Prevent Alcohol & Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.)

PARTY Program

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is being delivered VIRTUALLY for 2024/25.

Parent Information for the Virtual P.A.R.T.Y. Program  

The P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) Program is a dynamic, interactive injury prevention program for teenagers.

P.A.R.T.Y. was developed in 1986 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario through a request from a group of youth.

As of June 2012, there are over 100 sites around the world, 72 of which are operating in Canada, with the remainder of the sites in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Japan and Germany.

About the Island Health P.A.R.T.Y. Program

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is offered to high school students across the Island Health region, who learn about real life physical trauma from those who witness it first-hand. 

The students meet volunteers from various health care and related professions (such as BCAS and RCMP) and crash survivors as they experience the pathway of a seriously injured patient, from the crash site through to rehabilitation.

This reality education provides information to young people that will enable the participants to recognize potential injury producing situations, to make informed choices and to adopt behaviours that minimize injury risk. The purpose of the program is to educate teens about what is safe, taking personal responsibility, and making smart choices. 

Students learn that crashes are not accidents and that traumatic injury can be prevented.  They learn the consequences of not wearing a seat belt, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, and distracted driving—consequences such as permanent brain or spinal cord injury, burns, paralysis and death.

School Resources

General Information on Prevent Alcohol & Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.)

Referral Required?
Not required
Contact Us
Amelia Smit - Injury & Violence Prevention Consultant

250-415-7343
PARTY_SI@islandhealth.ca
PARTY_CINI@islandhealth.ca

Jackie Demmy - Regional Trauma Services Manager

778-677-5920
jaquelynne.demmy@islandhealth.ca

News & Events

Applications open for 2025 Youth Harm Reduction Award

Applications open for 2025 Youth Harm Reduction Award

Calling all youth in the Island Health region with a passion for innovative approaches to the toxic drug crisis. Have you, or another young person you know, worked on a project in the past year that focused on reducing harms related to unregulated substances? 

Read more

three young people doing arts and crafts

Applications call for Youth Resilience Grants – a partnership of Island Health and Pacific Public Health Foundation

For the first time, Island Health and PPHF are partnering to allocate up to $450,000 for the Youth Resilience Grants program. These grants aim to help improve mental well-being and build youth resilience to challenging life events.

Read more

Expressions of Interest call for Island Health  Resilience and Safety Grants

Expressions of Interest call for Island Health Resilience and Safety Grants

For the second year, Island Health is allocating up to $1 million for resilience and safety grants aimed at helping improve mental health, mitigate the harms associated with illicit substance use and build youth resilience. 

Read more