The Region of Peel delivers a wide range of programs and services to more than one million citizens every day. This includes ambulance services, public health, long-term care, child care, waste collection, recycling and disposal, water and wastewater services, Regional road construction and maintenance, social assistance and affordable rental housing. Regional Headquarters are located at 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, ON. Phone Number: 905-791-7800. For frequent updates, visit Region of Peel for more information.
"Our priority, first and foremost, is ensuring the safety and well-being of our children," said Patricia Mullin, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Region's Human Services Committee. "Declaring October as Child Abuse Prevention Month provides us with an opportunity to educate the public on signs of abuse and build awareness of the problem in our community."
This year Peel Children's Aid, along with children's aid societies across the province, will emphasize the importance of recognizing and reporting signs of abuse through the Use Your Voice campaign. This campaign focuses on the need to provide a voice for abused children and youth by reporting suspected abuse to the proper authorities.
Throughout October, Peel Children's Aid is asking community leaders, organizations, schools and the public to wear a purple ribbon to show their support to end child abuse in the Region.
"We believe passionately that every child has the right to grow up in an environment where they are loved, nurtured and cherished," said Paul Zarnke, Executive Director of Peel Children's Aid. "We hope people will get involved, learn more and help ensure children are safe and well cared for."
Between April 2007 and March 2008, Peel Children's Aid responded to nearly 12,000 calls from concerned residents about the safety and well-being of children. More than 4,300 of these were serious enough to need the involvement of a child protection worker. As well, about 5,700 families received counseling and support programs that kept families together.
"I am proud to partner with Peel Children's Aid on this issue," says Keith Ward, Commissioner of the Region's Human Services department and General Manager of Peel Living. "As a Region, we have made protecting the rights of the children in Peel a priority."
For more information on Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Peel Children's Aid Society, visit www.peelcas.org.
The Human Services department, established in June 2007, provides services that support full participation by all residents in the economic, social and cultural life of the Region, in particular by providing a continuum of supports for vulnerable or at-risk members of the community. The department's divisions include Ontario Works, Children's Services, Early Years Integration, Social Housing (Peel Living), and Social Housing Policy and Programs.