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More than "Just say No"

Concordia students help elementary school children make healthy choices
March 21, 2011
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By Beverly Akerman

Source: Concordia Journal

Cathrine Rambech (left) is participating in the Kids Can! program under the direction of Lisa Ostiguy, Chair of the Department of Applied Human Sciences. | Photo by Concordia University
Cathrine Rambech (left) is participating in the Kids Can! program under the direction of Lisa Ostiguy, Chair of the Department of Applied Human Sciences. | Photo by Concordia University

Concordia’s Department of Applied Human Sciences (AHSC) has teamed up with the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) to launch Kids Can! – a program to encourage children to steer clear of drugs.

The project was developed with Agence Ometz, a local counselling and support centre.

Health Canada is providing nearly $400,000 to fund the project as part of their drug education program, explains Lisa Ostiguy, Chair of AHSC.

A pilot program was launched at three Montreal-area schools in mid-February, with 20 AHSC students involved for the six-session duration, says Ostiguy. The plan is to gradually broaden the program, adding three schools in March and up to 15 more each year for the next two school years. By the conclusion of the project in 2013, approximately 3,000 elementary school students may be involved.

The Grade 5 and/or 6 students will explore facts about drugs and their use and will learn strategies to help them cope with peer pressure, empowering the youngsters to make healthy decisions in their own best interests. Parents and teachers will also be provided with information and resources to help reinforce the lessons of the program, which is highly interactive, covering behaviour and the influence of peers. It relies on role playing and is designed to be fun and engaging as well as informative.

Clinical Director Barbara Victor of Agence Ometz spearheaded the development of Kids Can!, approaching Health Canada and recruiting Varda Mann-Feder, another AHSC professor who is currently on sabbatical. Ostiguy explains, “We got involved while the grant was being written, providing letters of support and recruiting some of our students to work as volunteers in the schools, delivering the program to the children.” During this pilot year, the program will be delivered by the AHSC students on a completely voluntary basis but next year, says Ostiguy, “a special topics course is being designed to teach our students youth facilitation skills and train them to deliver the program. They will still be volunteering when they’re in the EMSB schools, but their training will be for university credit.”

Program evaluation will be performed to assess goals and outcomes, supervised by student Jessica Bernstein through Concordia’s John Molson School of Business MBA Program. A focus group of parents will also provide feedback and another view of the curriculum.

Ostiguy says AHSC students will benefit greatly from working in the classroom with EMSB teachers. “It’s a perfect win-win for us – a great opportunity for our students to get involved in a federally funded program, to learn about research, and to deliver a wonderful program for which there is a need.”

Related links:
•   Concordia's Department of Applied Human Sciences
•   Agence Ometz
•   English Montreal School Board



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