Every Child in Every Class in the Province of Ontario

will Experience an HIV/AIDS Educational Program

PATRICK 4 LIFE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Administration

Executive Director

Intern Executive Assistant

Management Committee

Research

Curriculum

Development/Teacher

Training

Strategic Planning

Committee

Youth 4 Youth

Volunteers

Finance

Run/Walk

Committee

Partici-Patrick

Day of Champions

• Patrick Fortin, son of Christine and Christian Fortin, died of HIV/AIDS on November 8th, 2001 at the age of 23. He was a hemophiliac and contracted the HIV virus through a contaminated blood transfusion.

• In 2006, Patrick 4 Life as an organization was established by the Fortin Family. It became a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth about the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Patrick 4 Life’s purpose is to develop and implement educational programs and activities designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge to make healthy life style choices

Patrick 4 Life is governed by a Board of Directors who represent the partners with whom it engages to implement its programs. They are :

• Near North District School Board • Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic School Board • Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord • Conseil Scolaire Publique due Nord-Est de l’Ontario • North Bay – Parry Sound District Health Unit • The AIDS Committee of North Bay and area • Nipissing First Nation • The North Bay and District Business Community

The Partici-Patrick Program is an elementary school educational program promoting HIV/AIDS awareness through physical activity and classroom instruction. Teachers from the District School Boards have developed a continuous curriculum from grades 3-8. It is a 6 week program usually implemented in the months of May and June and culminates with a Day of Champions held at the Steve Omischl Sportsplex. In the past 11 years over 22,000 students have participated in the program.

“It’s about being different and being together” - William Boyce Queens University

•A 6 week in-class program •It is composed of in-class instruction and physical activity •The curriculum is valued based •The curriculum is designed to integrate with the present Ministry of Education and approved Curricula (i.e. literacy, physical health and education) and daily physical activity. It is not an “add-on” program. •The effectiveness of the program has been measured by three scholarly research projects.

•The program is voluntary; approximately 2000 students participate annually •The program is totally accessible to all teachers by visiting the P4L.ca website •The program is available to all teachers at no cost •The program celebrates the achievement of the students by hosting a “Day of Champions” at the Steve Omischl Sportsplex where students complete their 25.3 run/walk and receive medals and t-shirts.

•At the end of the 6 week program students from all participating schools gather to run the last 2.2kms of their marathon and to celebrate their achievements. •The program adapts easily to the unique values and resources of different schools and communities •Designed to allow community involvement which leads to students feeling connected and active within their school and community

North Bay’s Day of Champions welcomes 2000 students and educators to complete their marathon, play educational games, enjoy a healthy lunch and listen to the entertainment provided by their peers and secondary school mentors. Teachers, school board administrators, dignitaries, secondary school mentors and community volunteers join together to celebrate the accomplishments of the students.

The Youth 4 Youth Committee is a group of secondary school leaders who engage their peers in activities designed to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS. Its mission is to communicate the truth about HIV/AIDS, that HIV is preventable and that there is no cure. Its vision is that youth world-wide will save lives by spreading the truth, not the virus.

The Partici-Patrick program has been the subject of three major research studies approved by Nipissing University’s Research Ethics Board. The first study was conducted by William Boyce, Queen’s University, in 2009. This was a qualitative study where students, parents, teachers and administrators participated in surveys, interviews and focus groups. The findings from this study indicated that students participating in the Partici-Patrick program acquired a superior level of knowledge about HIV and AIDS to enable them to make healthier and wiser life-style choices.

The second study was conducted by Michael McCabe, Nipissing University, in 2012. This was a quantitative and qualitative study designed to collect hard data regarding the effectiveness of the Partici-Patrick program. In addition to confirming the data from the previous study, new findings emerged. The study revealed that community engagement was a strength in the program and that the focus on a value-based curriculum contributed to character development. A summary conclusion indicated that the program was successful in equipping students with the knowledge and skills to make healthy life-style choices. A third study was conducted by Anna-Marie Aquino and Bob Sampson in 2015. This was primarily a quantitative study designed to measure self-esteem, self-confidence and resilience. Intervention and Control (Participants vs. Non-Participants) were surveyed in schools in the Nipissing District. The findings confirmed categorically, that students participating in the Partici-Patrick program emerged with a higher sense of self-esteem, self-confidence and resilience. These studies are available for reading at the P4L website. (P4L. ca)

Patrick 4 Life provides teacher training programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers to teach effectively the Partici-Program. This service is provided at no cost to the school boards. The resources to support the teacher training include: •The curriculum from Grades 3 to 8 (available on the P4L website.) •Identification of Support publications •The publication, “Patrick’s Wish” (in English and French) •Presentations by teacher-trainers •A training video presentation has been developed and is available to all teachers on the P4L website

•The program provides a balance and a relationship between physical activity and social interaction classroom instruction. •It promotes healthy growth and development as a means of preventing mental health problems and addressing barriers to inclusion. Parent and teacher feedback indicate that the program achieves success in teaching students about tolerance and diversity. •It is a value-based curriculum where values such as honesty, respect for authority, tolerance, thankfulness, acceptance, self-discipline, compassion and determination. •Research findings indicate that student participants become more resilient, able to meet personal challenges successfully.

CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION 2009

“The Partici-Patrick Program us an excellent example of a comprehensive school-based mental health promotion initiative. Research over the past two decades tells us that comprehensive health promotion program in schools, such as the Partici-Patrick Program, are linked to improved health outcomes and improved academic achievement (Grds. 2,3,4). Evidence from systematic reviews and intervention trials on mental health promotion in schools indicates that comprehensive programs that target multiple health outcomes in the context of a Healthy Schools approach are the most effective (Gr. 5 and 6). These interventions have successfully led to an increase in mental well-being, competence, social skills, and school achievement, and a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms, aggression and bullying.”

Patrick’s spirit lives on; it shines brightly through the 2000 students that the Partici-Patrick Program brings together! - Mayor Al McDonald