Opportunity Youth - Year Three Findings (2023)

This report unveils the findings of a 2023 survey carried out in DNATL, a second phase of an earlier survey conducted in 2021. The first phase of research, which took place during the onset of lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consisted of a digitally distributed survey. Drawing from valuable input collected during our initial research and an environment scan that involved consultations with local community service providers, we have fine-tuned our methodology to develop a more streamlined and effective survey tool. This report focuses on the findings of the survey, which was centered around the experiences of young people in DNATL, and their connection to work, school, and their community.

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Results

The survey revealed that OY were more likely than their connected peers to indicate myriad supports that could be helpful to them, when it comes to education and work. This finding suggests that OY in DNATL may have a higher demand for assistance in these areas than their connected peers. Additionally, more than three quarters of the OY participants and more than half of the connected participants did not know of local resources or support available to help their efforts in school and the workforce. This indicates a general lack of familiarity among the surveyed youth regarding the assistance and opportunities accessible to them locally. Based on these findings, there appears to be a disconnect between the needs and awareness of support services among young residents in DNATL. Connected youth may require more support than they anticipate, whereas both groups report lacking the important knowledge about the resources available to them. These results highlight the potential importance of improving access to and awareness of local resources and support systems for young people, especially when it comes to education and work. In practical terms, the survey findings suggest that efforts could be made to bridge the gap between the needs of youth and the availability of support services. This might involve initiatives to increase awareness of local resources and tailor support programs to better address the specific needs of all young people in DNATL.