OCYI’s Critical Hours Task Group recently released a freshly updated series of Critical Hours Three Pillars staff training videos. The videos, now available to the public on OCYI’s website and YouTube channel, resulted from funding awarded to OCYI through the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF).
Available in both English and French, the videos include modules on the following foundational Three Pillars of critical hours programs that put the focus on a child’s mental health and well-being:
1. Skill development
2. Safe and supported spaces
3. Positive relationships
These profoundly interconnected elements, on which critical hours programming rests, have been shown to have a positive and concrete influence on social and academic outcomes for children and youth that take part in them. Additionally, the foundation provided by the Three Pillars supply staff with objectives, direction, and are measures by which success can be evaluated.
According to Vicki Trudel, Youth Program Manager at the Vanier Community Services Centre (Vanier CSC) and an OCYI partner, these videos were a valuable tool during staff training this summer. “Our team sat down to watch the videos together as part of summer staff training. The series is modern, relatable and a good snapshot of what it takes to be a youth worker. It was also fun to see some familiar faces on screen!”
Like other Critical Hours programs across the city, Vanier CSC provides safe and supportive spaces where kids and youth can participate in structured recreational, educational and social activities typically after school, before school, on weekends, on school breaks and over the summer.
Says Vicki, “Some of our summer staff were new to facilitating Vanier CSC’s programming and had not worked with at-risk kids and youth. The videos present a complete picture in digestible 20-minute increments. There are helpful tidbits on managing a group and learning how to approach kids. They are also an ideal starting point for further discussion and questions.”
Although the videos were intended for staff working in critical hours programming, Vicki believes that the series offers something to everybody who chooses the rewarding work of mentoring kids and youth. “Kids are sponges who strive to learn and grow. With the right tools we can all help them to discover what they are best at. Community centres like Vanier CSC are here to support parents during critical hours by providing an environment for their kids to grow up to be strong and active members of their community.”
Click here to watch: https://www.growingupgreat.ca/english/critical-hours/the-3-pillars/