Break the silence: School communities working together to prevent child abuse
October 19, 2016
GUELPH, Ontario – Members of the Upper Grand District School Board and Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County are working together to protect children in our communities.
Wednesday was Go Purple Day, a day to raise awareness about child abuse prevention. School boards and local children’s aid societies across Ontario are teaming up this year to break the silence surrounding child abuse.
F&CS GW hosted an event with the UGDSB that saw school administrators, staff, community members and Guelph Police and OPP officers decorate a school bus with purple ribbons in support of Go Purple Day.
“This is an incredible day and it’s great to see such enthusiasm and support in our community,” said Sheila Markle, Executive Director of F&CS GW.
Schools play an important role in keeping children safe and in helping families that may need support to keep their children safe. Markle said the school board is the top reporter in the community when it comes to reporting concerns about the safety of a child or youth to F&CS.
“It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to keep a child safe. We all share a responsibility to protect children from hard and support families to keep their children safe,” said UGDSB Director of Education Martha Rogers.
Rogers spoke about the important relationship the board has with local children’s aid societies and local police services. “For many years we have worked together, to create policies, share resources, and develop programs all for the well-being of our students.”
Go Purple Day also marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is being observed for the month of October.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Categories: News