Newsletter

Conception Bay Family Resource Program Abuse Prevention Policy

The Conception Bay Family Resource Program (CBFRP) aims to educate, nurture, and support the families of children, aged 0-6, by delivering programs and services in an environment that enhances parent learning, promotes positive interaction between parent and child, and enriches the family’s overall health and well-being.

-All children have the right to be protected and to be safe. In situations where it is suspected that children are being harmed or abused, we respond with our legal “DUTY to REPORT.”

Definition of Abusive Behaviour:

Child abuse is any form of physical, sexual, or emotional harm or neglect, seeing and hearing violence, or being left without adequate supervision.

Prevention Strategies:

CBFRP provides a warm, safe, and inviting environment for parents/caregivers, children, and their families. Prevention strategies are developed to support children and their families, to enhance their capabilities, and to support empowering approaches within families. At CBFRP,

There is a complete needs assessment conducted including fire and environmental safety assessments, physical environmental scans, workplace health and safety assessments, and building/personal safety checks.

References for all staff job applicants, Board members and other volunteers are collected, including a Certificate of Conduct.

There is a comprehensive policy manual for staff, board, and volunteers. It includes safety policies for children, parents, staff, and Board/Volunteers, as well as orientation and training for staff, indicators of abuse, when to report, role modeling of appropriate behaviours, and supports available for staff, parents, and board members.

-Programming and supports with prevention themes for families of children, aged 0-6 are offered through CBFRP.

CBFRP’s Response Protocol will be included in all staff, board, and volunteer training.

If a response must be made, parties are required to report, “act within the moment” and report as soon as possible, do no harm, and are not to investigate. Self-care for the staff member or person making the report must be kept in mind.

After reporting suspected abuse, the Executive Director or designate must be informed. There should be debriefing completed, as necessary.

There can be a request for follow-up and a plan communicated to the Social Worker, but this may not be possible or appropriate.

Communication Strategy:

CBFRP recognizes the importance of a strategy to communicate with staff, Board, Volunteers, parents/caregivers, and community partners regarding our Abuse Prevention Policy. Efforts will be made to,

Include the Abuse Prevention Policy in all staff, board and volunteer training and orientation packages.

Provide families, partners, and others in the community with information through welcome packages, posters, AGM Annual Reports, and the “Safety Boards” at all sites.

Use a multi-media platform, whenever possible, to communicate with Partners and the Community. Partners will also be kept connected through Memorandums of Understanding and the Annual Report. Funders will receive the Abuse Prevention Policy with the Annual Report, and CBFRP Work Plan.

Asserting/Ensuring Understanding:

CBFRP will ensure that the Abuse Prevention policy is,

• understood and used
• used to enhance a safe and inclusive culture
• utilized in a shift to prevention programming

Program Overview Vision

To foster and support the positive development of children and their families

Mission

The CBFRP exists to educate, nurture, and support the families of children primarily ages zero to six years of age work toward their potential by delivering programs and services in an environment that enhances parent learning, promotes the positive interaction between parent and child and enriches the family’s overall health and well-being.

Goal

To provide safe, non-judgmental, and culturally sensitive community-based programs for children primarily ages zero to six years of age and their families with a main focus on fostering healthy environments for children and their families and supporting healthy development and well-being.

SOME OF THE STAFF TRAINING

• Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support
• Anxiety and Stress: Optimizing Child Wellbeing
• Autism and Strategies to help Children
• The First Play Summit
• Infant Mental Health Certificate program
• Early Childhood Development in Times of Pandemic
• COVID 19 Work Safe Practises
• Re-opening- Trauma Informed Practice