DataNB
The latest from the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training

Each summer, NB-IRDT hosts cohorts of student research teams as part of its Pathways to Professions (P2P) experiential learning program. For 13 weeks, these students work on New Brunswick-relevant projects while attending a full curriculum of professional skills workshops. In 2022, NB-IRDT launched a new partnership with the Government of New Brunswick's Future GNB / Avenir GNB program to host P2P students working on government research projects – allowing the program to grow in both size and reach. Now that the 2022 program has ended, we are excited to share our students’ projects and their findings in our student spotlight series. 

What is YouthSucceedNB?

YouthSucceedNB is a Future GNB research stream focused on how youth in New Brunswick can best be supported as they emerge into adulthood. Led by the Department of Social Development, the student team spent Summer 2022 examining the newly implemented Child and Youth Well-Being Act, which involved them looking at different avenues of Child and Youth Services in the province and painting a picture of youth who can and need to be supported.

YouthSucceedNB was given four main tasks:

• Investigate the gaps, barriers, and opportunities for growth in Youth Engagement Services.
• Analyze ways to ensure the safety of racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
• Explore how the kinship approach can be intentionally implemented.
• Consider the changes that were made to youth services in the wake of the Child and Youth Well-Being Act.

Based on their research, what conclusions did the team come to? You can learn more about YouthSucceedNB’s research process and findings in their Atlantic Student Research Journal article. 

Meet the 2022 YouthSucceedNB Team

Bhaanvi Rai – YouthSucceedNB Communications Coordinator

Bhaanvi Rai is a third-year business administration student specializing in finance and human resources and completing a minor in economics and law in society at UNB Fredericton. She's fond of travelling and she has been to 15 countries in the last six years. Bhaanvi has a passion for advocating for people belonging to disadvantaged communities and aspires to attend law school after graduating so she can gain the power to help people who haven’t received the justice and representation they deserve.

Olivia Gould – YouthSucceed Researcher

Olivia Gould is a second-year student at St. Thomas University (STU), where she is pursuing a bachelor of arts. Olivia is excited to continue learning at STU and aims to major in human rights this upcoming school year. Olivia’s main passions are human rights and environmental justice, and she aspires to find work where she can apply these passions. Olivia enjoys creativity, spending her time outside of work painting, writing, and playing piano. She also loves nature and going for walks to observe wildlife.

Janet Gourley – YouthSucceedNB Researcher

Janet Gourley is halfway through her bachelor of social work degree at St. Thomas University. She has a completed bachelor of arts with honours in sociology from Mount Allison University. When she completes her BSW, Janet will begin direct practice as a social worker before returning to university to complete a master of social work and will ensure she embodies social justice and respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people throughout her social work career. Janet loves her rescue dog, Linus, and together the two of them love going for walks/hikes, playing fetch, and snuggling on the couch reading or watching anime!

Nina Smith – YouthSucceedNB Researcher

Nina Smith is entering the final year of her bachelor of social work at St. Thomas University. She aspires to start direct practice and work towards getting her master’s in social work. She also aspires to work from a structural approach throughout her career, though she is still unaware of where she wants to do that work departmentally. She does know she wants to work with individuals through trusting, strength-based relationships that improve daily lived realities. Nina loves spending time with her two cats and her morning coffee.