IYS Training and Practicum Placement Study
Exploring how post-secondary trainees are prepared, supported, and supervised within Integrated Youth Services (IYS) sites across Alberta.
Who can participate?
Postsecondary trainees/students
You may be eligible if you:
- have completed a practicum placement in a Kickstand site within the past 12 months, or
- are currently at or near the end of a current practicum placement
Participation involves:
- an online survey (20-30 minutes)
- an optional follow-up interview
Participants will receive:
- $10 e-gift card for completing the survey, and
- an additional $25 e-gift card if invited to complete an interview
Practicum supervisors
You may be eligible if you:
- have supervised two or more practicum students placed at Kickstand sites in the past two years
Participation involves:
- a short survey (5 minutes), and
- a virtual interview (45-60 minutes)
Participants will receive:
- $25 e-gift card for participation in the interview
About the study
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) relies on a skilled, multidisciplinary workforce to support young people. This study will help us better understand how trainees are prepared, supported, and supervised in IYS settings, providing insights to strengthen future training and practicum experiences.
Participation involves completing an online survey about your experiences with practicum placements, training, and supervision. Some participants may also be invited to complete a virtual interview. Survey and interview lengths vary by participant group, and eligible participants will receive e-gift cards for completing the survey and/or interview. Participation is voluntary, and you may choose to stop participating at any time.
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) provide youth-centred, accessible supports by bringing together services such as mental health care, substance use health supports, primary care, and social services in a coordinated setting. In Alberta, Kickstand sites provide integrated services for youth and young adults using this approach.
Kickstand is the provincial network delivering Integrated Youth Services (IYS) across Alberta. Kickstand sites bring together mental health, substance use health, primary care, and social supports in youth-centred settings, with multidisciplinary teams working together to support young people. This study focuses on practicum experiences within Kickstand sites across Alberta.
This study is being conducted by researchers in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, in collaboration with Kickstand Alberta and other partners. The research team is led by Dr. Kyleigh Schraeder and includes collaborators with expertise in youth mental health, Integrated Youth Services, and training and workforce development.
You can email the research team at IYSTrainingStudy@UCalgary.ca.
This study has been approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB26-1088)