British Columbia Scan of AD Activities Spring 2007

8/14/2019 British Columbia Scan of AD Activities Spring 2007

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Environment Scan

Recent, Current or PlannedProvincial and Territorial Activities Related

to School-based and School-LinkedSubstance Abuse Prevention

British Columbia

Conducted by: Lu Ripley ([email protected])Centre for Addiction Research BC

May 28, 2007

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 3

SECTION A: WHOS WHO? .................................................... 4

SECTION B: WHATS HOT ABOUT THE ISSUE NOW? ................ 8

SECTION C: RECENT, CURRENT OR PLANNED ACTIVITIES THATSUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SCHOOL-BASEDOR SCHOOL-LINKED INTERVENTIONS ON THIS ISSUE? ............ 10

SECTION D: RECENT, CURRENT OR PLANNED ACTIVITIES THATSUPPORT STRENGTHENING OF SYSTEMS RELATED TO SCHOOLSON THIS ISSUE? ................................................................... 17

LIST OF INFORMANTS BRITISH COLUMBIA ........................... 21

QUESTIONNAIRE TO INFORMANTS BRITISH COLUMBIA ......... 23

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Introduction

This environmental scan was conducted for a national project titled School-Based and School-linked Prevention of Problematic Substance Use, organizedby The Canadian Association of School Health (CASH) and Canadian Centre

for Substance Abuse (CCSA). The intention is to gain information onprovincial/territorial level activities in regard to substance use preventionand comprehensive school health. For the purpose of this scan, activitiesrelated to tobacco are not included.

At the outset it should be noted that school based/linked substance useprevention activities are primarily developed and implemented at theregional, local and school district level in British Columbia. In order toprovide a broader picture of school based substance use prevention in BC,an attempt was made through this scan to gain information on regional andlocal initiatives. However, a comprehensive scan of these projects was

beyond the scope of this project. Hence, this scan provides a solid indicationof the major provincial activities in relation to substance use prevention, butthere is limited information included on local initiatives.

Information gathered for this environmental scan was accumulated from:

An Internet search

A questionnaire that was emailed key informants (questionnaire andlist of informants are included)

Phone conversations with key informants

Utilizing a recent environmental scan titled: A Scan of Drug andAlcohol based prevention programs commissioned by BCs Crystal

Meth Secretariat

It is hoped that this scan provides a good picture of the status of substanceuse prevention and school health in BC at the provincial level. For moreinformation, please contact Lu Ripley, at [email protected].

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Section A: Whos who?(Please identify key organizations and individuals at and withinthe P/T level on this issue as well as any key ongoing sources ofresearch, web sites etc.).

What are they doing now, recently and planned in relation to school health

promotion?

1. Who are the key PT NGO

organizations on this issue?

Key organizations working on substance use andschool health are:

Centre for Addictions Research BC(CARBC)A research agency and resource unit, CARBC is currentlydeveloping province-wide initiatives pertaining tosubstance use and mental health, such as a substance useand mental health learning resource for BC schools (grades6-10), as well as supporting initiatives such as teachertraining, school policy support and parent information. Thelearning resource and teacher training will be piloted in 4-5school districts in the 2007-08 school year.http://www.carbc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=225 Contact:[email protected]; [email protected]

Alcohol and Drug Education Services is a provider ofdrug education resources and an advocate for preventionstrategies aimed at reducing substance abuse problems.http://ades.bc.ca/home/default.html Contact:

[email protected]

Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC)ICBC works with school partners (e.g., PACs, principals,teacher organizations) to promote keeping young peoplesafe on the roads. Impaired driving (through alcohol andother drugs) is one issue that is covered. Also organize anannual youth advertising campaign(www.nofunbeingdead.com).http://www.icbc.com/youth/ Contact:[email protected]

Key organizations for school health are (substanceuse is not necessarily a priority or even included):

Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH) -interagency network representing a broad range of localregional and provincial organization, acting as advocatesfor the prevention activities that "enable students todevelop to their fullest potential". DASH promotes a HealtPromoting School (HPS) approach. The HPS approach, and

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http://www.carbc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=225mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://ades.bc.ca/home/default.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.nofunbeingdead.com/http://www.icbc.com/youth/mailto:[email protected]://www.carbc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=225mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://ades.bc.ca/home/default.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.nofunbeingdead.com/http://www.icbc.com/youth/mailto:[email protected]


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in BC described as "a Healthy School" is a practicalframework for students, families, schools, and communitiesto network and create plans to enhance student health andlearning. http://www.dashbc.org/

Institute for Safer Schools

Funded by The Ministry of Labour and Citizenship Servicesand supported by various government ministries, ISS iscommitted to ensuring schools and communities are safe,healthy and inclusive places. Their goal is to bringtogether all sectors (police, health, schools) to recognizeshared responsibility. In 2007 they (along with the BCPolice Youth Network) a conference Promoting Safe,Cohesive communities for Children and youth. They alsohave an on-line resource library. In terms of research, ISShas developed and administered the Safe School SocialResponsibility Survey for Secondary Students (SSSRS) thatwill be conducted in 13 school districts in 2007/08.Developed in collaboration with several school districts, thilongitudinal survey measures students perceptions ofpersonal safety and belonging, self concept, socialresponsibility, substance use, school engagement,community involvement, and home life. The primary use ofthis instrument is to assist school and district planningefforts. http://www.iss-bc.ca/

McCreary Centre Society (MCS) collects anddisseminated information on a range of youth health topicsincluding substance use which can provide evidence baseto support a comprehensive approach to substance useamong youth in school. MCS also provides education andresources to federal and provincial policy makers, schools,practitioners, and youth regarding the evidence relating tosubstance use in schools.http://www.mcs.bc.ca/

BC Youth Police Network (BCYPN) The BCYPN is apartnership between the Ministry of Public Safety andSolicitor General, and RCMP and municipal police forcesthroughout the province. This agency supports networking

and information sharing opportunities for BC police in preventing

youth crime, violence and victimization.

http://www.bcypn.com/

2. Who are the key national agencies on

this issue? What is their role on the issue

RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime AwarenessService (DOCAS)DOCAS Coordinators work with every Detachment

Commander in the province to complete their DetachmentPerformance Plans which must include a plan forprevention. There are 105 detachments across theprovince. DOCAS has designed a K to 12 template (Project

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http://www.dashbc.org/http://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.mcs.bc.ca/http://www.bcypn.com/http://www.dashbc.org/http://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.mcs.bc.ca/http://www.bcypn.com/


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Hope) that incorporates plans for the police working withthe community to develop a comprehensive drugprevention strategy (reducing Risk Factors and buildingProtective Factors). A recent environmental scancompleted by the Crystal Meth Secretariat indicates thatapproximately 27 school districts utilize DARE program.

Contact: [email protected] [email protected]

Canadian Association for School Health-http://www.safehealthyschools.org/

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) -http://www.maddvan.bc.ca/

3. What is the role of the health, education

and other ministries on the issue? Who

are the key provincial/territorial ministryofficials, programs and initiatives on this

issue?

Ministry of EducationThere are 60 School Districts within the province of BritishColumbia. Each District may conduct substance useprevention programming but the scope, content and formavaries widely from District to District and within Districts.

The Ministry of Education has a provincially prescribedcurriculum which includes a substance use component(Health and Career Education k-9 and Planning 10).Strategies for how the learning outcomes are achieved varfrom school to school depending on teacher comfort. Inmany communities RCMP, public health nurses and/orschool based prevention workers deliver education.

Safe Schools Program In the spring of 2002,government appointed a Safe Schools Task Force to consuwith parents, students and educators across the provinceto identify ways to address violence in schools.http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/ . For the purposes of thisscan, Ministry representative noted that substance useprevention is not part of the safe school portfolio.However, at the local level some safe school coordinatorsdeal with substance use prevention. Contact:[email protected].

Health Promoting Schools A Ministry of Health andEducation partnership to develop policy development andpractice that will help promote health through the schoolsetting. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/. For thepurposes of this scan, Ministry representative noted thatsubstance use is not generally part of this project (with theexception of the no2meth project described below), andthat the Ministry encourages schools to work with their

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.safehealthyschools.org/http://www.maddvan.bc.ca/http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/mailto:[email protected]://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.safehealthyschools.org/http://www.maddvan.bc.ca/http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/mailto:[email protected]://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/


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Health Authorities on substance use issues.Contact: [email protected]

Ministry of HealthThe Communicable Disease and Addiction PreventionBranch within Population and Wellness Division currently

provide evidence guidance and stewardship over theHealth Authorities in relation to prevention. An example ofthis is the recent publication, Following the Evidence:Preventing Harms from Substance Use in BC.

Health Authorities received funding for addiction services,including prevention. The Communication Disease andAddiction Prevention Branch is currently leading a processwith the Health Authorities to develop performance plansrelated to 21 core public health programs (which includessubstance use).Contact: [email protected], Communicable Diseaseand Addiction Prevention Branch, Ministry of Health

BC Partners for Mental Health and Addiction - for thelast 3 BC Partners has been engaged in work related topromoting comprehensive school health related tosubstance use and mental health issues. It is a partnershipof 7 provincial organizations with funding from theProvincial Health Services Authority, and is focused onpublic education and the support of professionals in helpinto nurture self-management and empowerment. Producesa journal called Visions.Website: http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/

4. What is the mandated role of school

boards, health authorities, other agencies

and schools on the issue? Are there

leaders at that level who should be

interviewed, involved, contacted for this

scan?

See above

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Section B: Whats hot about the issue now?(awareness, trends, incidents, reports, media stories, large events etc that can

be used to make progress on the issue to identify strategic opportunities or

challenges)

1. How aware arePT departments,

senior ministry

officials, senior

local agency

officials about the

issue?

Hard to say and depends upon the department/ministry.

2. How aware is the

public? Any recent

incidents to

galvanize concern

or interest?

Substance use is a fairly well-known issue within the province, for examplethe situation in Vancouver downtown Eastside has been high profile for anumber of year (in particular through the media).

An indication of awareness re: substance use and prevention is the numberof school districts that are currently providing resources towards this issue.Additionally, many school districts, often in partnership with addictionservices and enforcement, are looking at restorative justice type approachesto deal with substance use incidents.

North Vancouver CATZ program: [email protected]

Kamloops Alternative to Suspension program:http://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/SAP%20Directed%20Suspension.html

Kelowna AIMS project: [email protected]

Surrey Alternatives to Suspension program:

[email protected] Vancouver currently setting up as part of the SACY project:

[email protected]

3. What are the best

opportunities to

more the issue

forward? What is

the connection to

learning and current

health concerns?

Health Promoting Schools and Safe School Projects offer comprehensivemodels for programs and policies concerning comprehensive school health.

4. What are themost significant

barriers?

Based on a recent consultation process conducted by CARBC with threeschool districts, the following can be identified:

Among some within the school system, there is some resistance toaddressing substance use (i.e. stigma of the issue; though not to bean issue relevant to the universal population).

There are systemic barriers for example, the lack of teacher timededicated to health education. Many teachers spoke to the need forgreat teacher time allocated to health education.

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mailto:[email protected]://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/SAP%20Directed%20Suspension.htmlhttp://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/SAP%20Directed%20Suspension.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/SAP%20Directed%20Suspension.htmlhttp://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/SAP%20Directed%20Suspension.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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A significant number of teachers who teach health education (withinthe Planning courses) feel unprepared to address substance use.

Among those who work in the substance use prevention field, the lack ofprovincial standardization can be a barrier, resulting in a patchworkapproach across the province.

Lack of opportunities for communication and knowledge exchange amongthose in the prevention specialist field such as conferences, and othermechanisms to link folks working in substance use prevention.

Lack of coordination among government department/agencies and evenwithin.

5 Any smaller steps

or things that can be

done to move the

issue forward or to

encourage

comprehensive

approach?

Substance use is continually being recognized as a top priority forprofessionals working in the youth field. Fore example, a recent study withRCMP Community Policing Service recently conducted research withdetachments in relation to police offers single biggest issue 62% indicatedsubstance use as the #1 problem. Plan is to put together a strategy for theCPU dealing with underfunding issues and a lack of coordination.

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Section C: Recent, current or planned activities thatsupport a comprehensive approach to school-based orschool-linked interventions on this issue?

List any Statements, Reports, Frameworks, Policies, Programs, Practices, Major Initiatives,Significant Research Studies or Research Programs with web links and contact information.

1. Are there activities

(statements,

guidelines,

frameworks)

recommending CSH

approaches?

There are many activities that advocate for and demonstrate acomprehensive school approach, particularly at the community level, fartoo numerous to list here. In terms of guidelines and frameworks at aprovincial level, the following two reports strongly recommend CSH andinclude substance use:

An Ounce of Prevention: A Public Health Rationale for the School as aSetting for Health Promotion Report of Provincial Health Officer - Dr.Perry Kendall 2002 supports a comprehensive school health approach,

and includes substance use along with other school health issues such assexual health, healthy eating, mental health.http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/pdf/o_prevention.pdf

Following the Evidence: Preventing Harms from Problematic SubstanceUse, 2006 a Ministry of Health document outlining internationalevidence that includes recommendations for comprehensive schoolapproaches. This prevention paper identifies five strategic directionsthat international evidence suggests will have the most impact onprevention harms from substances. The ministry of Health will use thispaper to inform efforts in creating partnerships with government, non-government and provide sectors and those involved in community based

activity both locally and provincially.www.carbc.uvic.ca/pubs/FollowingEvidence_web.pdf

2. Are there any

activities that require

action to implement

such CSH approaches

to the issue? (Written

policies or ministry

agreements requiringcoordination, funded

action plans, etc)

?

3. Are there activities

that are requiring,

promoting,implementing,

evaluating

interventions in these

? Not sure intent of this question.

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http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/pdf/o_prevention.pdfhttp://www.carbc.uvic.ca/pubs/FollowingEvidence_web.pdfhttp://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/pdf/o_prevention.pdfhttp://www.carbc.uvic.ca/pubs/FollowingEvidence_web.pdf


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five areas of CSH on

this issue?

a) Laws, policies or

regulations that

stipulate certain

conditions, standardsor practices

Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service (DOCAS) hasguidelines for RCMP prevention initiatives that work in parallel withenforcement initiatives. Contact: [email protected] or

[email protected]

b) Curriculum,

instruction, materials

and teaching methods

Ministry of Education/Crystal Meth SecretariatThe Provincial Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Crystal MethSecretariat, has developed educational resource materials for grades 6to 12 schools, a Parents Guide; and the No2Meth website for youth,parents/guardian and teachers (www.no2meth.ca). These materials arecurrently being rolled-out to schools across the province. The resourcematerials were produced in conjunction with the Centre for AddictionsResearch of BC (CARBC). The cost to develop, disseminate and providesupport for the School-based Awareness Initiatives was $1 million. In

addition, training to school districts was provided to assist in theirdelivery of the materials to students. Contact:[email protected]

Ministry of EducationProvincial Outreach Program for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

(POPFASD) supports teachers of students with FASD by explaining theeducational implications of FASD. POPFASD shares current FASDresearch, resources and successful practices and provides a network forteachers and others. Through consultation with teachers and experts inthe field of FASD, POPFASD developed a website that provides provideinformation, e-learning modules and resources for teachers.http://www.fasdoutreach.ca/

Ministry of HealthCentre for Addiction Research BC is currently contracted to developresources that support a whole school approach to prevent substanceuse related harms and promoting mental health/wellness. The projectincludes the development of lesson plans for the classroom (gr. 6-10), asupplementary resource guide for teachers, teacher training and ongoingweb support. There are preliminary plans for the development of aschool policy manual. www.carbc.net Contact: [email protected]

RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness ServiceThe Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program includesseparate curricula for elementary (5 or 6), middle (7 or 8) and high (9 or10) school (The Birthday Party), a Drug and Sports Program, and a Parentprogram. The Birthday Partyprogram is aimed at young drivers in grade9. The RCMP has partnered with the Addictive Drug Information Council(ADIC) to develop several information pamphlets (www.adicbc.com). TheRCMP has a youth website (www.deal.org). RCMP members work withother partners in the community to coordinate the Preventing Alcohol

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fasdoutreach.ca/http://www.carbc.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.adicbc.com/http://www.deal.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fasdoutreach.ca/http://www.carbc.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.adicbc.com/http://www.deal.org/


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and Risk related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program for High Schoolstudents (grade 10). Contact: [email protected] [email protected]

Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC)Provides curriculum-based materials to British Columbia schools for

Grades K to 10. The materials support road safety learning outcomes andemphasize the importance of good decision-making skills. In the Grade 8,9, and 10 materials there are lesson plans dealing with impaired driving(due to alcohol and drugs). Between March and May each year, ICBCRoadSense speakers tour BC high schools. The speakers talk about theirpersonal experiences being involved in a crash where speeding orimpairment was involved.http://www.icbc.com/youth/youth_new_educators.asp Contact:[email protected]

Alcohol and Drug Education Service (ADES) Making Decisionslearning resource (grades 4-9) is offered to BC schools, and ADES isplanning on conducting a revision process for this resource and willinclude a web friendly component.The ADES has worked with manyschool districts in BC to design and develop comprehensive schoolhealth/drug prevention frameworks and resources that are customized toindividual needs of the district or school.http://ades.bc.ca/resources/making_decisions.html Contact:

[email protected]

BC Youth Police NetworkDeveloped a Police Resource for conducting classroom presentations -Safe Schools, Safe Communities, consists of a comprehensive series oflesson plans designed to guide police officers conducting classroompresentations. Information on this resource can be accessed at: http://www.iss-bc.ca/

From Grief to ActionDeveloped a video showing four families struggle with addiction.http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/content/resources/videos.php

Odd SquadA department of the Vancouver Police who develop educational videosfor youth on drug abuse. Most widely known for a video titled Through aBlue lens that is extensively used in BC schools.http://www.oddsquad.com/

Vancouver Island Health Authority, Prevention Services programdeveloped Healthy Choices a comprehensive and coordinated healthprogram for grades K-10, includes lesson plans, partnerships betweenschools, health and community organizations, encouragement of schoolsto adopts a coordinated and comprehensive approach to school health(focuses primarily on eating well, physical activity, sexual health andtobacco prevention). There was some discussion of utilizing this

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.icbc.com/youth/youth_new_educators.aspmailto:[email protected]://ades.bc.ca/resources/making_decisions.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/content/resources/videos.phphttp://www.oddsquad.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.icbc.com/youth/youth_new_educators.aspmailto:[email protected]://ades.bc.ca/resources/making_decisions.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.iss-bc.ca/http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/content/resources/videos.phphttp://www.oddsquad.com/


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curriculum to develop

c) Preventive health,

social or other services

in or near schools,

screening, referrals,

crisis response etc.

Health Authorities: Addiction services are delivered by regional healthauthorities, and many offer or contract out counseling services for youth some of which are connected to schools. Additionally, many healthauthorities provide school and/or community based prevention workers.1

Several health authorities provide prevention specialists who work withschools, often providing education, developing learning resources,providing teacher education and dealing with substance use incidents.Service differs among schools and school districts. According to therecent environmental scan of school programs conducted by the CrystalMeth Secretariat, approximately 23 school districts have substance useprevention workers (usually funded through Addiction Services).

In terms of specific regional/location information on substance useprevention:

Fraser Health: Currently has 14 school based prevention workers spreadacross the region, and the focus is secondary/ targeted prevention inmiddle and secondary schools. These positions frequently have as thefocus of their contractual obligations: The purpose of the School BasedPrevention Program is to deliver prevention, early intervention andhealth promotion programs designed to assist in identifying andchanging personal and environmental factors that influence children,

youth and families and support them in adopting healthy behaviours andattitudes. The program also includes the utilization of a harm reductionapproach when delivering its messages.For youth requiring moreintensive counseling, there is a referral made to the connectingoutpatient clinic. SBPW also have as one of their main responsibilities, towork with schools and districts to be part of a policy making processwhen it comes to healthier, safer living for students, particularly when itcomes to using substances. A Prevention Grant initiative wasresurrected last year that provided just under $500,000 in preventiongrants. Fraser Health hired a case manager review prevention grantrecipients re: progress, successes, partnerships for sustainability,barriers, surprises and spin offs etc. Contact:[email protected].

Vancouver Coastal HealthNorth Vancouver: Currently completing a review of prevention servicesincluding an exhaustive best practices literature review (utilizing MCFDbest practice guidelines for preventing substance abuse). Collaborationwith VCH Community Health Nurses in North Shore Schools; Concurrent

1 As part of this environmental scans at least one representative in each healthauthority was contacted and asked to respond to a two page questionnaireconcerning prevention services, however only two responses were received: FraserHealth Authority and North Shore (part of Vancouver Coastal Health). It should beknown that in some cases it was difficult to assess who was responsible for substanceuse prevention, and sometimes there was no regional contact, but through HealthService Delivery Areas.

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Disorder Prevention Workers at North Shore schools screening forconcurrent disorders/prevention work; Capilano Community ServicesSociety Prevention Worker funded by VCH; Urgent response on the NorthShore provided by Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions.Contact: [email protected].

School Districts: A handful of school districts have designatedsubstance use personnel that provide substance use counsellor positionsand/or district wide planning2:

Vernon (currently in the midst of developing a comprehensivehealth education plan for their district, developed a suspensionlearning assignment for kids caught using substances, parentnetwork) http://www.sd22.bc.ca/web/studentsupport.html

West Vancouver (developing district wide substance usecurriculum along with teacher training, parent network).

Langley (Project Resiliency)

Kamloops (promoting teacher uptake of substance use education,

alternatives to suspension program in partnership w/ addictionservices)http://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/

Vancouver (project called SACY: school environment, teachertraining, parent and student engagement). Contact:[email protected]

Surrey (school curriculum, alternatives to suspension, communityeducation and awareness). Contact: [email protected]

Saanich (embarking on a district wide prevention plan) Contact:[email protected]

Many of these initiatives involve or are a partnership with AddictionServices and enforcement.

Alternative Intervention for Marijuana Suspension (AIMS) UBCOkanagan research project that brings together RCMP, Kelowna SchoolDistrict and Addiction Services to provide an alternative program forthese students. The AIMS alternative consists of students completing aself-report questionnaire and attending a one-hour counselling session.http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.html, coordinator: [email protected]

Enforcement:The RCMP have designated School Resource Officers at everydetachment. Some are also trained D.A.R.E. Officers.

d) Increase social

support (youth, parent,

community

involvement such as

peer programs, school

RCMP - School Liaison Officers are provided through police departments(i.e. RCMP) however there is no overall service delivery approach, but aredetermined by each individual detachment. Contact:[email protected] or [email protected] orCommunity Policing Service Contact: Terry Kopan, Inspector 604-264-

2 Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but reflects the main project known tothe author of this scan.

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mailto:[email protected]://www.sd22.bc.ca/web/studentsupport.htmlhttp://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.sd22.bc.ca/web/studentsupport.htmlhttp://drugandalcoholprogram.sd73.bc.ca/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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climate) 2231

BC Coalition for Families provides educational resources on topicssuch as parenting, childhood development, parent-teen relationships,work-life balance, suicide awareness and more; and coordinatesprofessional, disseminates research and resources. Recently developed

a new education program for parents of 7-12 year old called Me and MyTween (funded by Health Canada Drug Strategy)http://www.bccf.bc.ca/hm/

Parents Together - under the auspices of Boys and Girls Clubs ofBritish Columbia, offers a variety of support/education services toparents throughout the province.http://pt2.nfshost.com/index.php

Alcohol and Drug Education Services - Currently developing revisedtraining and facilitation guide and manual for Parents as Preventorsprogram which is a province wide interactive workshop for parents.http://ades.bc.ca/resources/parents.html

Boys and Girls Clubs http://www.bgc-gv.bc.ca/

From Grief to Action an advocacy group of families affected bysubstance use, have created a coping kit for parents of drug users.http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/

CARBC - developed a series of print resources for parents.www.carbc.net

Provincial Crystal Meth Strategy (through Crystal Meth Secretariatand Ministry of Education) developed a no2meth parents guide, aimed atparents of students in schools to encourage them to start a dialogue withtheir children about substance use and was intended to reinforce theeducational materials delivered through teachers in schools and theinformation for youth on the No2meth website. www.no2meth.ca

BC Partners for Mental Health and Addiction - has developed twoTip Sheets to help raise parental awareness and competence inaddressing substance use and mental health issues among their school-aged children.http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/

Communities That Care a research supported prevention project thatengages all areas of the community in promoting the positivedevelopment of young people. Currently operational in Squamish,Whistler and Pemberton. The project's primary aim is to develop acoordinated, comprehensive and comprehensive way of preventingprevention problems with: substance abuse, delinquency, unintendedteenage pregnancy, academic difficulty, violence and depression.http://www.ctcsquamish.com/

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http://www.bccf.bc.ca/hm/http://pt2.nfshost.com/index.phphttp://ades.bc.ca/resources/parents.htmlhttp://www.bgc-gv.bc.ca/http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/http://www.carbc.net/http://www.no2meth.ca/http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/http://www.ctcsquamish.com/http://www.bccf.bc.ca/hm/http://pt2.nfshost.com/index.phphttp://ades.bc.ca/resources/parents.htmlhttp://www.bgc-gv.bc.ca/http://www.fromgrieftoaction.org/http://www.carbc.net/http://www.no2meth.ca/http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/http://www.ctcsquamish.com/


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BC Crime Prevention Association project called Building Safer YouthCommunities (recently called Youth Safe Zone project) an asset basedapproach that is being piloted in 6 communities and will involve schools.Not focused on substance use prevention, but addresses socialdevelopment that underlies youth crime and problematic behaviours,

such as substance use. Contact: [email protected]

e) Healthy physical

environment

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Section D: Recent, current or planned activities thatsupport strengthening of systems related to schools on thisissue?

List any Statements, Reports, Frameworks, Policies, Programs, Practices, Major Initiatives,

Significant Research Studies or Research Programs with web links and contact information1. Coordinated policy

(inter-ministry, inter-

agency, inter-

disciplinary) and senior

leader support

The provincial governments Crystal Meth Strategy has engaged 9government ministries along with a number of other stakeholder groupsto address substance use prevention, and notably meth use prevention.http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crystalmeth/pdf/crystal_meth_strategy.pdf

Healthy Schools is a partnership between Ministry of Health andMinistry of Education http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/

Provincial Outreach Program for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disordestrategic plan (2003) consists of a partnership between 9 governmentministries, including Ministry of Education.

http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/fasd/pdf/fasd_strategic_plan-final.pdf

RCMP Community Policing Service, Aboriginal Community PolicingService and Drug Awareness are attempting to develop a coordinatedstrategy.DOCAS coordinators work with Detachment personnel to developcommunity drug strategies. Contact: Terry Kopan, Inspector 604-264-2231

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Victim Servicesand Crime Prevention Division, in partnershipwith InterministryCommittee on the Prevention of Youth Violence and Crime, is overseeing

a Provincial Action Plan as a joint federal-provincial-municipal-communitypartnership that aims to provide support for coordination andimplementation of youth gang violence prevention initiatives. Theproject is premised on a four-year multi-staged community action modelfocused on building community capacity and supporting the direct effortof local communities to address these challenges in collaboration withgovernment agencies. It is working with a variety of communities,including two school districts (Vancouver and Surrey). Contact:

[email protected]

2. Formal and informal

mechanisms for

cooperation(agreements, procedures,

support for coalitions,

joint in-service, joint

planning, joint budgeting

etc.)

At the local level there are many examples of coordination andpartnership. In terms of provincial level both ActNow and Safe School

Initiative are supported through multiple provincial ministries. While theifocus is not specifically on substance use they both touch on this.

Health Schools Network, through Health Promoting Schools, is aninitiative established to address a variety of academic, social andemotional concerns of students through a comprehensive school healthapproach. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/hsnetwork/. The initiativeis a partnership between the Ministries of Education and Health and is

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http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crystalmeth/pdf/crystal_meth_strategy.pdfhttp://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/fasd/pdf/fasd_strategic_plan-final.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/hsnetwork/http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crystalmeth/pdf/crystal_meth_strategy.pdfhttp://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/fasd/pdf/fasd_strategic_plan-final.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/hsnetwork/


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supported by the Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH)http://www.dashbc.org/article.asp?c=2

The implementation of the new provincial legislation (Bill 10) provides anopportunity Health Authorities and School Board to collaborate on newpolicies and programs related to tobacco. Early plans include developingtools to help schools address infractions to new regulations.

3. Staff time or

infrastructure assigned

to facilitating

cooperation at any level

4. Explicit and ongoing

means to exchange and

transfer knowledge

In regard to substance use in particular, the Association of SubstanceAbuse Program of BC (ASAP) has received funding from HealthCanada for two years to provide an annual conference for professionalsin the addictions field, as well as annual regional conferences in eachhealth authority with a harm reduction/prevention focus. Contact:[email protected]

Centre for Addiction Research(CARBC) developing a website forteachers, along with a teacher training, in conjunction with a newlearning resource. Contact: [email protected]

Alcohol and Drug Education Services (ADES) - provides in-servicetraining for teachers and other professionals who deliver drug preventioneducation in schools and communities. Contact: [email protected]

Canadian Association for School Health offering webcasts andconference related to school health.

Institute for Safe Schools Organized the Promoting Safe, CohesiveCommunities for Children and Youth conference in May 2007, their goalis to continue annual conferences (funding dependant), as well asorganizing localized, regional conferences.

5. Sustained work forcedevelopment (in-service

and pre-service)

On a provincial level, there is little work force development in regard tosubstance use prevention.

CARBC is developing training for teachers to correspond with the newprovincial learning resource; and an Alcohol and Drug EducationService provides in-service training for teachers and other professionals

RCMP DOCAS has developed a Drug Awareness Officer Training coursefor police officers. DOCAS coordinators hold in-service training seminarsfor School Resource Officers and D.A.R.E. Officers. Contact:[email protected] or [email protected]

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http://www.dashbc.org/http://www.dashbc.org/article.asp?c=2mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.dashbc.org/http://www.dashbc.org/article.asp?c=2mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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6. Explicit procedures to

identify emergingissues/trends and

facilitate joint selection

of priority issues.

Centre for Addiction Research BC is currently setting up a nationalproject to pilot a drug epidemiological monitoring system for Canada.Does not have a school aged focus but some agencies involved serveyouth. Part of this project will ensure comparable questions are asked oschool based surveys regarding substance use (to ensure consistency

and for comparative purposes.

7. Ongoing monitoringand reporting of:

a) Related health literacy

b) Child/youth health

behaviours, attitudes,skills and related

determinants/factors in

home, schools and

communities

Institute for Safer Schools has developed and administered the SafeSchool Social Responsibility Survey for Secondary Students (SSSRS) in 1BC school districts. Developed in collaboration with several schooldistricts, this longitudinal survey measures students perceptions ofpersonal safety and belonging, self concept, social responsibility,substance use, school engagement, community involvement, and homelife. The primary use of this instrument is to assist school and districtplanning efforts. http://www.iss-bc.ca/research/projects

McCreary Centre Society conducts theAdolescent Health Surveywhichcollects data on substance use, as well as a range of health andwellness issues, among school aged youth. McCreary also conductsyouth engagement workshops based on the data provided by youth inschool, regarding health topics of concern to them substance use isusually one of the major topics of the workshops and a number ofcommunities have devised plans for action based on data provided resubstance use among school aged youth. http://www.mcs.bc.ca/

UBC TRACE Project -a qualitative study focusing on youthsperspectives on frequent marijuana use in 3 communities in British

Columbia. Data collection began in Sept 2005 and includes 20 individualinterviews with youth in each community. Field work also includesindividual interviews and focus groups with school staff, parents andcommunity members in all 3 locations. School of Nursing, contact: Joy

Johnson, Principal Investigator: TRACE (Teens Report on AdolescentCannabis Experiences) or Barb Moffat, [email protected]

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http://www.iss-bc.ca/research/projectshttp://www.mcs.bc.ca/mailto:[email protected]://www.iss-bc.ca/research/projectshttp://www.mcs.bc.ca/mailto:[email protected]


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Alternative Interventions in Marijuana Suspension) researchproject at UBC Okanagan documenting alternative strategy for marijuanasuspension, along with a longitudinal study of risk behaviours and youthhttp://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.htm

Vancouver Coastal Health recently conducted a research projectlooking at substance use among 16-24 year olds. Contact:[email protected]

East Kootenay Addiction Services Society survey conducted in2002 and 2005 with three school districts assessing current and relevantdrug use among East Kootenay youth.http://www.silink.ca/Portals/0/Resources/EK_Survey05.pdf

c) Status and capabilities

of local policies,programs and practices

d) Periodic assessments,

studies school/agency

self-assessment/needs

identification tools

8 Explicit plans or

processes to support

sustainability, evolution

and evaluation of

programs, policies etc

The D.A.R.E. program is undergoing an intensive longitudinal evaluationin the USA. The RCMP have done evaluations of certain aspects of theD.A.R.E. Program in Canada. Contact: [email protected] [email protected]

Communicable Disease and Addiction Prevention Branch, Ministry ofHealth is providing financial assistance to Vancouver School Board forthe evaluation of a substance use prevention project called SACY.Contact: [email protected], Communicable Disease andAddiction Prevention Branch, Ministry of Health

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http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.silink.ca/Portals/0/Resources/EK_Survey05.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/psycomp/faculty/mkrank/research/aims.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.silink.ca/Portals/0/Resources/EK_Survey05.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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List of Informants British Columbia

Organization ContactCentre for Addiction Research BC Dan Reist, Deb Solk

Institute for Safer Schools Terry Waterhouse, WilmaRCMP (Drug Awareness) Chuck Doucette/ Bob HallRCMP (Community Policing) Terry KopanAssociation of Substance AbusePrograms

Michelle Dartnell

McCreary Centre Society Annie SmithAlcohol and Drug Education Services Judy LalondBC Youth Police Network (throughMinistry of Public Safety/SolicitorGeneral)From Grief to Action Pat JohnsonMinistry of Education Heather Hoult, (Health

Promoting Schools/HealthySchools Network)

Nell Ross,(Safer Schools)

Ministry of Health (prevention) Rafe MooneyProvincial Health Authority MentalHealth and Addictions (BC Partners)

Dan Reist

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor

General Crystal Meth Secretariat

Kjerstine Holmes/Mark

TatchellMinistry of Public Safety and SolicitorGeneral, Victim Services and CrimePrevention Division

Jamie Lipp

Network of Public Health Nurses BC Cheryl MartinInsurance Corporation of BC Sharon BoglariHealth Authorities (youth/preventionservices addiction)

VCH: Cameron Duff,Connie Coniglio, ChristaMullaly/Vince BattistelliVIHA: Michelle DartnellFraser: Sherry Mumford

Interior Health: CarolSavage/Mary BatesNorth: Debra Fawcett

BCTF Current strike in process could not be accessed

DASH (Directorate for Agencies forSchool Health)BC Council for Families Julie Norton

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Boys and Girls ClubUniversity of British Columbia Marvin Krank

Joy Johnston/Barb MoffatUniversity of Victoria youth careprogram?

Bonnie Leadbeater

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

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Questionnaire to Informants British Columbia

School-based and School-Linked Prevention of ProblematicSubstance Use

Environment Scans to Identify Recent, Current or Planned

Provincial and Territorial Activities

The Centre for Addiction Research (CARBC), through our involvement withthe Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA)s HEP initiative,3 isconducting an environmental scan for a national project titled School-Basedand School-linked Prevention of Problematic Substance Use. This project,organized by The Canadian Association of School Health (CASH) andCanadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA), will collect, translate anddisseminate evidence that underlies the CICAD Guidelines to Canadianeducation, health, police, mental health and addictions personnel (seeattached project overview). The information gleaned from the environmental

scan will be utilized in the development of this project.

While the primary purpose of this scan is provincial level initiatives, there isalso an attempt to gather information on regional/local initiatives, as this iswhere many of the innovative projects are currently being developed andimplemented.

Your participation in this environmental scan is greatly appreciated. Resultsof the scan will be made available, thus this is an opportunity to shareinformation among those working in the substance use prevention field inBC. As well, conducting this scan provides an opportunity for building

connection and a network related to school-based/school-linked substanceuse prevention.

Wed to invite you to take the time to answer any of the relevant questionsbelow. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Lu Ripley at604.408.7753 or email at [email protected].

Instructions:1. Please read through the entire questionnaire before you begin to

ensure your feedback is captured in the correct section. Provideinformation on questions that are relevant to your organization;

2. Please respond electronically and save this file as


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Questions:

Name: _____________________________________Agency: ____________________________________

1. Please describe recent, current or planned activities and initiativesyour organization is currently involved in that supportacomprehensive approach to school-based or school-linkedsubstance use prevention. Please include provincial and/or localactivities, as appropriate.

Statements, guidelines, frameworks:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Laws, policies or regulations stipulating certain conditions,standards or practice:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Curriculum and other educational materials (such as brochures orwebsites):__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supports (preventive health services in or near schools, screening,crisis response etc):__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Initiatives addressing school climate/environment:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__

Other activities and initiatives not mentioned above (youthengagement strategies, parent engagement, etc)?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Are you aware of knowledge exchange opportunities related toschool based/school linked substance use prevention (i.e.websites/training/in-servicing for teachers, police, public healthnurses)?____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Are you aware of examples where systems are working together tocollaboratively address substance use prevention (ministries,addiction services, schools, health clinics, enforcement, voluntaryorganizations)? Examples of this could be coordinated policy at theministry level, inter-agency joint planning, etc.

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Are you aware of any research in this area (i.e. monitoring andreporting, evaluation of programs)?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Additional comments on school based/school linked substance useprevention in BC? Anything youd like to comment on that wasntincluded in the questions above?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank You!

Documents

British Columbia Scan of AD Activities Spring 2007