Rural Response for Healthy Children seeking safety measures to be introduced in Goderich

Rural Response for Healthy Children (RRHC) envisions a community that nurtures and supports families so children thrive. Serving Huron County families as a non-profit charity, the organization was founded over 30 years ago by passionate volunteers.

Executive Director of RRHC Selena Hazlitt spoke to Town Council on the ‘Safe Places Youth Certification’. Working with municipalities and the OPP, RRHC has received provincial funding to fund the training for adults who interact with kids. They will be trained on responding to bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Rural Response is bringing this program to Huron County as part of meeting their vision and mission. It brings the opportunity to have trusted adults trained in the community.

“We want to provide this opportunity to town staff to take this training and we can issue a Youth Certification card to those employees,” said Hazlitt.

Hazlitt explained that the certification is valid for three years. Councillor Bazinet spoke on the importance of the respect module for coaches and parents.

“You learn something. For myself as a hockey coach, I implemented on my team this year that I want my players to shake the officials hands and show respect,” said Bazinet.

“I also implemented zero tolerance with my parents [of players] with yelling at opposing parents or players. I picked up a lot of these things from watching the ‘Respect in Sport’ module.”

Bazinet continued to remind those in the Council Chambers that at the end of the day it is just a game and the players are children. ‘Safe Places’ is a tool and it raises community capacity and understanding for the safety and well being for children.

“It supports adults in being able to know what to do and to interject and help,” added Hazlitt. “We recognize that a vulnerable sector check is only as good as the day it was done on.”

At Rural Response, they encourage parents to trust their gut and ask questions.

“If your gut says no, you walk away from putting your children in unsafe situations,” concluded Hazlitt.

Mayor Grace explained that apart from adults in the minor sport community, crossing guards and childcare workers are being trained amongst Town Staff for the ‘Safe Places’ module.

On Friday, Mar. 29, RRHC is hosting Sheldon Kennedy to present at Knights of Columbus. Kennedy is a child advocate and co-founder of Respect Group Inc. and he will be sharing his story and discuss the significant of community engaging in child and youth safety.