October 2, 2018
Province Invests in Pilot Project to Educate Teachers, Families on Keeping Children Safe from Victimization
The Manitoba government is investing over $390,000 in the Canadian Centre for Child Protection this year including $20,000 for a pilot project that provides educational materials and training to schools, families and the community in the St. James School Division on how to protect children from sexual exploitation and abduction, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced today.
“Our government is committed to combatting child sexual exploitation and abduction throughout our province, and we’re proud to help schools and community members fight back against these crimes,” said Cullen. “This pilot program will target schools and families of students to provide the education and skills needed to keep children safe.”
This investment builds on service agreements of over $370,000 per year provided to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection including funding toward the operation of www.cybertip.ca.
The new funding will be used to provide free access to the Commit to Kids education program for administration at the division’s 26 schools. This program provides strategies, policies and a step-by-step plan for reducing the risk of child sexual abuse.
In addition, teachers will have access to the Kids in the Know program, which helps educators teach children and youth effective personal safety strategies that build resiliency and reduce their likelihood of victimization online or in their day-to-day life.
Families of the students will receive educational resources including activity books and comic books for children as well as resources for parents. Community organizations will receive posters, cards and other materials to raise public awareness of the issues related to the victimization of children.
“Schools have a critical role in both ensuring the proper procedures and policies are in place to protect the children entrusted to their care every day, and in teaching kids the personal safety lessons that help reduce child sexual victimization,” said Lianna McDonald, executive director at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. “Whether it involves children in kindergarten learning about naming body parts or high school students talking about consent, teaching about child safety in schools is essential.”
The $20,000 pilot project is part of nearly $100,000 worth of investments this year comprised of forfeited funds from federally prosecuted Criminal Code offences. The province recently announced $500,000 will also be made available from this fund for innovative crime reduction initiatives this year.
In addition, more than $1.4 million will be distributed this year through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to agencies across Manitoba.
For more information about criminal property forfeiture, visit www.gov.mb.ca/justice/safe/cpf/index.html.
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