A four-year-old school program that began in Olds to build resiliency skills in children and youth has received a special award from Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.
Chinook’s Edge School Division’s Youth Empowerment and Support (YES!) program in Olds and Didsbury was awarded the 2011 Excellence in Youth Development Award during a banquet at Lake Louise in October.
The YES! program is one of 38 projects in a provincewide initiative known as Mental Health Capacity Building in Schools. This YES! program provides programs and activities so that children and youth can become resilient. It also supports them to stay in school and succeed.
The program received additional dollars last summer, allowing it to expand into Ross Ford Elementary and Westglen Middle School in Didsbury.
“We have four adult youth mentors who work directly with students to provide support and guidance to our young people in schools,” said Raelynn Notley, program leader and registered social worker.
Notley said they create social and recreational opportunities for students and lead targeted group work and presentations to encourage positive self-esteem, confidence and coping skills.
The students appear to be better adjusted, have improved connections with peers, and build increased coping skills to deal with adversity. This often leads to improved academic success, Notley said.
The award includes $2,000 to support future development of the project. Barbara Hill, community services director for the Town of Olds, said she was thrilled that YES! received the award.
“This award is about enabling and empowering youth, promoting active living and getting youth involved in their community,” said Hill. “The YES! program can certainly be a model for creating opportunities for young people in all communities.”