Introducing Pathways to EducationTM - Ottawa
(Pinecrest-Queensway)
Pinecrest-Queensway Health and Community Services 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 economically disadvantaged 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 subjects
-
Social Support:
group and career mentoring
-
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.
PQHCS recently 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 have received approval from
Pathways to Education Canada to begin the program this coming
September.
West-end Ottawa is one of just five communities, which has been
selected to replicate the model, beginning in September 2007.
We are starting with a cohort of Grade 9 students who live in the
six social housing communities in the west-end of Ottawa. In
subsequent years, the program will expand as we accept new cohorts
of students.
Who is Eligible?
Students who are starting Grade 9 in September 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 Dawn Lyons at
613-820-4922 ext 310 or
d.lyons@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
Liz Tyrwhitt at 613-820-4922 ext 537 or
l.tyrwhitt@pqhcs.com .
This program is funded in part through the
Ontario Trillium Foundation.
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