In 2024, Y4Y conducted research on the job of youth workers* across the province, with the objective to move towards the recognition, valorisation and validation of their work. This research contributed to the larger study Les intervenants et leurs conditions de travail, led by Coalition Interjeunes. They are a non-profit network organisation composed of youth-serving networks from across Québec. We share the same intentions: the recognition of youth workers in a perspective of personnel attraction and retention. Y4Y’s final report presents a better understanding of the nature of youth workers’ crucial work with English-speaking Québec youth, as well as suggestions of concrete actions and solutions to recognise youth workers’ expertise and their time-sensitive needs.

This research took the form of a province-wide online survey, as well as multiple follow-up individual interviews. The admissibility criteria for participating in our survey was the following: you are a youth worker in the province of Québec working with English-speaking youth (ages 12-30)**. Our short-term goal was to put together our findings with Coalition Interjeunes’ data, in order to gain insight into this category of work from a broad range of respondents employed in Québec, including English-speakers. Our long-term goal was to have those respondents’ data be a significant step for better recognition and valorisation of all youth workers.

The youth workers’ anonymity was very important to us. Only Y4Y’s research coordinator had access to the answers and they were be shared with anyone else. Any quotations were stripped of all personal information and the participants' anonymous contribution were part of a larger data pool.

* “Youth workers” was used here as the English translation of the French word “intervenant.e.s”, referring to  people working with youth (“personnes qui travaillent auprès des jeunes,” Coalition Interjeunes’ definition).

** Additional clarification: You are a youth worker in either a French or English-speaking organisation, in the province of Québec, working with at least one English-speaking youth. English does not need to be the youth's first language. For this specific survey, we will not be polling volunteers.