June 2009 - Program Updates

Youth Engagement Project

by Ben Rempel, Manager, Youth Engagement Project and Jennifer Lodge, Administrative Coordinator, Youth Engagement Project

Funded by Health Canada, OPHA welcomed a new project on Youth Engagement in February 2009. The need for this project has been determined and substantiated through a combination of extensive research and information gathered from the public health field. The project will run from February 2009 – June 2011.

The goal of this project is to increase the application of knowledge and skills among public health professionals working with grades 6, 7 and 8 students to increase youth engagement in activities that enhance protective factors and resilience against illicit drug use and risk taking behaviours among this age group.

The objectives of the project are:

  1. To assess the needs of public health staff working on school health teams within 36 health units and provide them with needed resources, coaching, tools and support in this important area.
  2. To increase youth engagement and increase protective factors to reduce drug use among approximately 500 Grade 6, 7 & 8 students in 6 pilot sites using the health promoting schools framework.
  3. To work closely with local health units to increase the factors that foster resilience and protective factors against illicit drug use and risk taking behaviours within 6 pilot test sites including a minimum of 1 francophone site, followed by a provincial roll-out in 2011.

The project is advised by a Partner Group consisting of representatives from the Injury Prevention Public Health Managers Alliance; Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition; Ontario Physical Health and Education Association; and other key partners.

Keep watching our website for more information as the project unfolds.