http://www.eurowrc.org/ >
Contributions
> Education_EuroWRC
|
http://www.eurowrc.org/ >
Contributions
> Education_EuroWRC |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
EuroWRC - Education |
|
A Violence Prevention Program for At-Risk Adolescents YOUTH RELATIONSHIP PROJECT NEWSLETTERS The Youth Relationships Project (YRP) is a research project being conducted by Professor David Wolfe, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario. The YRP is also a research endeavor affiliated with the Center for Research on Violence Against Women and Children in London, Ontario. This project has been developed to address the need for education and prevention strategies to reduce or eliminate violence against women and children. By focussing on adolescent dating relationships a group program has been developed to educate adolescents about violence and sexism, to develop interpersonal communication skills which assist the youths in developing healthy non-violent relationships, and to prevent them from becoming violent in their dating relationships. The program consists of providing adolescents between the approximate ages of 14 and 16 the opportunity of attending 18 two hour sessions in a group environment to discuss and learn about the issues of violence against women, developing positive relationship and communication skills, develop awareness of social agencies in the community, and the chance to participate in a social action project. The groups are facilitated by a male and female cofacilitator. The goals of the project include:
HELPING YOUTH TO:
Fall 1994 introduces a new phase in the development of the Youth Relationships Project. Mr. Robert Gough who was instrumental in the development of the manual and group program over the past two years moved on to become Residence Program Coordinator, Division of Housing and Food Services at the University of Western Ontario. A special thank you goes to Bob for the hard work and dedication he gave to this project and we wish him well in his new position. Anna-Lee Pittman has joined the project and taken on the position of Project Manager.
In September we began administering the group program outlined in the manual Promoting Healthy Non-Violent Relationships to approximately 125 adolescents in 4 different locations. Strathroy District Collegiate Institute has integrated the group program into the physical/health education and family studies curriculum where approximately 80 students are participating . Groups are also being facilitated at Children's Aid Society agencies in London, St. Thomas and Oxford County.
FUNDING The Youth Relationships Project research evaluation is funded by the National Health Research and Development Program of Health Canada. The project is also grateful for past contributions made by the Institute for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Ontario Mental Health Foundation, Lawson Foundation, Independent Order of Daughters of the Empire, and the May Court Club. Funding for the development and creation of the manual Promoting Healthy, Non-Violent Relationships was provided by the Family Violence Prevention Division of Health and Welfare Canada.
SUPPORTING AGENCIES Community action and participation are key elements of the Youth Relationships Project. Developing strong communication links between community service agencies and the adolescents provides an opportunity for all involved to understand how violence affects everyone individually and societally. A special thank you goes to all the community agencies in the area who are participating and lending their support to the project. We also appreciate the participation of community social service workers who are acting as cofacilitators for the groups. The project could not proceed without their assistance, cooperation and dedication. Agencies in the city of London from whom we receive a great deal of support and assistance include: Battered Women's Advocacy Center, Changing Ways, London Family Court Clinic, Sexual Assault Center London, and Women's Community House. A special thank you is also extended to the Center for Research on Violence Against Women and Children for providing their facilities for meetings, etc. In Strathroy we appreciate the cooperation and support of Thalassa Youth Services. The Family Violence Counseling Program and Ingamo Homes both of Woodstock have also lent their assistance and support to the Youth Relationships Project. A great deal of appreciation is extended to the Children's Aid Society agencies who have been very cooperative and helpful to us in developing the group program. The Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex provided us with the initial opportunity to develop this program with adolescents from their agency by providing staff resources and youths. We welcome the participation of staff and students at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute and Glencoe District High School who represent the Middlesex County Board of Education. Thames Secondary School staff and students of the Board of Education for the City of London are also welcome participants to the project. FACILITATORS In order to maintain a strong relationship with the community, facilitators for the group program are primarily members of social service agencies within the community. The facilitators are provided with an intensive training program which allows them an opportunity to meet their fellow cofacilitators, to become familiar with the information in the manual and prepares them for dealing with the adolescents in the group. Facilitators who are currently involved with the program meet as a team on a bi-weekly or monthly basis to discuss the progress of their groups and to share insights and ideas. The following people representing their agencies are cofacilitating groups this fall in cooperation with the Youth Relationships Project:
FACILITATOR TRAINING A very successful training seminar conducted by Deborah Reitzel-Jaffe and Carolyn Grasley was held at Women's Community House on September 12/13, 1994. We received a great deal of positive feedback about the seminar. Aspects of the training seminar that people found particularly useful included:
To order our training video please contact Anna-Lee Pittman mailto:pittman@julian.uwo.ca ADVISORY COMMITTEE An advisory committee was established for the project in September. This committee is comprised of representatives from the agencies and schools currently involved with the project, youths who have previously completed the group program, and a community representative. The Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss issues that may arise regarding the project. The Mandate of the Advisory committee is:
Members of the Advisory Committee for the 1994-1995 year include:
|
|
|
 |
|