The province will provide additional funding to train educators on how to identify “abusive and harmful” situations.
The Respect in School training program will train child care workers to identify domestic abuse and try to prevent or handle these cases with informed care and non-violent crisis intervention.
In a press release on Thursday, the Alberta Government announced they will be funding the expansion of the Respect in School program to help essential staff be better prepared to handle traumatic situations.
“Our collective efforts to stop bullying and harassment online, in our homes, in our workplaces, and in our schools must be a priority,” Education minister Adriana LaGrange said in the press release.
“We all have a role to play, and we must do all we can to support and protect our children.”
Currently, in Alberta, there is more than 18,000 certified staff working in licensed child care programs.
The government-funded program will also be open to child care workers but they aren’t obligated to take the training.
The program already had 5,000 school leaders taking the course. 20,000 day-care workers and 5,000 day-camp workers are eligible to enroll.
Minister of Children’s Services, Rebeca Schulz said educators and child care staff are essential for child safety.
“Early childhood educators and day camp professionals work very closely with the children and families in their programs every day and are uniquely positioned to play a role in keeping children safe,” she said in the prepared release.
“This training will help further their skills in recognizing and responding to issues of maltreatment, which will further keep children safe.”
