Apply to join the Planet Youth initiative

We’re starting a 5-year pilot initiative to help prevent youth substance use. This project is run in partnership with Planet Youth, an Icelandic group that has successfully prevented substance use in other countries.

The project uses the Icelandic Prevention Model. It focuses on communities working together and using data to make decisions that fit their needs.

About the Planet Youth Initiative in the Yukon

How the initiative works

Community-based approach

The initiative helps communities work with youth to prevent substance use. Each community will ask at least 25 young people to take a survey. The results will help identify what influences youth behaviours related to substance use.

Community involvement and support

2 communities will take part in the pilot initiative. They’ll work with Planet Youth to create a support system, conduct surveys and make plans that meet their specific needs. The goal is to create a safe community where substance use is less likely to happen.

Each community will form a group of people from different areas, such as research, policy and local government, to guide the project and ensure it works well for their community.

What is the Icelandic Prevention Model?

The Icelandic Prevention Model, created by Planet Youth, aims to prevent substance use before it starts. It uses community data to design programs that meet local needs.

The model has 5 main components.

Primary prevention: stopping substance use before it starts.
Community action: using schools and other community hubs.
Data use: providing the community reliable data to help make decisions.
Teamwork: uniting researchers, leaders and community members.
Tailored solutions: ensuring that plans meet the specific community needs.

Steps of the pilot initiative

The project will run over 5 years and has 2 main phases

Year 1: learn about the model, build a team, create a plan and begin implementation.
Years 2 through 5: monitor progress, make adjustments, and continue the work.

Available funding

2 Yukon communities will be selected to participate in this 5-year pilot project.

In year 1 approximately $300,000 will be available for both communities.

These funds will support:

the contract with Planet Youth;
hosting group meetings; and
data collection.

In years 2 to 5 approximately $500,000 will be available to each community.

The funds will support:

the contract with Planet Youth;
launching and sustaining the prevention initiative; and
hosting group meetings.

The budget will be allocated based on identified needs. The Government of Yukon can provider project management support if requested.

Who’s eligible to apply?

Communities or organizations that are interested in implementing the Icelandic Prevention Model to prevent youth substance use in their community can apply. Eligible applicants include:

First Nations governments and municipal governments;
a coalition of Yukon residents;
schools;
registered organizations in good standing under the Societies Act;
Yukon-based not-for-profit corporations under the federal Not-for-Profit Corporations Act; and
charitable organizations.

Community groups can be made up of any members who care about youth in their community and want to work together through the Planet Youth model to reduce youth substance use. This could include:

Members of school communities:
- principals;
- teachers;
- school councils;
- school staff; and
- parents
First Nation and local governments
Community mental and physical health workers
Sports and recreation staff and volunteers
Libraries
Organizations that serve youth
RCMP
Local businesses

How to apply

Submit your Expression of Interest by November 1, 2024 to planetyouth@yukon.ca

The Expression of Interest can be submitted using the form, or through a phone conversation. If you need help applying, contact planetyouth@yukon.ca by October 29, 2024.

To submit an Expression of Interest, connect with others in your community who might like to work as a group to reduce youth substance abuse.

Required commitment

Community committees must:

Identify the scope of project management support needed from Yukon government (for example, hire a project manager or work with a Yukon government project manager).
Establish a 5-year contract with Planet Youth.
Collaborate with Planet Youth and Yukon government to create a baseline data point, and implement the survey.
Review survey data and, withs Planet Youth’s support, interpret the results to guide interventions.
Plan interventions, generate a budget and support the implementation of community-identified solutions.

Work with Planet Youth annually or bi-annually to re-administer the survey and evaluate the impact of the interventions

Community-led actions

Community committees will use the youth survey to guide community-driven prevention activities. Each community will focus on local issues, which may include;

building stronger cultural connections;
offering structured leisure activities for youth; and
bringing different generations together for shared learning and skill development.

If you have questions, email planetyouth@yukon.ca or phone 867-332-7483.

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