Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program name:

Youth Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Project

Organization:

Yukon Women's Directorate

Location:

Whitehorse, Yukon

Target Group:

Aboriginal youth in the Kaska Dene region of southeastern Yukon.

Contact Name:

Amanda Mudry, Aboriginal Program Manager

Phone:

867-667-8675

Email:

amanda.mudry@gov.yk.ca

Website:

www.womensdirectorate.gov.yk.ca

Program Overview
History:

The Yukon Aboriginal Summit Implementation Project started in 2007 as a result of the National Aboriginal Women's Summit. After this national summit the Yukon Aboriginal Women's Summits were held, in 2007, in Whitehorse and Watson Lake, Yukon. The Yukon summits reviewed the 56 recommendations from the national summit and selected 6 specific projects for implementation in the Yukon. The Youth Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Project is designated as a "pilot project".

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To create a dialogue with youth on the impacts of violence, healthy relationships and healthy families by engaging them in a series of workshops that will discuss key issues youth are facing (including healthy sexuality, relationship skills, anger management, self esteem, traditional roles, cultural workshops for girls and women).

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

Young people may ask for teachings that include traditional wisdom and values in terms of healthy relationships.

Components of program:

The Youth Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Project has the following components: contacting schools and similar programs to examine models of delivery and production; recruiting youth, through the schools, for participation in this project; setting up youth focus groups to determine the content of workshop and information sessions; working with youth in workshops to determine potential media projects; and designing and producing youth media projects (pinpoint media messaging, locate media resources)

Services/How they work:

The program works with schools and operates within school premises.

Funding:

Northern Strategy Trust Fund.

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

Schools and young people are involved in the planning and delivery stage of this project.

Partners:

The Yukon Aboriginal Summit Implementation Project is a partnership between the Yukon Women's Directorate, 14 Yukon communities and 3 Yukon Aboriginal women's groups.

Other relationships:

Local schools, and students and their families.

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

No evaluation has been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

N/A

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success is measured by the participation level of young people in this project.

Achievements:

The Youth Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Project has raised awareness about the violence faced by youth in Yukon communities.

Challenges:

The main challenge of the Youth Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Project has been a lack of time and tight deadlines. The timeline has been amended to reflect community participation and capacity.

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The program is considered replicable. Organizers need to network with local schools and youth, collaborate effectively with them and plan carefully what the programs goals will be.

Resources:

Adequate funding is necessary; as is community support.