From the Inside Out: Promoting Resiliency in Early Adolescence

This 2-part project, funded by the Population Health Fund, spanned from 2002-2004 and produced 2 reports on promoting resiliency in early adolescents.

Part 1

Secondary analysis of Adolescent Health Survey II data on risk and protective factors among early adolescents provides data on what is normative vs. high-risk behaviour in early adolescence (ie. trying alcohol for the first time is normative vs. having sexual intercourse is not). Connectedness to family and school, feeling safe at school, and liking school have been found to protect young adolescence from a range of negative outcomes.

Full Findings: Healthy Youth Development: the opportunity of early adolescence.

Part 2

The second component of the project developed and encouraged connectedness to community and supportive adults for early adolescents. McCreary partnered with 3 communities on a community development process - 2 Aboriginal and a community with a disproportionate number of low income families.

A series of workshops in each community involved young adolescents (aged 11 - 14 years) in a number of activities such as community mapping, recreation, and activities to create a community project of their own. These activities encourage skill development, leadership abilities, cultural awareness, community connectedness and healthy choices.

The focus of this component is on building resilience in early adolescents by encouraging youth to discover, utilize, and hone their own talents and unique abilities and to connect with supportive, older youth leaders and adults in their community.

The majority of the organizing and facilitation of these workshops was carried out by two older, teens from the community who acted as youth leaders and role models. Supportive adults in the communities were also encouraged to participate. Community leaders and other adults learned how to support their youths' involvement, increasing their commitment to youth initiatives.

Summary Report: A report summarizing the experience is available in pdf format for downloading (download report).