Umbrella Project Receives the 2017-2018 OACUHO Program/Service of the Year Award
June 13, 2018
The award is granted to an institution that has implemented a program or service that is responsive to a need within the housing field.
Highlights from the award announcement:
- For the past three years, through compassion, objectivity and non-judgement, The Umbrella Project has reduced the harm and unwanted consequences associated with alcohol and other drug use at Algonquin College Residence. This partnership between Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, Algonquin College and Algonquin Residence Life, has used a harm reduction approach to inform and transform residence policies and practices impacting the student experience at each and every opportunity for engagement.
- From staff education, to programming, to judicial approach and structures of policy and procedures, the expertise of the AC Umbrella Project has complimented Algonquin College Residence Life’s community development and educational model using preventative and post-intervention harm reduction tools.
- A Rideauwood Harm Reduction Consultant (Amanda Neilson) housed directly in Residence who provides rigorous staff training, research to back targeted and informed programming, and consultations with Residence Life Staff and students throughout judicial processes.
- All residence staff participating in core and ongoing training on Harm Reduction tools.
- Participation in the National College Health Assessment for the first time to gain concrete data on student trends regarding substance use.
- The recruitment of eight Algonquin Child and Youth Care Practitioner Students to create and execute programming and engage in student follow-ups. Programming to complement each phase of the student life cycle.
- National Addiction Awareness Week and Harm Reduction Week programming leadups to Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day in partnership with College and Community Partners.
- Programming also weaves into Sexualized Violence Prevention Programming and Mental Health Programming consistently. Weekly SMART Recovery meetings in residence http://smartrecovery.ca/