2023 Youth Impact Survey Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity data now available

Waterloo Region – The Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT) of Waterloo Region has released new disaggregated Snapshot data from the 2023 Youth Impact Survey (YIS). The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Snapshots are the fourth and fifth snapshots with data focusing on different subpopulations of young people in Waterloo Region. The results are available here.

“As we mark Pride Month, it's vital that we recognize the unique experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in Waterloo Region,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. “The Youth Impact Survey data is more than numbers – it's a reflection of real lives and experiences that guide us towards equity and inclusivity. These voices help us to build a community that values everyone for who they are.”

In partnership with UNICEF Canada, Waterloo Region Community Foundation, United Way Waterloo Region Communities, and the FamilyPsycle Lab at the University of Waterloo, the Children and Youth Planning Table ran the Youth Impact Survey through the Spring of 2023. The survey was an opportunity for young people in our community to share their experiences related to their well-being. Data from 1,867 young people who completed the survey was published in January 2024.

The Youth Impact Survey is based on the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being. It asks questions across nine dimensions of well-being, including belonging, mental and emotional health, connection to the environment, participation in the community, and more. The ultimate goal of the disaggregated YIS Data Snapshots is to provide members of our community with equity-focused insights that take into account the needs and interests of different groups of children and youth.

This summer, the Children and Youth Planning Table will release the sixth snapshot, focused on youth experiencing homelessness.

Fast facts

• 1,876 youth from diverse backgrounds completed the Waterloo Region Youth Impact Survey between April 30 and June 9, 2023. This is a 77% increase in responses from the last Youth Impact Survey in 2021. The Survey was open to young people ages nine to 18.
• According to aggregate data, 71% of young people in Waterloo Region said they felt a very strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their community. After disaggregating this data, it showed a 20 percentage point difference between respondents who identify as straight (72%) and respondents with a Diverse Sexual Orientation (52%).
• According to aggregate data, 55% of survey respondents described their mental health as more positive. However, disaggregated data shows that positive mental health varied greatly between boys (72%), girls (48%), and gender-diverse respondents (25%).

Quotes from Respondents

“This survey has really got me to think about things in my life, and I feel like it was a perfect reflection for me, and I loved it. These questions made me feel heard, and I just really enjoyed having the opportunity to share my own opinion/knowledge/information.”

—2023 Youth Impact Survey Respondent

“[I liked] the inclusivity and willingness to help and change our community for the better based on the feedback received by the youth of our community (our future).”

—2023 Youth Impact Survey Respondent

Making Sense of the Data

“Ensuring high-quality programs and services for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in our communities requires a deep understanding of their needs and realities. The insights from the Youth Impact Survey are instrumental, helping us tailor Camino's offerings to keep youth-lived experiences at the core of our initiatives designed to support their wellbeing and mental health, especially through our OK2BME program.”

—Tracy Elop, CEO Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health

“We can't be responsive to the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth without knowing what those needs are. I'm so pleased that the CYPT included demographic questions about gender identity and sexual orientation in the Youth Impact Survey. The findings will help organizations like Spectrum to work to improve access to programs and services that foster a sense of belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in our community.”

—Scott Williams, Executive Director, Spectrum

About the Children and Youth Planning Table

The Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT) is a member-driven partnership with over 65 Voting Member Organizations across Waterloo Region. The CYPT works to improve the well-being of children and youth through a system of coordinated and effective services that are supported by capacity building initiatives. Recognizing the complex challenges and issues related to the well-being of children and youth, the CYPT operates through a collective impact model seeking to promote the shared vision of “Happy, healthy children and youth — today and tomorrow.”

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