SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

Human Resources Development Canada

Partners

Youth Service Canada is part of the Youth Employment Strategy

Businesses, organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions

Effective Date

April 1, 1998

Expiry Date

March 31, 2005

Web Site

The HRDC National Youth website is at http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca.

Purpose

To assist youth in preparing for, obtaining and maintaining employment, and in making a successful transition into the labour market. Youth Service Canada focuses on providing youth facing greater barriers to entering the labour market with opportunities to acquire valuable job experience and life skills while strengthening their sense of accomplishment and attachment to their communities, and ultimately transition to the labour market.

Roles and Contributions

Delivery of program primarily through third parties, typically non-profit organizations at the community level that create community service projects. The Government of Canada provides contribution funds in support of participant's remuneration, and overhead costs.

HRDC's roles and contributions are publicly communicated through the local Human Resource Centres and the Youth website at http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca.

Resources

Funding

Youth Service Canada

2000-01: $40.0M; 2001-02: $40.0M; 2002-03: $33.7M

Tracking and Reporting

Information about youth programming is tracked through internal departmental systems. Sponsor level tracking is also documented within these systems.

Aggregate financial information is publicly reported in the Departmental Performance Report (http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/menu/pub.shtml) and Public Accounts (http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/text/pub-acc-e.html).

Measurement and Reporting

Outcomes

Key outputs include the number of interventions completed, action plans initiated and completed, number of clients served.

Outcomes are linked to program objectives, that is, to assist youth in preparing for, obtaining and maintaining employment, and in making a successful transition into the labour market, e.g., numbers employed or returned to school.

Performance is measured and monitored on an on-going basis through logic model, performance measurement strategy and program evaluation process as part of the Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework for Youth Employment Programs.

Indicators

At present, indicators used are "number of youth returned to school" and "number of youth employed".

For Youth at Risk, the number of clients who have completed an intervention, and have an employment action plan is an integral part of the results-based accountability framework.

The role of partners has been highlighted as key to client success and also forms part of the results-based accountability framework.

Additional indicators are being developed to track changes to employment situation over a longer period of time, or track client progression to the labour market, and to capture the involvement of communities and partners with the newly developed results-based accountability framework.

Information about youth programming is tracked through internal systems; the reporting of results is part of the overall EPB accountability structure with client results documented within internal departmental systems.

Comparable Indicators

Program uses societal indicators to provide context to its performance, such as the national youth unemployment rate. However, there is no defined set of societal indicators that will be continually used or monitored on a regular basis.

Evaluation / Thrid Party Assessments

There is an ongoing evaluation framework associated with the Youth Initiatives, which has been in place since the beginning of the program.

Ongoing evaluations are available through the HRDC website at http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/edd-pdf/sp-ah040-08-99e.pdf.

Each year since 1997 (that is 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000), an assessment of participants in program has been conducted by COMPAS Research. These assessment reports follow the program participants once a year for three years.

Has also been part of department-wide assessment strategy, and Program Management Initiative

Shared Information and Best Practices

Youth Programming in general has been the subject of a "Lessons Learned" review -- "The Effectiveness Employment-Related Programs for Youth: Lessons Learned from Past Experience", available through HRDC's Evaluation and Data Development site: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/edd/lessons.list

Public Reporting

Reports to the public (and Parliament) through various vehicles – through the Departmental Performance Report, the Internet and other published information about the program.

Public information about individual grants and contribution programs is available at http://www18.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/

Involving Canadians

Provisions for Citizens to Participate in Developing Social Priorities and Reviewing Outcomes

HRDC currently involves Canadians through the regular evaluation process – that is, through client surveys, third party evaluations, consultations with partners who deliver the program

Feedback Mechanisms to the Public

http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/common/contct.shtml This web page offers an opportunity for the public to send feedback. This web site can also be accessed from the home page by clicking on the icon that reads "Contact Us".

Correspondence and 1-800 telephone number are alternative methods for the public to send feedback. The public as well as organizations and community groups can also contribute to local HRCC business planning.

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

Information regarding the Youth Service Canada is available at local Human Resource Canada Centres and on the internet at http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/ysc.shtml, publications such as Youth Link etc 1-800 etc.

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

No specific service commitments for youth programming, as income support to youth is paid through the sponsoring organizations.

Local Human Resources Canada Centres have posted service standards.

Measurement and Public Reporting

N/A

Appeals and Complaints

Existence, Availability and Communication of Mechanisms

Local Human Resource Canada Centres have acted as a conduit for complaints on an informal, case-by-case basis.

HRDC does not currently have a special appeals and complaints process for Youth Service Canada. In addition, this program is based on discretionary funding and is largely delivered through third parties at the local Human Resource Canada Centres level.

Tracking and Public Reporting

N/A

Mobility

Existence of Measure

There are no residency requirements for participants in the Youth Service Canada program.