The Block Parent program is the largest volunteer-run child protective organization in all of Canada. Being involved in the community and your specific neighbourhood can be an extremely rewarding and truly shows your character. Block Parents are needed all over Canada and it is a good way to be involved in the community without huge time commitments. From downtown Toronto condos to country farms, Block Parents work with teachers and the police to make your neighbourhood a safe environment.
When you become a member of the Block Parent program, you receive a red and white sticker to display in your window. This notifies children that they can approach your home if they are lost or frightened. For over forty years this program has provided safe refuge for children and they also run educational programs. This program is extremely effective in larger city centres and heavily populated cities. For instance, becoming a Block Parent in the Markham real estate market could potentially save a child from being abducted.
The mandate of the program is to insure there is at least one Block Parent in each community, to educate children about street safety, and to provide promotional materials to education communities about the program. Block Parents are essential to ensure children feel safe in high-risk areas, such as the Toronto Beaches real estate area, especially in the evening.
The responsibilities of a Block Parent are to provide food and drink, transportation and toilet facilities for children. They should administer first aid if necessary and should leave the house to break up any fights in the neighbourhood. If there is a fight in a common area, such as The Junction Parks, it is the Block Parent's responsibility to address it.
All Block Parents are screened by the police and are given instructions by other local volunteers. If the Block Parent volunteer is not home, and no one in the house is over eighteen years of age, then the red and white sign should not be displayed.
There is no cost to become a Block Parent, however it is expensive to keep this initiative running. In order to ensure the organization is able to continue to offer its' services, individuals are encouraged to donate. The costs of training manuals, promotional packages and signs can be covered by donators, who may not have time to become a Block Parent, but agree with what the company stands for.
Whether your neighbourhood is in the Leslieville real estate market, or located in downtown Toronto, it is important that people feel safe. The Block Parent program offers protection for both children and seniors. If any individual is feeling unsafe in any environment they can locate a Block Parent home and get assistance. This is one of the most important and successful safe neighbourhood initiatives in Canada. If you are able to lend any assistance to the organization, it would be a very rewarding experience.
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