Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund (DSCIF) Funded Projects - Ontario

On this Page:

• Engage, Educate and Empower: Niagara Youth Drug Strategy
• Youth Drug Awareness Web site
• PIER Project (Peers, Information, Education and Resources)
• Making Connections: A Social Development Approach to Drug Abuse and Prevention for Suspended and Expelled Students
• Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion
• Take Action Secondary Schools (en français)
• SLYE: Why Get High?
• The High on Life Challenge
• Youth Worker Training Initiative
• Substance Abuse Prevention for Somali Youth (SAPSY)
• Girl Talk
• Youth Action on Drugs (YAD)
• Strengthening Families for Parents
• The Resiliency Project
• Youth Drop In
• BBDAS: Student Peer Leadership Initiative
• Youth Engagement
• Community Drug Strategy: Community Consultations

Engage, Educate and Empower: Niagara Youth Drug Strategy

Organization: The Students Commission of Canada

Contact Information:
Ms. Stoney McCart
Director
23 Isabella Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 1M7
Telephone: 416-597-8297
Email: stoney@tgmag.ca

Description
Partnering with the Port Colbourne Wainfleet Healthy Lifestyles Coalition, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the District School of Niagara, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Pharmacist Association of the Niagara Peninsula, this 38-month project is establishing a peer-led prevention program addressing the abuse of illicit drugs and other substances for youth in schools across the Niagara region. The project will establish youth working groups in 35% of Niagara region secondary schools and plan annual youth conferences. Skills-building workshops for youth and delivery of a parent/caregiver forum are also planned.

Youth Drug Awareness Web site

Organization: Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit

Contact Information:
Ms. Michelle Pasichnyk
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
12 Gilbertson Drive,
P.O. Box 247
Simcoe, ON N3Y 4L1
Telephone: 519-426-6170 extension 3274
Fax: 519-426-9974
Email: michelle.pasichnyk@hnhu.org

Description
Partnering with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties, this 19-month project is increasing awareness among youth of the negative consequences associated with illicit drug use by way of an interactive Web site addressing youth's concerns about health/drugs. The project will determine attitudes and perceptions of youth (aged 13-18 years) living in Haldimand-Norfolk Counties.

PIER Project (Peers, Information, Education and Resources)

Organization: Addiction Services of Thames Valley

Contact Information:
Ms. Linda Sibley
Executive Director
Addiction Services of Thames Valley
200 Queen's Avenue, Suite 260
London, ON N6A 5P6
Telephone: 519-673-3666 extension 226
Fax: 519-673-1022
Email: lsibley@adstv.on.ca

Description
Working in partnership with the Oxford County Drug Taskforce, this 26-month project will create opportunities for dialogue between young people aged 11 to 18 years about illicit drug use prevention in the Thames Valley region. This initiative will develop a virtual forum linking youth-accessed school Web sites to substance use prevention information, strategies and programming.

Making Connections: A Social Development Approach to Drug Abuse and Prevention for Suspended and Expelled Students

Organization: Trinity Theatre Toronto

Contact Information:
Ms. Sandra Crockard
Director
Trinity Theatre Toronto
434 Strathmore Boulevard
Toronto, ON M4C 1N5
Telephone: 416-421-4888
Fax: 416-406-2011
Email: sandra@trinitytheatre.ca
Trinity Theatre Web site

Description
Partnering with Parent Action on Drugs and the Safe Schools Office of the Toronto District School Board, this 23-month project aims to improve the decision-making skills of expelled students to deal with the negative health and social impacts of illicit substance use. This project will also improve the ability of expelled and suspended students to re-enter the mainstream educational system.

Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion

Organization: Girls Incorporated of Upper Canada

Contact Information:
Ms. Lesley Hubbard
Girls Incorporated of Upper Canada
1805 Oxford Avenue,
P.O. Box 791
Brockville, ON K6V 5W1
Telephone: 613-345-3295 extension 24
Fax: 613-342-8684
Email: ed@uppercanada.girls-inc.org

Description
This 26-month project is helping young girls resist social pressures to use illicit drugs. Partnering with the Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, the Safe Communities Coalition of Leeds Grenville, and the Country Roads Community Health Centre, this project works with local parents and schools to increase skills, knowledge and policies addressing illicit drugs and other substances at schools. The project will develop and launch a social marketing campaign aimed at young girls in the local community, deliver a PEERsuasion Program in 15 sites, and work with local schools to review their policies regarding illicit drugs and other substances.

Take Action Secondary Schools French

Organization: Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA)

Contact Information:
Ms. Tammy Shubat
Ontario Physical and Health Education Association
1 Concorde Gate, Suite 608
Toronto, ON M3C 3N6
Telephone: 416-426-7039
Fax: 416-426-7373
Email: tammy@ophea.org
Ontario Physical and Health Education Association Web site

Description
This 26-month project is developing a comprehensive prevention resource on the use of illicit drugs and other substances for French language secondary school communities in Ontario. Working in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, OPHEA will produce and disseminate 1500 resources and promotional materials to all French-language secondary schools and secondary school community partners throughout Ontario. This resource will provide comprehensive information to the French-language education community on illicit substance use and abuse, related behaviours and substance use prevention strategies.

SLYE: Why Get High?

Organization: Agincourt Community Services Association

Contact Information:
Ms. Gael Gilbert
Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA)
4155 Sheppard Avenue East, Unit 100
Toronto, ON M1S 1T4
Telephone: 416-321-6912 extension 231
Fax: 416-321-6922
Email: ggael@agincourtcommunityservices.com

Description
Working in partnership with Toronto Public Health, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Northwest Scarborough Youth Centre and Involve Youth, this three-year project is increasing the ability of youth to discuss the risks associated with illicit drug use with their parents and make more informed choices about illicit drugs for themselves. ACSA will train youth mentors, develop a community engagement strategy and facilitate drug prevention workshops for the youth and their parents.

The High on Life Challenge

Organization: St. Mary's General Hospital, a Division of the St. Joseph's Health System

Contact Information:
Ms. Coba Moolenburgh
St. Mary's Counselling Service
30 Duke Street, Suite 600
Kitchener, ON N2H 3W5
Telephone: 519-745-2585 extension 225
Fax: 519-745-5808
Email: cmoolenburgh@smgh.ca

Description
Working in partnership with Waterloo Region District School Board, the Catholic District School Board, University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University and Conestoga College, this 28-month project will increase the resiliency of young people and decrease the onset of illicit drug use by youth entering college or university. In delivering the High on Life program in high schools in the Kitchener/Waterloo region, this project will encourage healthy decision-making in high school students.

Youth Worker Training Initiative

Organization: Canadian Training Institute (CTI)

Contact Information:
Mr. Tom Walker
Director of Business Development and Training Services
CTI
50 Euston Avenue
Toronto, ON M4J 3N3
Telephone: 416-778-7056
Fax: 416-778-8103
Email: twalker@cantraining.org

Description
Working in partnership with YouthLink Inner City, Aboriginal Legal Services (Toronto), the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Toronto Drug Secretariat, this project will produce and deliver an evidence-based illicit drug abuse prevention training program for youth workers in Toronto. The 21-month project will increase youth workers' knowledge of the pharmacology of illicit drugs and decrease the negative impacts of illicit drug use in high-risk communities through early identification and intervention by youth workers.

Substance Abuse Prevention for Somali Youth (SAPSY)

Organization: Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services

Contact Information:
Mr. Paul Welch
Executive Director
Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
312 Parkdale Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Y 4X5
Telephone: 613-724-4881
Fax: 613-724-4873

Description
Working in partnership with Canadian Friends of Somalia and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, this three-year project will develop and implement a series of culturally-appropriate educational strategies on the abuse of illicit drug and other substances geared to the Somali community in Ottawa. The project will train 30 Rideauwood staff and Somali youth workers to deliver substance prevention workshops and engage community partners in support of drug prevention programming.

Girl Talk

Organization: The Jean Tweed Centre

Contact Information:
Ms. Diane Smylie
The Jean Tweed Centre
215 Evans Avenue
Toronto, ON M8Z 1J5
Telephone: 416-255-7359 extension 252
Fax: 416-255-9021

Description
Working in partnership with Parent Action on Drugs, Rosalie Hall, Massey Centre and Jessie's Centre for Teenagers, this 31-month project will prevent illicit drug use among young women at-risk. The project will develop and deliver a gender-specific, peer-led illicit drug use prevention training program at four Young Parent Resource Centres in Toronto.

Youth Action on Drugs (YAD)

Organization: Northwestern Health Unit

Contact Information:
Ms. Tanis Fretter
Program Manager
Northwestern Health Unit
21 Wolsley Street
Kenora, ON P9N 3W7
Telephone: 807-484-9938
Fax: 807-484-9946
Email: tfretter@nwhu.on.ca

Description
Working in partnership with Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, Metis Health Services, Ear Falls Healthy Living Coalition, the Sioux Lookout Substance Abuse Prevention Committee and Ignace FOCUS Core, the 38-month Youth Action on Drugs project will engage and train youth in developing communication strategies addressing illicit substance use prevention. Local youth will undertake research and examine issues related to local access to illicit drugs.

Strengthening Families for Parents

Organization: Parent Action on Drugs

Contact Information:
Ms. Diane Buhler
Executive Director
Parent Action on Drugs
7 Hawksdale Road
Toronto, ON M3K 1W3
Telephone: 416-395-4970
Fax: 416-395-4972
Email: pad@sympatico.ca

Description
Working in partnership with Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat, Toronto Public Health, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Kids and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, this 26-month project will increase resiliency skills among at-risk youth through the use of a pilot program for youth and their parents. The 'Strengthening Families Program' will reduce youth illicit drug use, conduct problems, school-related problems and antisocial behaviours by promoting positive parenting and child management skills.

The Resiliency Project

Organization: Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

Contact Information:
Ms. Hallie Atter
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
108 Angeline Street South
Lindsay, ON K9A 3L5
Telephone: 705-324-3569
Fax: 705-324-0455
Email: hatter@lindsay.hkpr.on.ca

Description
Working in partnership with Rebound Child and Youth Services, the Boys and Girls Club of Kawartha Lakes, Point in Time Youth and Family Centre and the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team, this 29-month project will recruit local youth to participate in developing a youth-focussed social marketing campaign. The project will also deliver prevention workshops addressing the use of illicit drugs and other substances that target parents, caregivers, educators, health and allied professionals.

Youth Drop In

Organization: St. Leonard's Community Services

Contact Information:
Ms. Sue Lefler
Director, Addiction and Mental Health Services
St. Leonard's Community Services
1100 Clarence Street South, Suite 101
Brantford, ON N3T 5P9
Telephone: 519-754-0253
Fax: 519-754-0264

Description
Working in partnership with Wilfred-Laurier University, this three-year youth-oriented project will prevent illicit drug use in at-risk youth aged 13 to 18 years by addressing the behavioural and social environmental determinants of illicit drug use in young people living in Brantford and Brant County. St Leonard's Community Services will increase the capacity for problem-solving and decision-making by youth and enhance their ability to use positive coping strategies by establishing three peer-mentored drop-in sites.

BBDAS: Student Peer Leadership Initiative

Organization: Brant County Health Unit

Contact Information:
Ms. Marion McGeein
Program Manager
Brant County Health Unit
194 Terrace Hill Street
Brantford, ON N3R 1G7
Telephone: 519-753-4937 extension 258
Fax: 519-753-2140
Email: mmcgeein@bchu.org

Description
This three-year project will engage and educate youth in grades 7 through 10 in Brantford and Brant County by empowering them to make healthy decisions and preventing the negative consequences associated with illicit substance use. Brant County Health Unit will introduce "Choices for Healthy Lifestyles: Lessons in Critical Thinking" into the curriculum of 26 participating schools.

Youth Engagement

Organization: Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)

Contact Information:
Ms. Connie Uetrecht
Executive Director
OPHA
700 Lawrence Avenue West, Suite 310
Toronto, ON M6A 3B4
Telephone: 416-367-3313 extension 226
Fax: 416-367-2844
Email: cuetrecht@opha.on.ca

Description
Partnering with the Healthy Schools Coalition, the Ontario Physical Health Education Association (OPHEA) and the Injury Prevention Public Health Managers, this 29-month project is increasing the knowledge and skills of public health professionals working with youth by providing prevention training and related resources addressing the use of illicit drugs and other substances. In addition, the project is increasing the engagement of youth in grades 6, 7, and 8 by enhancing their protective factors and fostering resilience.

Community Drug Strategy: Community Consultations

Organization: Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Contact Information:
Ms. Patricia Hajdu
Health Promotion Planner
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
999 Balmoral Street
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6E7
Telephone: 807-625-7994
Fax: 807-345-4824
Email: patricia.hajdu@tbdhu.com

Description
Partnering with the City of Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Community Youth Coalition and the Drug Awareness Committee of Thunder Bay, this project is raising awareness among local youth, community leaders and local stakeholders of illicit drug issues in Thunder Bay. The 38-month project is coordinating a comprehensive community strategy addressing issues related to the prevention, treatment and enforcement of illicit drugs and other substances.