Introducing Pathways to EducationTM - Ottawa
(Pinecrest-Queensway)
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre has initiated an
exciting new program for youth in the west end of Ottawa called
Pathways to Education.
Pathways to Education -
An Award Winning Program with Proven Results
Pathways to Education is an award winning program that supports
young people from low income communities to complete
high school and move on to post-secondary education.
The program was developed by the Regent Park Community Health
Centre in 2001, in response to research indicating that more than
half of that community’s youth were dropping out of school.
The Pathways to Education Program model is based on four key
supports:
-
Academic Support:
tutoring in core high school subjects two nights per week
-
Social Support:
group activities led by positive adult role models and designed
to build social skills and to help students set education and
career goals
-
Financial Support:
a current financial support in the form of assistance with
school transportation and school supplies and an incentive, in
the form of a bursary of $1,000 per year for college or
university
-
Advocacy:
a dedicated staff person who is assigned to each student, who
monitors the students’ academic performance and participation in
the program and who acts as a bridge between the schools,
families and Pathways staff and volunteers
Since the program started in 2001, there has been a dramatic change
in student performance in the Regent Park community.
The following results reflect a full complement of students
from 2001-2005.
Compared to Regent Park before Pathways, the program has:
-
Reduced absenteeism by 65% across all four cohorts
-
Reduced the percentage of youth with serious attendance problems
by over 75%
-
Reduced the percentage of the most academically
at-risk students by two-thirds
-
Increased the five-year graduation rate by over 75%
-
Seen a 90% acceptance rate for four-year graduates who applied
to colleges and universities
Pathways to Education - Ottawa (Pinecrest-Queensway)
Based on the success of the Pathways model, a national organization
called Pathways to Education Canada has been established to support
replication in other parts of Canada.
In 2007,
PQCHC completed a community engagement process to determine
the viability of implementing the Pathways to Education Program in
the west-end of Ottawa.
The research we conducted, which included consultations with
parents, youth and service providers, has confirmed that there is
both a need and a desire for this program in our community.
Based on this research, we received approval to bring the
Pathways to Education program to West-end Ottawa.
The program started in September 2007 with a cohort of Grade 9
students. We are expanding the program in September 2008 to
include Grade 9 and 10 students. Each year we will accept a
new cohort of students until we are working with Grade 9s through to
Grade 12.
Who is Eligible?
Students who are starting Grade 9 and 10 in September 2008 and who live in one of
the following communities are eligible for the program:
Foster Farm, Pinecrest Terrace, Morrison Gardens, Christie Place,
Winthrop Court, Regina Lane, Eva Taylor Court, Michele Heights, or
Britannia Woods.
If you know of a young person who may be eligible for the program,
please have them or their parent/guardian contact Leslie Elliott at
613-820-4922 ext 450 or
l.elliott@pqhcs.com.
Volunteers Needed!
The Pathways to Education Program requires skilled and committed
volunteers to serve as tutors and mentors.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative
program, which can make a positive difference in the lives of youth
and their families. If
you are interested in volunteering with the program, please contact
Kevin Bisback at 613-820-4922 ext 417 or
k.bisback@pqhcs.com .
This program is funded in part through the
Ontario Trillium Foundation.
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