Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program Name:

The Fourth R: Uniting Our Nations – Relationship-based Programming for Aboriginal Youth

Organization/Community:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Prevention Science

Location:

London, Ontario and surrounding area

Website:

www.youthrelationships.org/schoolbasedprojects.html

Goals and Objectives:

To promote healthier relationships and scholastic success and decrease violence and related risk behaviours.

Target Group Description:

Aboriginal teenagers (ages 13-17)

Program Description:

The program provides social environmental support to clients through the use of workshops designed to develop: individual educational and skills development, individual behaviour change, and individual asset development. There are also Traditional Medicine Wheel teachings that are used to bring a culturally relevant content to the program.

Program Successes/Impact:

Increasing students' self-reliance and their independence from peer pressure.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Obtaining funding (equipment, time). The challenge of competing with other community issues and priorities for support.

Program in operation since:

2005.

Program:

Ongoing.