Mens Wellness Program Evaluation Report

dudesclub — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:32:42 +0000

Indigenous people in Canada historically had strong and rich traditions of land-based health and wellness and experience, knowledge, and tools for healing. Oral history suggests the population was characterized by good health and longevity, enhanced by ceremonial and spiritual practices for well-being. Contact with European settlers and colonial policies and practices of systemic oppression of Indigenous culture, language and traditions, residential schools and the “60s scoop” resulted in intergenerational trauma and marginalization of Indigenous communities and continue to have major social, economic and health consequences today. Compared with the general population, Indigenous men are at greater risk of depression and suicide and suffer a disproportionate burden of other mental health issues. Further, men are generally less likely than women to seek help with health issues and they face many barriers when accessing appropriate mental health services. As a result, men suffer in silence far too often. Research indicates many benefits of men’s-only spaces for health engagement to help promote healthy lifestyles, connections and strong mental health among men.

Created in 2010 by men living in Vancouver Downtown Eastside, the DUDES Club Society is aimed at building solidarity and brotherhood between members and promoting men’s health through education, dialogue, and health screening clinics. Currently, the program operates men’s group sessions in more than 40 communities across British Columbia. Since 2019, the program has been delivering its services in several correctional facilities.

The purpose of the project is to conduct evaluation of the Men’s Wellness in Provincial Correctional Centres program implemented by DUDES Club Society. The evaluation was focused on the portion of the program activities contracted through Provincial Health Services Authority. The evaluation was started in March 2021 and completed in September 2021, and examines program activities implemented from January 30, 2019 to August 30, 2021 at three correctional facilities, including: Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (PGRCC) Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (VIRCC) and Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC).

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DCS Evaluation Report 2020

dudesclub — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:19:01 +0000

Founded in 2010 in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, in 2020 the DUDES Club Society (DCS) partners with groups in more than 40 communities in British Columbia, and several communities in other parts of Canada. The DUDES Clubs (DCs) operate both in Indigenous communities and in urban sites (See appendix 4 for a map of locations). From 2013-2016, Co-Founder Dr. Paul Gross, Dr. Lyana Patrick, Sandy Lambert (Elder), and Dr. Vikki Smye from the University of British Columbia, conducted a study of 150 of the men who had participated in DCs in the four communities we were in at that time. In 2020, as DCS became its own incorporated entity and registered charity, we determined to conduct a followup evaluation. We had 139 participants respond across 23 different communities. Participants were informed that the purpose of the survey was:

“We want to collect this info from our DUDES CLUB SOCIETY Evaluation Report 2020 & 2013-2016 5 participants so that we can ensure that 1) we are in continual process of improving what we do, 2) we can measure the impact of our efforts, 3) we can share this information with our funders and the public, and 4) we can use the evidence of what we do to promote the importance of investing more in men’s health in the future. By filling this out it will contribute to improving the health of all men!”

READ FULL EVALUATION IN PDF

Evaluation – DUDES Club

Mens Wellness Program Evaluation Report

DCS Evaluation Report 2020