Youth Action Alliances in Underserved Neighbourhoods

This Special Report presents the results of a case study of the implementation of the Youth Action Alliance (YAA) Program in Toronto, selected because of the unique approach taken to recruiting youth. Using key informant interviews and focus groups with Peer Leaders, the report describes how the program has recruited youth from neighbourhoods identified in the Strong Neighbourhoods Report (2005) as underserved. The authors evaluate the challenges, successes, disadvantages and benefits to this approach, and describe the factors integral to the establishment and function of the group.