CHART Lab

joining the youth advisory council

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) represents the youth voice for the YDI and helps ensure all of the YDI projects and activities are reflective of how youth are thinking and feeling today. The YAC is made up of diverse youth from all over BC, who have an interest in promoting youth health and well-being in their communities. 
 
For the upcoming 2023/24 YAC, interested youth will be invited to ask their own research questions and collaborate with our research team to answer their own questions using YDI data as Youth Participatory Action Researchers. They will also be invited to help us interpret findings and come up with plans for sharing the findings with others and turning findings into action for the community. Apply for the 2023/2024 YAC here.
Our YAC members are involved in many different initiatives. They work on various project committees throughout the year, such as creating infographics or videos to share YDI findings. Our YAC members can also volunteer to take part in other community activities, such as:
 
  • introducing the YDI survey and answering related questions at participating schools in their area
  • presenting YDI findings to schools
  • participating in events with policy makers in education, health care, and community to represent youth voice
  • presenting at conferences

For example, this year YDI YAC members participated in the YDI Annual Symposium, Frayme Learning Institute, and the Best Brains Exchange conference put on by the Public Health Association of BC. YAC members were also involved in Deliberative Dialogue sessions co-hosted by Dr. Samji’s CHART Lab and the BC Children’s Hospital to provide insight on what BC can do to promote youth well-being during the COVID-19 recovery period. View the report here.

In addition to working on different projects related to the YDI throughout the year, YAC members make a commitment to attend 4 quarterly meetings (via Zoom) throughout the school year.

As of June 2023, recruitment for the YAC for the 2023-2024 cycle is now open! Fill out your application here.

If you have any questions about the YAC or its application, please do not hesitate to contact the CHART lab at ydi@sfu.ca.