Engaging youth to take action to promote their well-being: Methods and findings from a knowledge mobilization project in Nova Scotia, Canada

Background The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms the human right of children to have their voices heard about issues affecting their lives. The One Chance to be a Child (One Chance) report provided an evidence-informed data profile of the well-being of children and youth in Nova Scotia (NS). To promote action from the report, we engaged youth from across the province in a knowledge mobilization (KMb) project. The purpose of this research is to outline the methods of the project, as well as the priority areas identified by youth. Methods 10 NS youth (grades 7-12) were recruited to take part in a three-phased KMb approach: 1) A sense-making workshop to learn and discuss the report, 2) The planning and delivery of a youth-led forum to engage decision-makers in dialogue around the report, and 3) A participatory data analysis workshop to identify priority areas from the report. Data were collected through audio-recordings, note-taking, and pictures of all materials. Results Five priority areas were identified by youth: 1) Access to Care – high-quality care in a timely manner, 2) Community Care – inclusive community solutions, 3) Open Minded Education – school curricula that reflects their needs, 4) Quality of Life and Basic Needs – living wages and healthy workplace policies, and 5) Youth Empowerment – youth voice embedded throughout all actions. Conclusion Actioning theOne Chance report with youth ensures that their voices are heard, and their well-being needs are prioritized.