another 3-year CCSIF research project entitled; Building Bridges Together: Co-production of Financial Empowerment Strategies with People Experiencing Low Income. Lorraine’s research focus is the social injustice issues related to poverty and homelessness.

*This event is intended for CBRCanada members only. If you are employed, studying, or affiliated with any CBRCanada member institution/organization, you are already considered a member. If you are unsure if your institution is covered, learn more here. Individuals whose institution is not on this list are welcome to register as an an individual member. We value community participation and have a free membership option for registered community mobilizers.