NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region, South Slave Region

Tags: health promotion, physical activity, literacy, physical health, program evaluation

Objective(s): To evaluate the Fort Providence Pilot Project, a program that aims to enhance the physical literacy of children attending the DehGah School.

Project Description: The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the Fort Providence Pilot Project, a program initiated by the Northwest Territories Government in the DehGah School in Fort Providence. The program aims to enhance the physical literacy of children attending the DehGah School. The evaluation will involve three parts. 1) An assessment of physical literacy of children in grades 2 through 6; 2) a physical activity assessment of youth in grades 8, 10 and 12; and, 3) a qualitative exploration of the children's sports and physical activity experiences. The research team will work with the schools to recruit the children and standard consent procedures will be followed. Informed consent will be sought from parents/guardians. Children in grades 2 through 6 will provide assent and youth in grades 8 through 12 will provide consent. Because the majority of the students are First Nations, the research team will seek the support of the community, band council or Elders if any other approvals are required. The team will call upon the assistance of the local sport/recreation government representative and the principals of the schools to facilitate this process. The research team will conduct assessments of physical literacy and physical activity with the children in the DehGah School. Identical assessments will be completed in a similar school (the Deninu School) in Fort Resolution, which will serve as a comparison. Data will be collected in the fall (September) and spring (March) of each year. Approximately 90 students in DehGah School and 60 students in Deninu School will be tested at each time point. Physical literacy assessments will take place with children in grades 2 to 6 according to the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy. Testing will involve a combination of physical fitness (endurance, strength, flexibility, body composition), motor skills, physical activity, and cognition (knowledge, beliefs). Youth in grades 8, 10, and 12, will undergo the physical activity assessment and complete a brief questionnaire. All testing will be conducted in the school gymnasium and occur over a period of 2 to 3 days. Both within- and between-school (by grade) comparisons will be made to determine progress and differences in physical literacy and physical activity. To further supplement the quantitative data collected through the testing, the research team will interview a sample of 20 children (10 from each school) each September. By highlighting the unique experiences of the children, the qualitative interviews will provide insight and a more detailed context of children’s physical activity and sport participation. Using semi-structured questionnaires, which consist of open-ended questions, children will be provided with the opportunity to share their experiences using their own words. Questions will be focused on exploring the children’s meanings of physical activity and sport, the types of activities in which they participate, and the facilitators and barriers to such participation. Questions that serve to inform the overall evaluation of the project may also be included in the interviews. The interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The project involves a partnered approach between the Northwest Territories Government, the DehGah and Deninu schools, and the research team. The government has initiated a physical literacy program within the DehGah School, and they have asked us to evaluate the program. A similar evaluation will be completed at the Deninu School, which will be used as a comparison school. DehGah School will have a full time physical activity coordinator within their school. As described by the Long Term Athlete Development Plan, the development of physical literacy is important for children as it provides them with basic skills required to be active for life. This intervention has the potential to improve the physical literacy, physical activity levels, and therefore the health of the children at this school. Further, it could provide insight into the unique challenges and experiences faced by children in this region. Ultimately this research could result in improved physical literacy programming, and physical activity and sport opportunities in this region. Finally, the results of this evaluation will help determine the cost-effectiveness of this program. The findings may lead to a greater allocation of funds to similar physical literacy programs in the Northwest Territories, and/or to modifications in existing school programs. The main deliverables from this evaluation will be annual summary reports and a final report presented to the Sport and Recreation division of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Government of Northwest Territories. The information will also be shared with the community. The manner in which this takes place will be decided by the community partners, including the principles of the schools and the Government of the Northwest Territories. However, based on previous research with Aboriginal youth in school communities, it is likely that research will be shared via public presentation and school/community newsletters. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from October 9, 2013 to October 31, 2013.