Nova Scotia Women's Centre Set To Expand Program to Prevent Youth Gender-Based Violence with $2.5M Boost

May 27, 2024 7:30 AM EDT | Source: Antigonish Women's Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association^[1]

• Province-wide expansion roll out funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women
• Healthy Relationships for Youth peer-facilitated program directly addresses the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Report
• Nova Scotia schools in both the Centres for Education and the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial can participate free of charge

Antigonish, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 27, 2024) - The Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association (the Centre), a community-based registered charity in rural Nova Scotia, is addressing recommendations from both the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission through the province-wide expansion of its innovative Healthy Relationships for Youth (HRY) program.

In recognition of its effectiveness to date, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women have committed additional funding to the HRY program over the next five years. The combined $2.5 million will help: increase the number of student facilitators and participants; expand program delivery to reach the approximately 80 high schools with grade nine students across the province; engage a youth advisory committee; further enhance the curriculum; and pursue partnerships to achieve program sustainability.

The transformative HRY program helps shape society by creating safety through learning and building community and empowering youth as agents of change through the peer facilitation model. In 12 sessions, HRY addresses root causes of gender-based violence (GBV), exploring intersections of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ability, religion, socio-economic status, country of origin, and other aspects of our identity in consideration of how youth experience the world and other people in it.

Since it was developed by social workers and educators and launched in 2006, external program evaluations note:

• Almost two thirds of participants and almost all youth facilitators said HRY had a positive impact on their behaviour, a point supported by teacher and youth facilitator observations;
• 77% of youth facilitators and 49% of participants feel their school is a safer space because of HRY;
• Both participants and facilitators had quantitative increased learning about communication, conflict resolution, hypersexualization, and supports available for youth;
• Participants reported gaining more knowledge about healthy and unhealthy relationships, friendships, consent, and gender identity/sexual orientation.

The program's effectiveness has also been recognized by the Nova Scotia Child and Youth Strategy, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Central to HRY's success are its efforts to engage men and boys as allies and advocates against GBV, its focus on primary prevention strategies, and its integration of input from its Youth Advisory group. HRY amplifies diverse voices and experiences, aligning with calls from Turning the Tide Together, the Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission (the Report) to integrate mandatory GBV and bystander intervention curricula into the education system¹. HRY's curriculum design directly addresses topics recommended by the Report such as "prevent[ing] violence in the moment and address[ing] social and cultural factors that contribute to condoning gender-based violence."² HRY is also aligned with the National Action Plan to End GBV's Prevention Pillar which endorses "primary prevention approaches that address the root causes of GBV in order to stop violence before it occurs."³

Rooted in inclusivity and accessibility, HRY promotes knowledge exchange and practices that also align seamlessly with the required Healthy Living 9⁴ curriculum outcomes that will provide students from Yarmouth to Northern Cape Breton with essential knowledge and skills to navigate healthy relationships from adolescence to adulthood.

Nova Scotia schools with grade nine to 12 students can participate in HRY by contacting Sarah Thomas at sarah@awrcsasa.ca^[2]. Thanks to PHAC and Status of Women funding, there is no charge to schools, facilitators, or participants.

Quotes:

"We are grateful to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Honourable Jill Balser, MLA, Nova Scotia Minister responsible for the Status of Women, and the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women for recognizing our unwavering commitment to fostering safe, inclusive communities through their ongoing support of the Healthy Relationships for Youth program. With investment from government and support from partners, community-based organizations can directly affect real and necessary change, including recommendations in the National Action Plan and the Mass Casualty Commission report. You just need to aim high and think big." Anita Stewart, Executive Director, Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association.

"Thank you to the Public Health Agency of Canada and the NS Advisory Council on the Status of Women for continuing your investment in young people, in their relationships, and for sharing our commitment to ending intimate partner violence. This increase in funding to the HRY program will allow us to equip students across Nova Scotia with skills to address conflict peacefully, to foster healthy relationships of all kinds, and to be leaders in their communities. It is our sincere hope that with the support of the Centres for Education and the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial, every student graduating from high school in Nova Scotia will have experienced an approach to relationships that encourages empathy, celebrates diversity, and challenges social norms, and that these approaches will shape their future relationships." Moraig Macgillivray, Operations Manager, Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association

"Investing in programs for healthy relationships provides youth the skills they need to develop safe, respectful relationships, and is critical to ensuring positive futures for everyone." The Honourable Jill Balser, MLA, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration^[3]

"Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, we're pleased to support the expansion of this program and reaffirm our commitment to preventing gender-based violence." Josie McKinney, Executive Director, Status of Women Office

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Cannot view this image? Visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10571/210498_hry%20combined%20logo.png^[4]

Media Contact:Anita Stewart, Executive Director, Antigonish Women's Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Servicesanita@awrcsasa.ca^[5] 902.863.6221

About Healthy Relationships for YouthThe Healthy Relationships for Youth Program, available in both French and English, uses a strengths-based approach that encourages students to deepen their understanding of diversity and to recognize and challenge sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia as forms of violence that impact personal and social relationships. It centers on youth as peer educators in their classrooms, schools, and communities. The Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association team of trauma -informed facilitators trains and supports students in grades 11 and 12 to facilitate a series of 12 sessions for grade nine students with "Healthy Living 9" classroom teachers. Since its launch in 2006, HRY has been delivered in 24 schools by 450 trained facilitators to 1,200 grade nine students. In 2013, the HRY Program received the Minister's Award in Crime Prevention in the community program category from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice. For more information about the program, please visit: Healthy Relationships for Youth (HRY) Program - Antigonish Womens Centre and Sexual Assault Services (awrcsasa.ca)^[6]

About Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services AssociationThe Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association is an independent, feminist, community-based organization based in rural Nova Scotia. Guided by the experiences of diverse individuals, the Centre strives to create an equitable and just society for all. Through its programs and initiatives, the Antigonish Women's Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association aims to dismantle barriers and foster inclusive environments where individuals of all genders can thrive. For access to resources, programs and more information, please visit: Home - Antigonish Womens Centre and Sexual Assault Services (awrcsasa.ca)^[7].

¹ Final Report | Mass Casualty Commission; 34. Recommendation C.17, Promoting Bystander Intervention as a Daily Practice. Accessed May 21, 2024.² Final Report | Mass Casualty Commission; 34. Recommendation C.17, Implementation Points. Accessed May 21, 2024.³ The National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence - Canada.ca. Accessed May 21, 2024.⁴ Healthy Living 9 | Education & Early Childhood Development (novascotia.ca). Accessed May 17, 2024.^{[8][9][10][11]}

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210498^[12]

SOURCE: Antigonish Women's Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association^[13]

References

1. ^{^} Antigonish Women's Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association (www.newsfilecorp.com)
2. ^{^} sarah@awrcsasa.ca (www.newsfilecorp.com)
3. ^{^} Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act (api.newsfilecorp.com)
4. ^{^} https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10571/210498_hry%20combined%20logo.png (images.newsfilecorp.com)
5. ^{^} anita@awrcsasa.ca (www.newsfilecorp.com)
6. ^{^} Healthy Relationships for Youth (HRY) Program - Antigonish Womens Centre and Sexual Assault Services (awrcsasa.ca) (api.newsfilecorp.com)
7. ^{^} Home - Antigonish Womens Centre and Sexual Assault Services (awrcsasa.ca) (api.newsfilecorp.com)
8. ^{^} Final Report | Mass Casualty Commission (api.newsfilecorp.com)
9. ^{^} Final Report | Mass Casualty Commission (api.newsfilecorp.com)
10. ^{^} The National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence - Canada.ca (api.newsfilecorp.com)
11. ^{^} Healthy Living 9 | Education & Early Childhood Development (novascotia.ca) (api.newsfilecorp.com)
12. ^{^} https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210498 (api.newsfilecorp.com)
13. ^{^} Antigonish Women's Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association (www.newsfilecorp.com)