Teen Healthy Relationship Program Grants

Teen Healthy Relationship Program Grants

Teen Healthy Relationship Program Grants

Overview of Progress May 2013 – December 2013

FOUR YEAR PROGRAMS
Name / Location / Number of schools / Number of students / Key approaches / Innovative
approaches / Project Name
Cowichan Women Against Violence / Duncan, BC / 2 high schools, on-reserve schools and 1 alternative schools (grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) / 300 received 2-day training / Youth trained to be mentors and facilitators in school settings / LGBTQ component to training / Strengthening Youth Project
SWOVA / Salt Spring Island, BC / 1 high school, 1 middle school, several primary schools / 240 students in Grades 7,8 &9 with 40 youth leaders / In depth curriculum adjusted to be age appropriate at each grade / Awareness of everyday sexism / R + R
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre / Victoria, BC / 1 high school, 1 middle school / 50 students / Community action model – community building and leadership. Consent. / Bystander intervention / Project Respect
Canadian Red Cross / Red Deer, AB / 6 high schools (supporting 3 programs in different schools) / 500 students / Peer facilitation model / Working to support healthy relationships in sports / Beyond the Hurt & Youth Healthy relationships – It’s more than a game
SERC / Winnipeg, MB / I high school / 17 students / After school program in partnership with Peaceful Village / Question Box / Teen Healthy Relationships
Abrigo Centre / Toronto, ON / 2 high schools, (3 elementary) / 51 following 10-week curriculum / Using skits, multimedia. Mentorship with elementary school students / Mindfulness / TAG-V
METRAC / Toronto, ON / 2 high schools / 32 students / Total 28 sessions with leaders trained as facilitators / Explores youth civic engagement and creating a project together / ReACT
Partners for Youth / Fredericton, NB / 13 high schools (Grades 10 & 11) / 56 students & 12 Student Advisory Team / Retreat to train key students & create action plan for school / Many Faces of Abuse play performed every year. New workshop on Relationship Abuse & Social Media / Making Waves
Family Violence Prevention Services / Charlottetown, PE / 4 intermediate schools / Program delayed because of school board amalgamation / It’s all about YOUth!
Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association / Antigonish, NS / 15 schools / 550 Grade 9 students & 217 trained youth facilitators / Youth facilitation model –program sessions delivered by youth teams with teacher support / Healthy Relationships for Youth
YWCA Montreal / Montreal, Qc / 1 high school / 17 students / Male & female groups separate / Create a community media project as an end goal / À l’action
CAMH Fourth R / NWT & NU / 4 high schools in NWT / Grades 7, 8 & 9 total not reported / Adapting Fourth R to cultural teachings of NWT and Nunavut. Including mental health stream / Special attention paid to role plays to practice skills / Fourth R
TWO YEAR PROGRAMS
Name / Location / Number of schools / Number of students / Key approaches / Innovative
approaches / Project Name
Calgary Immigrant Services / Calgary, AB / 2 elementary schools (Grade 6) with a third planned for January / 20 students enrolled / Art-based activities for mainly immigrant youth / Calgary Learning Village Collaborative 12 orgs working on physical, social, emotional & cognitive development. Program operates in Family Space of designated schools / RESPECT
Wii Chiiwaakanak / Winnipeg, MB / Various high schools in area / 50 youth / Medicine Wheel Teaching and Sacred Seven / Elders leading discussion on traditional roles. Use of journals for self reflection. / Sacred Seven
BCHM / Montreal, QC / 1 high school / Program delayed due to school management / Viraj & Passaj outlines / Online forum offered for youth to ask questions & get advice
SAVIS of Halton / Oakville, ON / Program still in development / Online model
LOVE / Halifax, NS / Membertou & Indian Brook First Nations 1 school, 2 community centres / 50 youth / Self-reflection. Gender roles in M’iKmaq society / Working with Elders in the programs.
Incorporating M’iKmaq taking circles into practice.

Notes for presentation

  • Overall, things are moving along – slowly
  • Early days – reporting on progress on first 6 months of work only. Established, well-developed programs are having little or no trouble (the 4 we funded last time round) Consistent funding and regularity makes a difference to program development and the speed of implementation
  • Remember that these are programs that are moving through the beginning of the process. They are developing new relationships, and finding new schools in some cases, which is slow work.
  • Because of changes in school board, schools or policy, some have had to start from scratch.
  • Some we knew were starting from scratch.

Summer – Fall reports

Most programs hiring staff, training them up, strengthening curricula and making connections with schools and school staff. This was the main activity reported back on by most programs.

Recruiting youth to the program was not raised as an issue by many.

One group was challenged by that fact that they were in classes at the request of the teacher, so the youth felt they were not voluntarily involved – lead to conflict. They will not be continuibng in that school

Overall issues

Many programs that we support are also involved in larger networks – Girls Action Foundation (HRY), WE Day (WII CHIWAAKANAK), Gay-Straight Alliance (LOVE, Making Waves, HRY) – important for the overall strength of the programs.

Of Special Interest

Healthy Relationships for Youth Program

Hired Shakira Abubakar as Assistant Program Coordinator at the beginning of August and saw the program expand into six new schools around the province with the help of 5 regional coordinators.

Much of the fall was spent training the youth facilitators and new teachers to deliver the curriculum within their schools. This training consisted of three parts: an initial half day introduction and overview at each school, 1-2 full days of training where community organizations were invited to attend and youth explored topics in more depth, and a follow-up half day of training to allow the youth to practice facilitating and clarify any remaining questions. Once the training was completed the schools could begin their delivery of the program. Regional coordinators began monthly check-ins in November, which allows them to gather youth facilitators and teachers at each school for a lunch time meeting in order to ensure the program is running smoothly, questions are answered and resources are provided.

Testimonials from youth SWOVA

Young woman in grade 9 wrote: “This was the class I looked forward to every week. And I was so glad I was intellectually stimulated and challenged- Thank You! This is a very informative program that has clarified many things in my life.

Young men in grade 9 wrote: “I learned a lot during the R+R program. It supported me by showing me how to act respectfully. It teaches us vital life lessons.”

  • Go through each organization – just take a couple of minutes – check in and note certain questions you might have, or observations that you might have. We can go through them now.
  • Rather than ask you all to read through each of the 17 reports at this time, I have provided highlights from reading the reports.
  • Do you have any suggestions as to how we can do this next time – I have a few ideas – want to check in with you about them.

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