HIGH / SCOPE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM ( FAMILY DOMAIN )
Visit this website for more info. www.highscope.org
The HighScope Preschool Curriculum implements an approach to learning called active participatory learning. Children and adults learn best through hands-on experiences with people, materials, events and ideas. That principle validated by decades of research, is the basis of HighScope’s approach to teaching and learning.
The HighScope Curriculum emphasizes adult-child interaction, a carefully designed learning environment, and a plan-do-review process that strengthens initiative and self-reliance in children and young people. Teachers and students are active partners in shaping the educational experience.
The HighScope Curriculum integrates all aspects of child and youth development. Using research-validated strategies, this approach enhances each young person’s growth in the foundations of academics as well as in social-emotional, physical and creative areas. Funding to deliver the training for teachers has come from sources such as Communities That Care Squamish, MCAW, the Sea to Sky Putting Children First Initiative and individual early childhood facilities implementing the approach.
Throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor, there are six licensed early childhood facilities, operating multiple programs, providing early childhood environments influenced by or certified in the HighScope Curriculum Approach.
The High/Scope Committee in the Sea to Sky Corridor is comprised of agencies, staff and others with an interest in the program. For more information, contact: Julia Black, BA, ECE, MBA, Certified HighScope Teacher Trainer at 604-815-0053 or Suzie Soman at 604-892-5796 and email suzie.soman@sscs.ca
Download the brochure in English or Punjabi.
SQUAMISH FACES FAMILY LEARNING PROGRAM
The Squamish Faces Family Learning Program is a free program offered to adults with preschool and school-aged children. We provide a comfortable place for these family members to develop their knowledge and achieve their individual and family potential. We do this by responding to the specific parenting and general education needs of the people involved.
The program is made possible by a partnership with Capilano University, who provides program coordination and classroom instruction to the parents. Core funding is provided by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. With this core funding and supports from local organizations, Raise A Reader, Literacy BC and others, we are able to offer child minding, transportation, refreshments, materials and supplies, and other supports (such as subsidies) to families in this program. We also provide drop in supports to those who need help on specific issues but who cannot attend the program regularly.
The program includes weekly educational workshops and activities, drop in support, and enjoyable family fun nights that use activities like story telling and family and cultural activities to enhance literacy in its broadest sense. Currently, the program runs from September through June.
For further information, contact Michelle Lebeau, Program Coordinator/Instructor at Capilano University (604-892-5322 or email mlebeau@capilanou.ca).
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM (FAMILY DOMAIN)
SFP is a 13-session life skills training program designed to increase resilience and reduce risk factors for substance abuse, depression, violence and aggression, delinquency, foster care and school failure in 6-11 year old children and their parents. Although originally developed for children of substance abusers, SFP is effective and widely used with non-substance abusing families in many settings.
Download this brochure in English and Punjabi.
Information links:
www.highscope.org
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH 10-14
This program for parents and youth (10-14), a video based intervention designed with parent, youth and family sessions uses narrated videos that portray typical youth and parent situations. The program takes seven weeks with booster sessions and includes interactive activities including role-playing discussions, learning games and family projects.
The program benefits include improved family functioning, increased youth resistance to drugs and alcohol. Youth sessions focus on strengthening goal setting, dealing with stress and strong emotions, communication skills, increasing responsible behavior, and improving skills to deal with peer pressure. Parents discuss the importance of both showing love to their youth while, at the same time, setting appropriate limits. Topics include making house rules, encouraging good behavior, using consequences, building bridges, and protecting against substance abuse.
For more information on the Strengthening Families Programs in Squamish contact Dennis Smith on 604-892-5796 ext. 284 or email him dennis.smith@sscs.ca
PARENTING WISELY
This high quality program is being offered in partnership with the Squamish Public Library. The program is self-paced and takes an average of three hours to complete. The curriculum, which uses video game technology is suitable for parents and any other relatives or caregivers who would like to develop more effective parenting skills.
The library has set up a computer with headphones so program users can complete the modules. It is ideal if parents can participate when their children are in grades 6-9, before the transition into the later teen years. Parenting wisely has been thoroughly researched in a number of settings, and has proven to be very effective at helping parents meet the challenges of raising their children. The program helps to strengthen family communication, increase parental supervision skills, improve discipline and lower childrens’ risk for developing health and behavior problems.
Parents can use the program with their older children, so they can practice the skills and do the home activities together. This program is an excellent tool for parents whose schedules do not allow them to attend some of the other parenting programs in the community. And it is easy to do in short time allotments. Just call (604) 892-3110 to book an appointment to use the program.
COMMUNITY TRIALS INTERVENTION TO REDUCE HIGH-RISK DRINKING (RHRD)
This is a multicomponent, community-based program developed to alter alcohol use patterns of people of all ages and related problems. The program uses a set of environmental interventions including:
- Alcohol Access
Assists communities in using zoning and municipal regulations to restrict alcohol access through alcohol outlet (bars, liquor stores, etc.) density control. - Responsible Beverage Service
Through training and testing, RBS assists alcohol beverage servers and retailers in the development of policies and procedures to reduce intoxication and driving after drinking. - Risk of Drinking and Driving
Increases actual and perceived risk of arrest for driving after drinking through increased law enforcement and sobriety checkpoints. - Underage Alcohol Access
Reduces youth access to alcohol by training alcohol retailers to avoid selling to minors and those who provide alcohol to minors, and through increased enforcement of underage alcohol sales laws. Read the article “The Teenage Brain” by Dr. Paul Martiquet, Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. - Community Mobilization
Provides communities with the tools to form the coalitions needed to implement and support the interventions that will address the previous four prevention components. - Read More
MUNICIPAL ALCOHOL POLICY (COMMUNITY DOMAIN)
Municipal Alcohol Policy (MAP) is an approach that helps ensure responsible drinking occurs on municipal property. Additionally, it would help reduce problem behaviours such as public intoxication, drinking in unlicensed areas, impaired driving, underage drinking, vandalism, assaults, injuries and death.
There are six keys to the Blue Ribbon MAPS:
- Designation of properties, facilities and events to designate clearly where alcohol may or may not be used
- Management practices to help control how alcohol is used before during or after events
- Prevention strategies to reduce harm (ensure participants do not become intoxicated)
- Enforcement procedures and penalties (when rental groups don’t play by the rules)
- Signage to provide information
- Ongoing support such as education for staff, volunteers, the community and council members and program evaluation.
MAP has been widely used in Ontario and is also showing positive outcomes in other provinces. It has been demonstrated to have a positive effect on the targeted risk and protective factors. The MAP approach, implemented by the District of Squamish, provides criteria for helping local government to assess it’s existing practices and take a leadership role in establishing norms around responsible alcohol use in public facilities.