| Upstream Canada: Making Research Matter in Community-Engaged Social Innovation Invited talk: Knowledge Mobilization graduate course at York University. Showcased Upstream Canada as a community-ended scholarship case P6 | Presentation | 2025-01-31 | Jacqueline Sohn | P6 |
| A roof over your head is not a home: Youth Homelessness in CanadaEdited dialogue about youth homelessness and grief, including solutions such as Upstream Canada P6 | Publication | 2023-11-13 | "Cora MacDonald", Ahmad Bonakdar, Jacqueline Sohn , "Carrie Traher" | P6 |
| Preventing Youth Homelessness in the Context of Covid-19: Complexities and Ways Forward. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified detrimental social and health experiences and consequences for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Recent research indicates that heightened household tensions due to stay-at-home orders, coupled with pandemic-related financial insecurities, have worsened pre-existing factors for many young people, particularly for those experiencing stigma and violence. As a result, it can be projected that the risk and experience of youth homelessness will intensify. In spite of this, there has been scarce attention to the impacts the current context has on these vulnerable groups. This commentary aims to bring attention to the prevailing issues and challenges faced by youth at-risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides crucial considerations for preventative solutions by incorporating the Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Framework. Based on research across fields, we offer insights for equity-focused, collaborative interventions, focusing on the education and social services sectors.P6 | Publication | 2022-03-06 | Melissa Perri, Jacqueline Sohn | P6 |
| Transforming the Canadian Policy Agenda for School-Based Prevention of Youth Homelessness: Research as ActivismAbstract:
Youth homelessness (YH) demands transformative changes in research, education, and public policy. Distinct from adult homelessness (AH), poorly addressed YH may lead to AH. Prevailing media narratives and policy communications perpetuate stigma and are unrepresentative of youth’s lived experiences, hindering the educational sector’s capacity to implement supportive measures in youth homelessness prevention. Schools are situated to provide preventative and mitigative supports to address YH, yet work intensification of educators receive has reached a point of fatigue, thus threatening support efficacy. We situate our research as activism and propose that policy can be engaged as a matter of social justice and a means to transform society. Our Canadian environmental scan informs several studies in progress, which share goals to: prevent YH; reduce harms from intersectional issues to YH; and ameliorate suffering for youth in or at risk of homelessness. We call for a multi-pronged approach to engage stakeholders, including educators, in addressing this high-stakes issue disproportionately affecting underserved youth, comprising an issue of critical importance to considering research as activism. Our findings chart the next steps to engage the voices of policymakers, academics, and practitioners, and the voices of youth with lived experiences. P19 Carleton University | Publication | 2024-04-30 | | P19 |
| Connecting the dots: Rethinking youth homelessness prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic using an upstream approach in the Canadian contextOne cross-sector approach to addressing youth homelessness that has gained traction in recent years across Canada is Upstream Canada. As an example of social innovation in action, Upstream Canada is an early preventive approach that offers support to youth aged 12 to 16 years who might be at risk of homelessness and school disengagement. Using a universal screening tool and through the collective efforts of schools and community-based agencies, Upstream Canada focuses on preventing homelessness and early school leaving.P6 York University | Publication | 2023-04-30 | | P6 |
| Preventing Youth Homelessness in Canada: The Role of Education PoliciesIn this blog, we will explore the role of education policies in preventing youth homelessness in Canada. We will examine the state of youth homelessness, the impact of equity, diversity, and inclusion, the gaps in Canadian education policies, the importance of schools in preventing youth homelessness, and the need for comprehensive and up-to-date policies.P19 Carleton University | Publication | 2024-03-05 | | P19 |
| Research Summary: preventing youth homelessness through school engagement Research summary for a target audience of potential funders. A case for Upstream Canada showcasing monetary value with early outcomes, tied to educational engagement. P6 | Publication | 2024-04-10 | Jacqueline Sohn , "Stephanie Vasko" | P6 |
| Loss & Grief Among Emerging AdultsInvited talk regarding adolescents and grief, showcasing youth experience in Upstream supports P6 | Presentation | 2024-09-19 | Jacqueline Sohn | P6 |
| Preventing youth homelessness in the educational landscape: towards youth-informed solutionsYouth with lived experience of homelessness across Canada have advised that schools could play an integral role in providing solutions and preventing homelessness from happening in the first place (Malenfant et al., 2020; Schwan et al., 2018). However, there are virtually no policies or established initiatives in the Canadian educational landscape that address the problem of youth homelessness (Poulin et al., 2024). This could be attributed to issues such as: lack of awareness and misconceptions about the problem; an overburdened education sector that does not consider youth homelessness to be within their scope of responsibilities; and systemic barriers to collaboration between sectors (e.g., Sohn & Gaetz, 2020). Despite common challenges, countries such as Australia, the United States and Wales have established school-based approaches to addressing youth homelessness through educational policies and interventions. Our research team is undertaking a study that explores how youth homelessness is addressed in the educational landscapes in these countries through in-depth interviews with policy decision makers, sector leaders, practitioners, academics, and importantly, youth with lived experience. For this presentation, we are proposing to discuss our findings from interviews with eight youth participants from our case study countries: Australia, the United States and Wales. A consistent and troubling theme is the disconnect between policy and lived experience, with knowledge and access being significant barriers to supports – despite legislated and established initiatives. Lessons from these international youth participants’ insights and perspectives will be brought forth to contribute important advice on how we can better serve youth at risk of and experiencing homelessness in Canada, particularly through the education sector. We aim to engage in discussions with the audience on strategies for meaningful dialogue with policy decision makers across Canada, based on the valuable insights shared by our youth participants.P19 Carleton University | Presentation | 2024-10-31 | | P19 |
| Building Support Networks for Youth: Proven Interventions for Preventing Youth HomelessnessConference presentation P6 York University | Presentation | 2024-10-31 | | P6 |
| Towards educational equity for youth experiencing homelessness in Canada: lessons from Australia, the United States and WalesPaper presentation on the conceptual framework, setting the stage for our international comparative study on YHP policies and initiatives in the educational landscape P19 Carleton University | Presentation | 2023-05-31 | | P19 |
| Upstream Canada: Adapting Australia's COSS Model & Early Outcomes MtS conference presentation on how Upstream Canada has adapted Australia's COSS model and early outcomes re: educational disengagement and homeless risk intersections P6 | Presentation | 2025-02-24 | Jacqueline Sohn | P6 |
| Using Research to Advance Social Innovation and Policy Change: the case of Upstream CanadaConference presentation - National conference for the social sciences and humanities - presentation about Upstream Canada as a social innovation and the process of model development P6 | Presentation | 2023-05-30 | Jacqueline Sohn | P6 |
| Prevention of Youth Homelessness in Canada: Revealing and Closing the Gaps in Education PoliciesThe purpose of this policy brief is to highlight the gaps in Canadian education policies concerning youth homelessness prevention and intervention. We urge school boards, community partners, education policymakers and provincial/territorial governments to work together to create comprehensive, up-to-date policies to address youth homelessness in schools.P19 Carleton University | Publication | 2024-03-30 | | P19 |
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