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Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society Launches NEW Video Series to Support the Safety and Wellbeing of Children and Youth in all Spaces

October 27 is Ontario Dress Purple Day, a campaign led by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS). This year will focus on reminding Ontarians that individuals and communities play an important role in supporting the safety and well- being of children, youth, and families.

Ahead of this important day, the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society (WECAS) is releasing a new educational video series called Beastie Valley. The series will further the messaging that children and youth have a right to safety and wellbeing in all spaces, and that adults play an important role. The videos are suggested accompaniments to the existing Ontario Dress Purple Day Prevention Classroom Resources for Elementary Schools, which are available on the OACAS website and can be found here.

By adding a new and unique video element, WECAS expects to generate more interest and utilization of these modules in classroom settings as well as across community agencies, and be utilized year-round.

Tina Gatt, Manager of Community Outreach at WECAS, and project lead, is excited to introduce the videos and make them accessible to everyone at no cost. “The videos are fun and relatable to a young audience. We have really tried to balance humor with addressing important life lessons, including; finding and asking for help when needed, boundaries & consent, to understanding the complex concept of ‘wellbeing’ and how we can ensure all needs are being met.”

The Society was proud to partner with Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, with support from the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), key stakeholders, and Turtlebox Productions.

The video series is hosted on the WECAS YouTube Channel.

Children’s Aid Societies, government partners, local service providers, and individuals across the province are asked to wear purple on October 27 and share how and why they support the children, youth, and families in their community through the #IDressPurpleBecause social media campaign.

Families facing challenges need to know that there are resources, supports, and services available, and that no one is alone.

The campaign also emphasizes the community’s responsibility to speak up for every child and youth’s right to safety and well-being in all spaces. Not just their physical safety and well-being, but also their right to have their intersectional identity, such as their culture, race, ability, sexual orientation, ability, gender identity, and gender expression protected and supported. This right extends to the home, at school, and in the community. It is our collective responsibility to keep our community’s children safe, and helping young people to build an understanding of their networks of support and how they can get help, and lessen their vulnerability to harm.

And, even though the campaign is no longer focused on child abuse prevention education, we still want adults to know that they have a responsibility to call their local child welfare agency if they have a concern about a child or youth.