- The period of pre-adolescence and youth is an extension of the early years of development. Adolescence is a key period of transition with consequences for the rest of life (McCreary Adolescent Health Survey II, 1999).
- Almost one out of every ten youth ran away from home in the past year, and are at danger for virtually every risk: abuse, poor health, suicide, pregnancy, and alcohol and drug use (McCreary Adolescent Healthy Survey III, 2003).
- Youth leaving government care at the age of 19 do not experience the full range of transitions that youth encounter as they enter adulthood, leaving youth from care under pressure to do more, sooner, and with fewer internal and external resources than their peers (When Youth Age Out of Care, 2005).
- There is good reason to suspect that when the transition from foster care is not well supported, youth are at greater risk for homelessness, sexual exploitation, victimization, and involvement in the criminal justice and child welfare systems (When Youth Age Out of Care, 2005).
- The number of youth who consider or attempt suicide has not declined in the last ten years (McCreary Adolescent Healthy Survey III, 2003).
- 39% of girls and 30% of boys reported being verbally harassed at school by peers (McCreary Adolescent Healthy Survey III, 2003)
- Youth need caring adults in their lives and strong adult-youth relationships. Adults need to create safe environments for youth, have high, positive expectations of them, and provide opportunities where they can develop and demonstrate competencies and participate in school and community life (McCreary Adolescent Healthy Survey III, 2003).
- Youth with a health condition or disability are at higher risk for poor health, emotional distress, suicide, abuse, smoking and substance use than youth without disabilities or chronic health conditions (McCreary Adolescent Healthy Survey III, 2003).
- Canada’s interest rates on post-secondary student loans are approximately three times as high as rates in other developed nations including the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Australia. New Zealand and Germany do not charge interest on student loans (Coalition for Student Loan Fairness, 2007).
- In a survey conducted for the Canada Student Loans Program, 36% of student loan borrowers said they had difficulty repaying their loans, and a similar number of borrowers did not know how to navigate the student loan system to resolve repayment problems. 21% of borrowers did not know how much they owed in student loans (Coalition for Student Loan Fairness, 2007).
- The transition from elementary to high school can have a profound effect on a student's grades, attendance, self-esteem and peer relations. Ensuring youth have support during key transition times increases readiness for high school entry and later for the world of employment (Green, 1999).
- In BC there are approximately 9650 children and youth in foster care. Children and youth require support for transitions into care, through foster placement changes and as they exit care at the age of majority (Office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate, 2001).
