Planet Youth in the Community
Building on the work of colleagues in the Western Region (Galway, Mayo & Roscommon) who introduced Planet Youth to Ireland in 2018, the Cavan & Monaghan local implementation group aim to work in partnership with schools, communities and partner organisations on the roll-out of our Planet Youth programme for the period 2021 to 2026.
Planet Youth takes a whole population approach and focuses on all young people, rather than targeting specific vulnerable groups. It requires a transformative change in policies, practice and resources and promotes evidence-based approaches using robust local data. Primary prevention is about preventing problems before they arise. This means diverting young people away from alcohol environment and wellbeing. Planet Youth is based on the principle that, in order to change young people’s alcohol and drug behaviour, we need to understand and focus on the factors that contribute to it. This is achieved by identifying and reducing risk factors, and strengthening protective factors, in young people’s lives.
Risk & Protective Factors
Parents and Family
- Parent’s own alcohol and drug use
- Parental support
- Parental monitoring
- Time spent with parents
- Parental social capital – knowing your child’s friends and the parents of those friends
- Perceived parental reactions to alcohol and drug use
School Peer Group
- Supportive adults at school
- Motivation to learn and grow
- Attitude to school and studies
- Absenteeism
- Young people’s sense of safety and attachment to school
- School’s role in organised extracurricular activities
Leisure Time & Local Community
- Unorganised, unsupervised leisure time
- Access to, and participation in, hobbies, recreation and sport
- Staying out late
- Location where alcohol and drug use takes place
- Unsupervised parties
- Access and availability of alcohol and drugs
- Community attachment and cohesion
- Young people’s sense of safety in their community
Peer Group & Wellbeing
- Peer alcohol and drug use
- Perceived peer respect for alcohol and drug use
- Pro-social and supportive peers
We are all stakeholders in Planet Youth. Everyone has a role to play in creating an environment where young people in our communities are active, healthy, happy and achieving their potential. Planet Youth is founded on partnership, collaboration and community involvement.
Key groups and agencies that have a role to play include:
- Parents
- Young People
- Youth Services
- Schools
- Community and Voluntary Organisations
- Local community
- Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB)
- Health Service Executive
- Local Authorities and Local Government
- Tusla – Child and Family Agency
- Children and Young People’s Services Committees
