Case For Support
Written By Morgan Macklin

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Program Evaluation of Heroes

Claire McGuinnes & Dr. David Nordstokke

Fall 2021- Winter 2023

University of Calgary

[Unpublished raw data]

introduction

The Heroes program is a school-based mental health program designed to increase resiliency, reduce risky behaviour, and promote positive mental health in youth. Impact Society has been delivering these programs since 1994 in pursuit of a brighter future for youth. This initiative has been recognized through the recent longitudinal study conducted by David Nordstokke at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. This resulted in an abundance of positive results regarding the long-term impact of the Heroes programs such as improved mental wellness and increased resiliency.  

the framework for the university of calgary study

The Werklund School of Education and David Nordstokke have decided to team up with Impact Society and evaluate the effectiveness of the Heroes program in equipping students with the tools needed to enhance resiliency. 4 objectives were designed to guide the study:

  1. Explore change in resilience

  2. Investigate the development and maintenance of student confidence, character, and integrity

  3. Explore changes in positive support networks

  4. Gain insights into student experiences of the Heroes program

This examined 87 Heroes participants and utilized a measurement tool called the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC10), a 10 item questionnaire with a 5-point scale that analyzes results. This method has a reliability of 0.91 and a test-retest reliability over two weeks of r = 0.9, p < 0.01. 

key findings

This study led by David Nordstokke brought with it a range of results that support the need for more schools to implement the Heroes Program. Key findings include: 

  • This increase in resiliency is critical as resilience is a foundational component of positive mental health. The results found were maintained 2-months and 5-months post Heroes participation indicating that gains are made early in the program and maintained over time.

  • The study found that there were no significant differences between genders, alluding to the fact that the program has a similar impact across all youth regardless of how they identify. This means that every youth can reap the benefits of programs equally. 

  • Results of this study indicate that confidence, self-esteem, character development, and integrity all improved after undergoing Impact Society’s Heroes programs. Again, these are all critical factors in building positive mental health. Furthermore, the students ability to create positive support networks was enhanced, allowing them to feel more comfortable reaching out to others when they are in need. 

With these key findings, the study was able to identify 8 themes that emerged: (1) changing perception for others, (2) increased kindness and respect for others, (3) gained self-understanding, (4) self-improvement, (5) drawn to action, (6) ability to seek help, (7) knowledge of positive supports, and, (8) increased self compassion. 

Furthermore, the study suggests that the Heroes program gives youth the knowledge and skills to continue to build resiliency over time. This is a significant finding that proves the effectiveness of Heroes programs in their ability to increase resiliency and positive mental wellbeing in youth. 

"The Heroes program significantly increases resilience and gives youth the tools to sustain and grow over time."

closing

Impact Society’s collaboration with the University of Calgary and the Werklund School of Education has brought an abundance of support for the Heroes program. The positive effect on youth is reflected in the 45% increase in resiliency that is maintained overtime and the enhanced mental wellbeing skills that are experienced across all participants regardless of gender. This is a significant finding that proves the effectiveness of Heroes programs in their ability to increase resiliency and positive mental wellbeing in youth. Impact Society is grateful for this continuous study and will keep stakeholders posted on publication to come.

get started with heroes

If these results resonate with you and your pursuit of creating more resilient youth, check out out the link below! It’s never too early to start planning for the upcoming school year and we can confidently say that the impact of this program is not something you want to miss out on. Learn more about Impact Society’s suite of programs and find one that’s right for you!

Download a PDF copy here

Morgan Macklin
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