The Langley Youth & Family Well-being Initiative: Adopting the Icelandic Prevention Model
Why Langley Needs a New Approach
We recognize that families in Langley face significant challenges, often rooted in economic hardship and generational trauma. Current approaches are focused on intervention after problems arise.
Our Vision: We are shifting the focus to proactive, community-wide prevention by addressing root causes before they manifest in substance abuse, conflict, or stress.
What is the Icelandic Prevention Model?
The Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) is a global leader in youth substance-use prevention. It is not a therapy program. It is a community restructuring approach built on three pillars:
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Structured Free Time: Ensuring all youth have access to high-quality, free, structured extracurricular activities.
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Family Involvement: Providing education and support to parents to increase the time they spend with their children.
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Data-Driven Policy: Annual, localized youth surveys drive policy decisions, ensuring resources are targeted where they are most needed.
Why This Works: Global Impact
Originating in Reykjavik, the IPM has achieved remarkable results. By 2017, the percentage of Icelandic youth who reported daily smoking had dropped from 23% to 3%, and those who had been drunk in the past 30 days fell from 42% to 5%. This model is the blueprint for creating a generation of resilient, engaged citizens.
Your Role in the Langley Initiative
To successfully tailor and implement the IPM in Langley, we must first understand our community's unique needs. Your 5 minutes of input in our survey is the fundamental data required to secure partnership funding from the City of Langley and support from Service Canada.