SUFA Initiative (2001)

Youth Internship Canada (YIC)

General Information
Lead Department	Human Resources Development Canada
Partners	Youth Internship Canada, which includes Youth International and Youth Science and Technology Internships within the Youth Employment Strategy. Businesses, organizations, municipalities and band/tribal councils are eligible recipients.
Effective Date	April 1, 1998
Expiry Date	March 31, 2005
Website(s)	http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca This web site is HRDC’s National Youth Site.
Purpose	To assist out-of-school, or unemployed or underemployed youth in preparing for, obtaining and maintaining employment, and in making a successful transition into the labour market by enabling them to acquire the knowledge and work experience necessary.
Roles and Contributions	Delivery of program primarily through third party organisations, typically as employers. 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 Canada Centres and the Youth website.

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Resources
Funding	2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 Youth Internship Canada $63.0M $63.0M $63.0M
Tracking and Reporting	Information about Youth programming is tracked through internal departmental systems; the reporting of results is part of the overall Employment Programs Branch (EPB) accountability structure with client results documented within internal systems. Sponsor level tracking is also documented. Aggregate financial information is publicly reported in the Departmental Performance Report and Public Accounts.

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Measurement and Reporting
Outcomes / Outputs	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. Key outputs include the number of interventions completed, employment action plans initiated and completed.
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 as an intricate part of results-based accountability. The role of partners has been highlighted as key to client success and also forms part of the results-based accountability framework. Development of additional indicators, 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 within the newly developed results-based accountability framework. Information about Youth programming is tracked through internal departmental systems; the reporting of results is part of the overall Employment Programs Branch (EPB) accountability structure with client results documented within internal systems. Sponsor level tracking is also documented.
Comparable Indicators	Program uses societal indicators to provide context to its performance, however there is no defined set of societal indicators that will be continually used or monitored on a regular basis.
Evaluation/Third Party Assessments	There is an ongoing evaluation framework associated with the Youth Initiatives, which has been in place since the beginning of the program. There have been two evaluations conducted since 1998. They are the Youth Internship Canada Formative and Summative evaluations. These evaluations have been carried out by HRDC’s Evaluation and Data Development, and are be publicly available through the HRDC website. A third evaluation, which is a follow up to the Summative is in process. 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. By example, public information about individual grants and contributions programs is available at http://www18.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/

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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, meetings 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 Human Resources Canada Centres business planning.

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Service Commitments
Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria	Information regarding the Youth Internship Program is available at local Human Resource Canada Centres and on the internet at: http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/yic.shtml, publications such as Youth Link, 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 organisations. The local Human Resource Canada Centres have posted service standards.
Measurement and Public Reporting	Not applicable1

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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 Internship Canada. In addition, this program is based on discretionary funding and is largely delivered through third parties.
Tracking and Public Reporting	Not applicable1

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Mobility
Existence of Measures	There are no minimum residency requirements for participants in the Youth Internship Canada program.