Turning Research Into Action: Steps for Youth and Families
This framing resource translates the Youth and Family Engagement priorities from the Thriving in School research agenda into accessible, action-oriented language.
Youth and families know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to school-based mental health (SBMH). The Thriving in School agenda recognizes their lived expertise as essential to building services that are effective, responsive, and inclusive. By translating these research priorities into youth and family-friendly messaging, we can inspire broader awareness, spark new partnerships, and ensure that research becomes a tool for real action and impact.
This resource outlines the following key themes:
- Youth and Families are Collaborative Partners in Systems Change Work
- Research is Power
- Belonging and Safety Come First
- Feedback Fuels Actionable Change
The resource additionally describes opportunities for engagement that cover:
- Dissemination & Awareness Building
- Advocacy & Systems Change
- Implementation & Evaluation
- Capacity Building & Training
- Policy Influence
Overall, this framing resource is designed to help youth and families understand how this research agenda connects to their lived experiences — and how they can use it to drive advocacy, collaboration, and systems change where they live and go to school. The resource was developed in partnership with Youth MOVE (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience) National (YMN).