When working with young people, the words engagement and consultation often get used interchangeably. But at Partners for Youth, we know there’s a big difference and that difference can shape the outcome of any program, policy, or initiative that involves youth.
Consultation means asking youth what they think. It might look like a survey, a focus group, or inviting a young person to give feedback on a plan that’s already in motion. These efforts are usually well-meaning and in some cases, they’re an important first step. But too often, that’s where it ends. The insights might be collected, maybe even summarized in a report, but youth aren’t always brought back into the conversation when decisions are made or actions are taken.
Engagement, on the other hand, goes much deeper. Engagement means involving youth from the very beginning. It’s not just about gathering opinions, it’s about building relationships, creating opportunities for youth to contribute meaningfully, and trusting them to help shape what comes next. Engagement requires more time, more flexibility, and more accountability. When we engage we don’t just ask a question, seek feedback and walk away – we enter into a partnership and process whereby we are accountable to the youth who we engage.
That belief is embedded in how we design and deliver our programs. In the New Brunswick Youth in Care Network, for example, youth aren’t just participants they’re leaders. From the formation of year round activity and program plans to the development of awareness campaigns, youth are actively engaged in every phase. They identify the issues that matter most to them. They shape the messages. They create change that reflects their lived experience and speaks directly to their peers.
We see this same approach in programs like Sport 3, where youth build relationships with adult allies over time and are given the space to grow as individuals, not just as participants in a curriculum. In our work with youth in care, with youth who have experienced homelessness, or with youth navigating mental health challenges, we return again and again to this principle: young people deserve to be more than an afterthought. They deserve to be at the centre.
Because engagement isn’t a checkbox. It’s a commitment.
A commitment to listening more than we speak.
To creating space rather than filling it.
To building partnerships rooted in respect, not just process.
And when youth are truly engaged, everyone benefits. The solutions are more relevant, the programs are more responsive, and the sense of ownership and belonging is real.
If we want to build stronger communities, systems, and futures, we have to stop asking youth what they think only after decisions are made. We need to ask them to lead with us early, often, and always.