As you build of a list of stakeholders to engage, consider how best to involve them in the count. Invite key players to sit on a Youth Count Committee. The Committee – chaired by the Lead Agency – will contribute to all aspects of the count, including:

• Setting key objectives for the count;
• Developing the Youth Count methodology;
• Volunteer training and recruitment; and
• Promoting the count to key stakeholders and the general public.

Depending on the scope of your count, you may decide to elect subcommittees – groups of experts focused on particular sub-topics of the Youth Count. For example, you may form subcommittees to inform survey design, volunteer training, emergency planning or administering the shelter count.

A Focus on Youth

Your ability to effectively engage youth throughout the planning and implementation of your Youth Count will determine the success of your count.

Youth Count Resource! Download a sample role description and Terms of Reference for your Youth Subcommittee members.

Engaging youth should not be seen as a formality; rather, youth will provide invaluable information about the experiences of homeless youth in your community. You will need their input to know where to find youth during the count, what to ask on the survey and importantly, how to ask it.

There are a number of ways to engage youth in the Youth Count. Consider forming a Youth Subcommittee comprising youth with lived experience. Be sure that you consider the demographic composition of the Sub-Committee: Indigenous Youth, newcomers, LGBTQ youth and women should be represented. Also ensure that youth of all ages are represented. It is likely that youth-serving agencies can recommend potential candidates.

The Youth Sub-Committee should be led by the Youth Count Coordinator, or an appropriate designate of the Lead Agency. Develop Committee Terms of Reference that define the youths’ scope of involvement. Strongly consider compensating youth on the committee – either with pay or a stipend – for their time and expertise. 

For more information about effectively engaging youth, refer to the Youth Engagement Toolkit: Resource Guide produced by British Columbia, Ministry of Children & Family Development. 

More information

Refer to the COH PIT Count Toolkit for a Sample PiT Count Committee Terms of Reference. 

Building Alignment: Tips & Strategies

The Youth Count, regardless of whether it is a separate count or aligned with a general PiT Count, requires its own Youth Count Committee and Youth-Sub Committee. However, as explained in the Youth Count Coordinator section, there are various ways to structure the Committees if you are aligning with a general PiT Count. Work with the general PiT Count organizers to map out an organizational structure at the start of planning. To facilitate communication, we recommend the Youth Count Coordinator sit on the General PiT Count Committee and the general PiT Count Coordinator sit on the Youth Count Committee. 

EXAMPLES FOR STRUCTURING COMMITEES