PEMBROKE — Every October, Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County (FCSRC), alongside many community organizations, schools, businesses and individuals, assist provincial efforts to raise awareness about the rights of all children and youth to safety and well-being, and the responsibility of adults and community services to help children and youth who need support.
“The Purple Ribbon Campaign is truly a community initiative led by caring citizens and organizations who want to help families and support healthy growth and development of all of our children and youth,” says Arijana Haramincic, Executive Director of FCSRC. “We want our community to know that when you share a concern for a child or youth, we might be firm on safety, but we are hugely caring.”
The priority of Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County is to support children living safely with their immediate family. The organization is focused on empowering families to provide their own solutions so children can stay safely in their own families. A big part of this is working closely with families to educate parents, strengthen their caregiver skills, support their personal growth and help them ensure their children’s physical, emotional and mental needs can be met. Through programs including Parents Anonymous, Caring Dads, Jubilee Place and EarlyON Child and Family Centre in Pembroke, as well as referrals to many other community services, FCSRC helps to facilitate the supports families recognize they need.
Recent statistics from the Ontario Association of Children’s Aids Societies (OACAS) shows that in 97 percent of investigations, child protection services are provided while children or youth live with their families. In rare circumstances (three percent), Children’s Aid Societies (CASs) remove children from their home while their caregivers receive the support they need. In addition, most children (85 percent) return to their families within 36 months. Children’s Aids Societies prioritize keeping children within their extended families, communities and culture, and when they cannot return to their immediate family, everything is done to keep them with family members that love them.
Purple Ribbon Campaign Events & Supporters
As part of the 2018 Purple Ribbon Campaign, FCSRC is hosting a number of events from a trivia night to bowling to beginner boxing across Renfrew County to highlight the importance of children and youth rights to safety and well-being. FCSRC is so grateful for the contributions from Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, MyFM, Renfrew Pro, Dominos, EarlyON Child and Family Centre Pembroke, Pembroke Mitsubishi, Hyundai Pembroke, City of Pembroke, Lasso Live, Pembroke Boxing Club, St. Joseph’s High School, Janna & Kerry’s Over Easy Bar & Grill, Killaloe Family Resource Centre and the Shulist Farm. For a full list of events, please visit www.fcsrenfrew.on.ca or Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County Facebook page.
Dress Purple Day: October 24
On Wednesday, October 24, schools, businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to support Dress Purple Day by wearing purple. Purple Ribbon T-shirts can be purchased at any of the Purple Ribbon Campaign events for $10 each or online at www.oacas.org/dresspurpleday. To support this day, OACAS has made online classroom resources available to help teachers make the day a meaningful and engaging learning opportunity for students at www.oacas.org/dresspurpleday. FCSRC, in partnership with Dominos Pizza, is also hosting a contest to encourage schools to participate. Participating classrooms are encouraged to take pictures and share at #DressPurpleRenfrewCounty, and if on Facebook to tag Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County. Those who participate will have a chance to win pizza for the entire class.
Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County is a multiservice agency, helping families and communities in Renfrew County protect and support the development and well-being of children, youth and adults through integrated services, prevention and social inclusion. For more information on programs or services, or how to support and become involved, please visit www.fcsrenfrew.on.ca or contact 1-800- 267-5878.
