Validation Study

Jasper Place High School, St. Francis Xavier High School - and - West End Community Unity (WECU), and Misericordia Community Hospital & Health Centre - Partnership

Is there an issue in the West end that we can work together on to positively impact our community and that establishes our youth as a key factor in taking such actions?"

This was the question that a hard working, broadbased community group from the West end asked themselves. The WECU group, an expansion of the four year old Jasper Place High School (JPHS) and the Misericordia Community Hospital & Health Centre partnership, which now includes the West Edmonton Business Association, the City of Edmonton Police Service, faith institutions and the City of Edmonton Community Services, answered the question after much discussion, sharing, facilitation, and "headscratching".

Three issues were identified as needing support:

1. Creating Healthy Relationships
2. Counteracting Media and Social Influences
3. Preparing for Continued Job Satisfaction.

Youth had been part of WECU but their commitments got in the way of regular attendance. Youth input was the key factor to answering the question, they play an integral role in determining the "next steps"! WECU went to the youth to ask what they thought!! A validation survey instrument was developed to ask the same question - what issues do youth believe are important and need support. The survey was conducted with 100 Jasper Place High School C.A.L.M students and 50 St. Francis Xavier High School C.A.L.M students (half of the C.A.L.M. students at both schools) in the fall of 1994.

The survey Results validated the issues identified by WECU, although the top three issues were reversed from the WECU group findings. The consistency between the two schools and with WECU is notable and extraordinary! The Edmonton Youth Council now has the information and will be using it as they plan their work for the coming years. The validation study gave a very clear message - youth want to have a meaningful role in Edmonton's workforce, they struggle to overcome media and social systems stereotyping, and they want to have healthy family relationships and supports.

What Happened Next!

WECU supported a student driven and facilitated initiative - an interactive forum for exploration of healthy relationships. Ten students developed the skill to facilitate the forum and are now visible resources for peer support within the school. The forum has been facilitated with 16 classes at JPHS. The program will be shared with other Edmonton schools and the City of Edmonton Youth Council.

JPHS with the WECU partners are working together toward developing supportive community connections for students so they can explore learning opportunities in the "real work setting". WECU is looking for strong community and business support as the community connections and opportunities are sought.

WECU is seeking comprehensive media support to "showcase" West Edmonton teens. There's a lot of good news about youth!

In the Fall of 1995, WECU began working with youth and the media to challenge the negative stereotyping of youth! Make a Wish For Community Unity, December 1995 and 1996 show-cased five successful West Edmonton Youth initiatives and has now become an annual event.

A Healthy Relationships peer driven program is now in place at five High Schools (grades 10 - 12) and twenty-five Junior High Schools (grades 7 - 9) in Edmonton.