The STAR Project is delivered in the classroom with the teacher and or youth worker present so that information can be debriefed after the workshops if needed.  There is an additional component for youth in grade six; a poetry and art contest relating to the health of a community.  The topic is different each year, decided by a youth advisory of grade seven students.  The winning art/poetry are unveiled at Youth Week and a prize is given to the top three students in each category.  This component of the program is seen as a bridging between curriculum years.

More information about STAR can be obtained through Michelle Fortin at Watari 604 254 6995 or mfortin@watari.org

STAR Project

The STAR Project, an acronym meaning Stop Think Assess Respond, is delivered as two four session presentations to students in grades five and seven.  The development of the curriculum is based on five years of working in East Vancouver elementary schools and researching best practice relating to substance abuse prevention education and public health.  The project focuses on critical thinking and decision making with some basic, non judgmental information about drugs. 

The following are objectives of the project.  That youth:

• Increase their capacity to creatively and critically solve problems
• gain refusal skills
• enhanced sense of self-efficacy
• greater understand the importance of self-care
• identify support systems
• have a sense of self-efficacy and personal power which will translate into greater resiliency
• understand the factors that lead to misuse and dependency
• know why some might experiment with substances and some healthy alternatives
• understand short and long term effects of substances
• understand the greater impact of substances on a young person’s physical and mental health, emotional development, decision making process and self-realisation
• understand what a drug is
• understand what dependence means
• have a sense of safety re: date rape drugs
• comprehend myths and misinformation