Health Services Utilization and Systems Impacts
Overview
Often when youth seek support, they need assistance with more than one concern. With integrated youth services, the services addressing those needs are linked together to provide optimal care. Foundry is the first province-wide integrated youth services initiative in British Columbia. As Foundry grows and expands, we are constantly striving to understand what works best for youth and their families/caregivers.
Research into health services utilization and systems impacts looks at best practices for integrated youth services and new ways of improving the Foundry model. We look at the big picture of services available to youth and their families/caregivers in British Columbia and how to integrate Foundry into those services to help youth and their families/caregivers navigate the system and access services.
Importance
When youth and their families/caregivers need support, they may find it difficult to figure out what services are available and where to go. Our goal with health services utilization and systems impacts research is to improve both access to services and the services themselves and understand how these affect the health care system as a whole so that youth and their families/caregivers get the support they need
Key Questions
- What are the challenges facing youth and their families/caregivers when trying to access services?
- How can we improve the Foundry model of services?
- How can we improve the system of care for youth in British Columbia?
Spotlight
Towards a quality standard for emergency departments: Improving mental health and substance use care for youth in British Columbia, Canada
Working with youth, family members/caregivers, service providers and decision makers, the Emergency Department Standards Project Team developed a standard that emergency departments can use to direct young people with mental health and substance use concerns to needed youth-centred health services.
How young people perceive and experience substance use services in BC (A qualitative study)
Anurada, a Research Assistant for the Experience Project, presents on their research highlighting youth’s experiences and perceptions of substance use services in British Columbia, Canada. The three most prominent themes captured in youth’s responses are prevention/early intervention, service accessibility and service delivery.
Foundry, the British Columbia integrated youth services initiative: Sharing lessons from a decade of innovation
In this commentary, Foundry staff members discuss the first ten years of Foundry, what the team has learned that can be used by other integrated youth services initiatives and look ahead to what’s next for Foundry and integrated youth services.
