In 2019, CYPT Voting Members made the decision to evolve the Shared Goals for Child and Youth Wellbeing to include the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being developed by UNICEF Canada. This shared measurement evolution was officially implemented in January 2020. Members were excited to see so much alignment between what CYPT members had established locally with what children and youth across Canada said mattered to their well-being. The evolved framework benefits from the considerable research done by UNICEF Canada into the well-being of children and youth, as defined by children and youth themselves.

We now measure nine dimensions of child and youth well-being:

1. We are happy and respected.
2. We are connected to our environment.
3. We are secure.
4. We belong.
5. We are participating.
6. We are learning.
7. We are healthy.
8. We are free to play.
9. We are protected.

Together, we are working to improve the well-being of children and youth in Waterloo Region and to move the needle on these nine dimensions of child and youth well-being. These focus areas are key to the well-being of children and youth.

In March 2020, CYPT Voting Members also made the decision to employ ‘We Belong‘ as the lens that would guide the majority of the work done by the collective. You can learn more about this here.

Historically, the 32 measures and six shared goals were named by CYPT Members as a place to start when measuring child and youth well-being – it is these measures that are highlighted in this report.

Snapshot of Child and Youth Wellbeing Report

The six Shared Goals for Child and Youth Wellbeing along with 32 indicators were developed by CYPT members in 2016.  Click here for a full description.