The Youth Migration Project is a collaboration between Ryerson Universitys School of Social Work and various community-based organizations. This research study was designed to assess HIV vulnerability, and health and social service needs of migrant LGBT and Two-Spirited youth who have migrated to Toronto from other cities and towns, and from outside of Canada (immigrant, refugee and undocumented). It also helped to identify the impact on youth of current social policies regarding immigration, housing, and employment, access to social assistance, health and HIV prevention.
The Youth Migration Project team includes people who work on queer, trans, and Two-Spirit youth issues from the AIDS Committee of Toronto, Asian Community AIDS Services, the 519 Church St. Community Centre, Ryerson School of Social Work, Supporting Our Youth, & 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations. Central Toronto Youth Services also played a key role on our team for the first part of the project. We were concerned about the situation of youth who migrate to Toronto from across Canada and from other countries. We came together in a community-based research project to look at how these youth may be vulnerable to HIV. We wanted to help meet their needs and to help prevent HIV.
We were supported by grants from Health Canada and the Wellesley Central Health Corporation.
The study focused on two areas:
