March 2010 - Program Updates

OPHA Youth Engagement Project Update

The Youth Engagement Project, funded by Health Canada, began in February 2009. The project aims to increase the knowledge, skills, and resources available to public health professionals working with grades 6, 7, and 8 students. Now, a year into the project, much work has been completed to increase the capacity for youth engagement within the project’s pilot site communities:

  • A research report summarizing existing resources on illicit drugs, youth engagement practices, protective factors, and resilience factors was produced;
  • The research findings were presented to the Ministry of Health Promotion to help inform their Youth Engagement strategy being released in spring 2010;
  • A roundtable discussion about the project was hosted at the November 2009 OPHA Conference;
  • A needs assessment of the public health workforce working with schools was conducted;
  • 6 sites were identified to participate in the pilot project:
    • Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit
    • Halton Region Health Department
    • Ottawa Public Health
    • Oxford County Public Health
    • Peterborough County-City Health Unit
    • Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
  • Educational resources were developed, based on the findings from the needs assessment and the research report, reviewed and finalized for pilot site use;
  • Workshop curriculum was developed and used to facilitate educational sessions at the 6 identified pilot sites;
  • An evaluation plan and tools were developed and implementation has begun;
  • Meetings with project partners and pilot site leads were facilitated;
  • Coaching sessions with the pilot site leads were facilitated as needed as they began their work in their respective communities.

Currently, pilot sites are preparing to engage the youth in their communities through a variety of activities with the intention of enhancing protective factors and fostering resilience against illicit drug use and risk-taking behaviours.

From March 2010 to December 2010 pilot sites will be actively engaging youth in these activities and participating in project evaluation. Findings from the project evaluation will then inform the revisions to all the educational resources that will be disseminated province-wide at six regional workshop sessions in the spring of 2011.

For more information on this project, visit the project webpage and feel free to contact Tina Wadham, Project Coordinator.

 

TVOKids Don’t Sit Still Tour 2010 Kicked Off with Health Promotion Minister

On Sunday, February 21, the 2010 TVOKids Don’t Sit Still Tour was kicked off at Fairview Mall in Toronto. Health Promotion Minister, Margarett Best greeted a crowd of over one thousand kids and parents. OPHA Executive Director, Connie Uetrecht, was also on hand and helped with distribution of the giveaway bags to all the kids in attendance. Check out some of the photos!

Now entering its ninth year, the DSS Tour is an interactive, high-energy, live stage show that encourages children to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Based on the TVOKids Don’t Sit Still television and on-line brand, the DSS Tour features the popular TVOKids’ television personalities and travels to communities across Ontario. This grassroots initiative spreads the message to thousands of children about the importance of healthy eating and an active lifestyle in a fun and engaging way. Children and their parents will enjoy new songs, new dance moves, and non-stop opportunities to join in and follow along.

The 2010 DSS Tour will include 21 shows including stops in northern communities of Thunder Bay, Sudbury, North Bay, and Sturgeon Falls. On Saturday, March 27, there will be three shows at the Ontario Science Centre, including an outdoor evening show during Earth Hour. Check their website for a listing of Don’t Sit Still Tour dates and locations for 2010.

Through a grant received from the Ministry of Health Promotion, OPHA, through its Nutrition Resource Centre, is, for the second year in a row, administering sponsorship funding and assisting with the carrying out the TVOKids Don’t Sit Still Tour 2010.

As the official sponsor of the DSSTour, EatRight Ontario – one of the key initiatives of Ontario’s Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living — will receive both on-air and on-site recognition. The Nutrition Resource Centre, also funded by the HEAL Action Plan, plays a key role in promoting EatRight Ontario and its services.