Submitted by:
Beverley Polon |
Swan Valley Communities That Care (SVCTC) hosted a luncheon Community Information meeting at the Elks Hall on November 19, 2014. Approximately 40 community members participated in this event.
Click any picture for a larger version.
SVCTC Board members were also supported in this presentation by Dalen Dutton (CTC Master Trainer-Maine, USA), Dr. Steve Feldgaier(Healthy Child, MB) and Jennifer Wood( Prov. CTC Coordinator).
This meeting was planned in order to share the Data results from the SVCTC Youth Survey that was conducted in the Swan Valley School Division in December 2013. At that time, youth, grades 7-12, answered an online questionnaire with 138 questions that have created a risk and protective factor profile for the Swan Valley.
From these results, the SVCTC Data group, presented a summary of 4 elevated risk factors for the meeting participants to consider and then vote on as a community to determine the priority focus for moving forward in making positive change for Swan Valley youth. The identified elevated risk factors considered were:
1. Community Laws and Norms favoring Alcohol & Drugs
Laws regulating alcohol and other drug sales and use are poorly enforced. Further, adults communicate that it is normative or acceptable for minors to use alcohol or other drugs.
2. School and Academic Performance
Children report poor grades and that they are not keeping up with other students academically.
3. Family Conflict
Youth report high levels of conflict or violence between family members, and conflict that is ongoing or poorly resolved.
4. Rewards for Anti-Social Behaviours
Youths perceive that they accept or condone anti-social behaviour.
Results of the community vote were tabulated and shared at the meeting. The 1st priority chosen was
1. Family Conflict and
2. Rewards for Anti-Social Behaviours
was chosen as the second priority in which to focus.
SVCTC is now in the process of creating a Resource Assessment report for the Swan Valley. All of this information will then be shared in January 2015 in Community Planning meetings designed to set goals and initiate programs.