Young Leaders for Healthy Relationships includes an intervention research component, intended to provide the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) with reliable and tangible scientific data aimed at evaluating behaviours, attitudes and beliefs following the implementation of our program in grade 9 and 10.
A look at last year's results:
A scientific approach
What are the expected results of the program?
Students participating in the program:
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Learn new knowledge and skills related to healthy relationships
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Demonstrate changes in attitude and behaviour regarding healthy relationships
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Improve the quality of their interpersonal relationships and the relationships of those around them
The ultimate goal of the JLRS program is to decrease the prevalence of violence in the interpersonal relationships of youth in the four schools where the program is delivered.
A scientific and participatory approach
To carry out the research component, the JLRS program collaborates with the firm Reicherts & Associates. This firm specializes in intervention research as well as the prevention of gender-based violence.
Réseau-Femmes and Reicherts & Associates received approval from the Research Ethics Board fo the Public Health Agency of Canada to conduct this research. The approval includes all of the research tools (surveys and focus groups), the consent process for all research activities and methods. We also received approval from the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) to conduct this research.
The research process
Four CSF schools were selected to be involved in the research. The process is as follows:
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Evaluation “Before” and “After” the program for each student to evaluate by comparison the knowledge and skills acquired
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Assessment of the students well-being during the workshops
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Focus group with participating students, Young Leaders, Reicherts & Associates and the JLRS team
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Annual Regional Group to allow youth to be involved in the evaluation of the program to adapt it as best as possible to their specific needs and the reality of each school
You would like to learn more about youth dating violence prevention ?
Prevnet is a platform at the forefront of youth dating violence prevention, offering resources, research, and tools for educators, parents and youth. The JLRS project is part of this nation-wide network that promotes healthy relationships and fight against harassment, thanks to the strategies and interventions that are based on scientific evidence.
Consent and confidentiality
Before the start of the workshops, parents/guardians receive a letter of consent in which is indicated a description of the program and its research component, as well as an explanation of how the students’ identity is protected. The consent for the research component is “opt-out” consent, which means that consent is assumed unless withdrawn by the parent/guardian. To withdraw consent, the parent/guardian must contact their teen’s teacher who will then let the JLRS team know consent has been withdrawn for the research component. It is important to note that since the JLRS program meets the criteria set out by the Ministry of Education, it is only possible to withdraw consent from the research component and not the JLRS program itself. It is equally as important to note that although consent is implied, before each survey students will be reminded that they are not obligated to complete the survey if they do not wish to do so.
In terms of confidentiality. Students will be identified by an identification number. At the start of each survey, students are asked a series of questions which, in combination, form their identification number. No names or other identifying information will be disclosed in the research data analysis. All electronic surveys are completed through Simple Survey (a Canadian survey platform).