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This project was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Preventing Gender Based Violence: The Health Perspective grant.
The Youth Violence Prevention Project (YVPP) is a comprehensive, school-based approach to address the adolescent risk triad of peer and dating violence, problematic substance use and unhealthy sexual behaviour, by fostering healthy relationships among youth in Thunder Bay and District.
In collaboration with school boards, education authorities, and community partners the YVPP implemented and evaluated the Fourth R program in Gr.7-9, and developed and delivered a Gr.10 Healthy Relationships Booster workshop in classrooms across the district. The project aims to provide youth with the knowledge, skills and ability to engage in lifelong healthy relationships, reduce adolescent risk behaviours, and prevent future intimate partner violence.
For more information, contact Angela Gollat, Project Coordinator (807) 625-8452 or angela.gollat@tbdhu.com.
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ABOUT THE FOURTH R
Developed by the University of Western Ontario Centre for School Mental Health, this skills-based program meets all of the Ontario grade 7 - 9 health curriculum expectations. The Fourth R is aligned with the August 2019 HPE curriculum, including material on: cannabis, concussions, human development, mental health and wellbeing, social and emotional learning, vaping and e-cigarettes.
The Grade 7, 8 & 9 Fourth R content includes:
- UNIT 1 - PERSONAL SAFETY AND INJURY PREVENTION
- UNIT 2 - SUBSTANCE USE, ADDITIONS AND RELATED BEHAVIOURS
- UNIT 3 - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SEXUAL HEALTH
- UNIT 4 - HEALTHY EATING
Secondary Health and Physical Education (HPE) teachers (or equivalent), elementary classroom teachers and appropriate support staff were provided with Fourth R training and resources. The Fourth R includes all the lesson plans, resources and assessments educators need to deliver the health expectations using a universal, evidence-based program.
Schools and educators receive ongoing support from the project coordinator and have the opportunity to provide feedback on their successes and challenges as they deliver the program.
For more information, visit The Fourth R
ABOUT THE GR.10 HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS BOOSTER
What did students say?
Developed by the Youth Violence Prevention Project at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, the Gr.10 Healthy Relationships Booster is two-part 120 minute workshop available in both French and English. The Booster aims to provide youth with the knowledge and skills to engage in healthy relationships and prevent future Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) by implementing a comprehensive school-based, Teen Dating Violence (TDV) prevention program.
What is a Booster? Boosters are educational memory enhancement tools that are used to reinforce or expand upon content learned during health intervention programs. Boosters support knowledge retention through the fortification of important health and wellness concepts.
Why deliver the Booster? IPV is a serious public health issue that can have lifelong health, social and economic impacts. Experiencing violence as a youth is associated with poorer education outcomes, mental health challenges, substance use, risky sexual behaviours, and increased risk for IPV. Because dating relationships emerge during adolescence, this is a critical time for the primary prevention of IPV.
Who is the Booster for? Historically, most dating violence interventions targeted victims as their primary audience however, research suggests that fostering a broader culture of prevention may be more effective approach. The Booster content is designed to speak to a several interconnected audiences related to youth dating violence; victims, perpetrators and bystanders. While it was initially delivered and evaluated by Gr.10 students, the Booster was expanded to Gr. 9-12 by request. Student evaluations suggest the Booster is relevant for youth ages 13-18 in both school and community-based settings.
What topics does the Booster cover? The Booster aimed to align with 2023 SIECCAN guidelines for delivering gender-based violence prevention programming within school-based settings.
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