Evaluation of the implementation and effects of the second version of the Pacific Path program on preschool and elementary school children, parents and school personnel (2001-2004)

The National Crime Prevention Centre-Department of Justice, Ottawa- is financing the implementation and evaluation of this extensive project initiated by the Pacific Path Institute. The Pacific Path Institute is responsible for the program’s implementation, while its evaluation is under the responsability of a team, supervised by François Bowen, at the Université de Montréal.

This project, started in automn 2001, will continue until spring 2004, and its implementation and evaluation are anticipated in 16 underprivileged schools in the Montreal and Laurentian areas. It provides for the integration of several components missing in the first version of the program, namely a series of activities for parents of the students, the inclusion of daycare services, the preschool program and the revision of the elementary school program to which 15 in-class activities are added.

This evaluation should provide more than 10,000 people (students, school staff and parents) with conflict resolution and mediation training. It should also stress the effects of improved individual skills (adults, students), reduced violence, and of determining the impact of benefits (social repercussions) compared to costs.