Programs
Sport
Sport and activity create habits – if we are performing our job correctly, we will continually help shape and develop positive habits. We integrate specific policies, procedures or tools to coincide with specific habits or behavioral responses the community would like to implement through the program development.
First Assist programs are based on the Indigenous Long-Term Participant Development Pathway.
Sport for Life defines the Indigenous LTPDP as a “roadmap for developing sport and physical activity among Indigenous peoples,” and is a “reference for those who work with Indigenous participants in sport and recreation. It has grown out of the understanding that mainstream models for sport development do not necessarily align with Indigenous needs or experiences. As such, this document tries to address that gap by outlining the key elements that need to be considered when planning, developing, and implementing programs for and with Indigenous peoples and communities.”
For more information please visit: https://sportforlife.ca/portfolio-view/indigenous-long-term-participant-development-pathway
First Assist uses a Multi-Stage Development Plan. This development plan uses sport-specific programming based on age appropriate skills implementation. Our certified instructors provide skills checklists and manuals that are delivered to a community based on 6-week, 12-week, 24-week, 32-week and full school year progressions.
All First Assist staff have qualifications in their respective sports, CPR & First Aid and have completed the Aboriginal Coaching Modules. Most importantly they are quality people who will engage with the local community to embrace this active lifestyle and education first initiative.
Education
Education First
First Assist believes in education first. In the communities that our programs are operative we work daily with the local education institutes to ensure quality standards provided by the school are respected and upheld.
Teacher Retention
Our team has a number of teachers that work at the school during school hours and act as instructors in the evenings. They specifically chose to join our organization as they value the opportunity to positively impact youth. Through our recruitment processes, we can retain teacher-instructors if there is a need with the local school community.
Technology to enhance our learning environment
We use technology pertinent to youth to provide a more engaging learning environment. Our app provides animated versions of drills, almost video game like, to provide improved visual learning ques. We can send these animated practice and drills to youth via a player app to ensure more prepared active learners during our program lessons.
Our Learning Environment
We look at all our sessions, whether it be dundamentals to train to compete, as being a positive learning environment. We integrate specific policies, procedures or tools to coincide with specific habits or behavioral responses the community would like to implement through the program development. Our focus is ensuring there is always an underlying life skill or habit we are reinforcing through the program implementation.
Local Collaboration
Local collaboration between our team and the school is essential to the students’ and our programs successful outcomes. Working with the local school body we ensure all program participants are actively engaged in school. How this is accomplished varies based on the individual needs of each school and its members.
- Statistical monitoring of improvement in school attendance and grades
- READ Program for participation in sports within school hours (Respect-Effort-Attendance-Discipline)
- Monitoring of students’ engagement in class
- Sports Concentration Program
- Use of transitional skills to be used in specific education fields necessary for high school graduation
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
Capacity Building
Seasonal Planning
Sport-specific programming manuals are provided for progression based learning and multi-stage development. We engage local participants through structured full season practice plans that are easily downloaded and run with our Application.
Local Staff
We work local with local coaches and instructors both on and off-ice to develop age appropriate skills and strategies. Building confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills is a vital component of First Assist programming.
Youth Leadership
We identify leaders both on the ice and in school. These youth serve as mentors for younger players as they help and learn from the First Assist instructors.
Self-Sustainable Programming
First Assist works with local youth and community members in order to establish local capacity for training and programming methods. The end goal is self-sustainable programming through our coaching and instructor mentorship program. Our team members pass on their knowledge and skillsets to members of the community empowering them to become instructors in their respective communities.
Youth Workshops
With the local mentors, coaches and youth leaders we have weekly workshops to focus on a specific life skill that is pertinent and approved by the local community consultation. Workshop topics include: positive reinforcement techniques, use of body language, learning styles, engagement & communication techniques, active listening & learning, leadership, team-building, uses of social media, sleep needs; and so on as we have a wide resource base from years of community involvement.
Health
First Assist is cognizant of major health concerns for individuals in the communities we work with. Our program integrations unique to each community that are focused on the mental and physical well-being of our participants.
Dependent on the community, youth have to deal a wide variety of health issues: lack of healthy food options, diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, emotional support and many others.
In the development of all our programs, we consult with the local community to target specific healthy habits the community would like the program to reinforce. These habits are created and reinforced through subliminal and cognizant policies, procedures and tools.
Our sports and learning environment are structured to provide a positive vice for youth to release any negative energy from issues or situations that transpired throughout their day. This message is reiterated to all participants especially when there are momentary behavioral issues from the youth participants.
By establishing a partnership with local social workers, nutritionists and health board we can offer each participant health documentation up to four times per programming year. These standardized health protocols can include but are not limited to:
First Assist can also include additional health programs depending on the Community Needs Assessment, including but not limited to:
| Weight | Height |
|---|---|
| BMI | Resting Heart Rate |
| Waist Circumference | Active and Cool Down Heart Rate |
| Blood Glucose | |
| Blood Pressure |
- Data analysis based on participant growth and maturation stages
- Anti-bullying policies and programming, including appropriate uses of social media
- Nutritional information sessions and meal preparation
Contact information
- 838 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5C4
- connect@firstassist.ca
- 1-888-663-5514
