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Whistler for Youth program reporting success

Program helps kids develop coping skills

A total of 35 local families have been participating in the first two cycles of the Second Step Violence Prevention Parenting Program sponsored by Whistler For Youth, and according to parent feedback the program is a success.

The third cycle of the six-step program will get underway in the fall of 2006, and other families are invited to take part.

The goal of the program is to help families to reduce impulsive, high-risk and aggressive behaviours, and to increase social-emotional competence and other protective factors in children age 4 to 14.

The program is sponsored by Parent Advisory Councils from Spring Creek and Myrtle Philip community schools, Safe Streets and Schools, School District 48 and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Whistler For Youth is also launching the Stay on Track social marketing program, which aims to correct misconceptions about alcohol and drug use while promoting healthier attitudes and choices.

WFY also helped to fund the expansion of the Peer Educator Program, offered by the Whistler Community Services Society, to include service to employee housing at Whistler-Blackcomb. They funded an additional peer educator, and trained seven youth to provide information and support services to residents.

WYF will also be focusing on several local issues: criminal behaviour, academic difficulties, drug and alcohol abuse and other problems faced by youth in the community; addressing laws and community standards that favour drug use and crime; parental attitudes and role modeling; and a party atmosphere that leads to substance use and abuse. The organization will review research in these areas, which they will use to develop more WYF programs.

For more information contact Deanne Zeidler at 604-902-4271, Ross Harlow at 60-932-5671, or visit www.mywcss.org/wfy.htm