What is youth driven care? It wasn’t long ago that youth and their parents were more often viewed as an obstacle in the way of their OWN treatment. Naturally, there was resistance which grounded any attempt towards progress. It wasn’t until professionals began involving youth, with their valuable insight, that things began to get better. Our goal is for youth to be brought to the table and be a part of the team in a meaningful way for their invaluable lived knowledge.
Youth driven care means that youth play an active role in their treatment and care. That means that youth should be able to participate in groups and meetings that involve them. They should have the opportunity to share how they feel, what they think is best and what works and what doesn’t work. When youth help guide their care, they are more likely to have success and to have things get better.