About McCreary

McCreary conducts high-quality research on the health of young people in British Columbia, which is used by service providers, academics, policy makers, young people, and those who support them. Some of our adolescent health research includes:

• BC Adolescent Health Survey (BC AHS): a province-wide survey administered to students in Grades 7 to 12 in mainstream BC schools every 5 years since 1992. The BC AHS gives an evidence base of youth health trends, emerging issues, and risk and protective factors for healthy development. Learn more about the BC AHS   
  
  
• Youth Transitioning Out of Care Study (YTOC): a longitudinal study of the experiences of young people before, during, and after their transition out of government care or an alternative to care in BC, led by McCreary's Youth Research Academy. Learn more about the YTOC study   
  
  
• Homeless Youth Health and Wellness Survey (HYS): a province-wide survey administered to youth who identified as homeless, unstably housed, or at risk of homelessness. It is administered by community co-researchers, including youth with lived and living experience of homelessness. Learn more about the HYS   
  
  
• Other research: McCreary also conducts other research projects on emerging issues and topics of interest to young people and the agencies that support them. Learn more about our other research   

McCreary conducts independent evaluations for other non-profit organizations and statutory agencies. We adopt a collaborative and flexible approach, with the programs being evaluated deciding on the evaluation approach best suited to meet their needs and goals. Learn more about our evaluation services   

Through a variety of projects and initiatives, McCreary is committed to meaningfully engaging young people and those who support them in all our work. We regularly provide presentations to staff and leaders in school, government, and community-based groups; facilitate interactive workshops with BC youth to engage them in local health data; and support a number of ongoing opportunities for youth to get involved and make positive change in their communities. Some of our youth engagement initiatives include:

• Youth Advisory & Action Council (YAC): The YAC is a group of youth leaders aged 15–24 who develop projects to improve youth health, including organizing ‘by youth, for youth’ workshops and events. Learn more about the YAC   
  
  
• Minister of Health's Youth Advisory Council on Health & Wellness (BC YAC): The BC YAC is a diverse group of Grade 8–12 students who provide their perspectives on topics related to health and wellness to inform BC government decisions. The group's main areas of focus include vaping and other types of substance use. Learn more about the BC YAC   
  
  
• Youth Health Ambassadors (YHA): The YHA are a group of Grade 7–12 students from across the province who are trained to lead conversations with peers to gather their perspectives on important youth health topics. Learn more about the YHA   
  
  
• Youth Research Academy (YRA): The YRA is a group of youth aged 16–27 with experience of the government care system. Members of the YRA are trained to conduct research projects of interest to youth in and from government care and the agencies that serve them. Learn more about the YRA   
  
  
• Young Indigenous Research Team (YIRT): The YIRT are a group of young Indigenous researchers who have come together to work on projects that support Indigenous youth health and well-being. Learn more about the YIRT   
  
  
• Youth Action Grants (YAGs): The YAGs are administered by McCreary's YAC, and provide BC youth with the opportunity to deliver a project to improve youth health in their school or community. Youth can apply for up to $750 to fund youth-led projects that focus on one or more of the findings from the BC AHS and that benefit other youth in their school or community. Learn more about the YAGs   
  
  
• Trevor Coburn Memorial Grants: The Trevor Coburn Memorial Grants program was established in honour of Trevor Coburn, who passed away suddenly in August 2020. Trevor was involved with McCreary for over 15 years as a member of the YAC, a peer and adult mentor, and as a researcher and facilitator on projects related to homelessness and substance use. Trevor’s passion for helping to improve the lives of BC’s most vulnerable young people was admired and respected by all who had the opportunity to know him. These grants provide up to $500 to young people wanting to address one or more areas of youth health that Trevor was passionate about: peer mentorship, youth homelessness, youth substance use, or youth in and from government care. Learn more about the Trevor Coburn Memorial Grants   

McCreary serves as the backbone organization for TRRUST (Transition in Resources, Relationships, and Understanding Support Together), a Collective Impact initiative which began in April 2014. TRRUST is a shared effort, now composed of over 80 organizations and 400 members, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and young people with lived experience in care. The common interest of all TRRUST members is to achieve system-wide improvements in the outcomes for youth transitioning out of government care in Vancouver, BC. Learn more about TRRUST