Monthly Newsletter
October 2020
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IN THIS ISSUE
  • Introduction: Apart. Not Alone.
  • Training Highlights: Reporting and Responding to Abuse
  • Promotions: Plan to Protect® Service Subscription
  • FAQ: Annual Background Checks
Did you know? You are not a member! But if you were, you could... register free of charge for monthly Special Interest Webinars, as well as get access to past editions in the Member Section of the website at any time. All this and more when you become a member.

Our Member Section also offers exclusive access to training, support, policy updates, resources, and more.
Apart. Not Alone.
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According to CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), it is normal to feel anxious and afraid while we deal with the effects of this pandemic. It is normal to feel alone.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes fear, anxiety about your own health, the health and wellness of your loved ones, about the economy and the future. The disease can cause one to feel very alone. These fears and stress can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. We know this situation is stressful for everyone; people living with abuse, extreme stress, mental illness and addictions may be finding it especially difficult to cope. They may feel apart, but they need not feel alone.

Feeling alone can leave one feeling paralyzed. 

During a pandemic we have heard from so many of you sharing how either your programs or ministries have closed down. Please don’t do that! There are so many hurting people that need you to stand in the gap! They need you to help them not feel alone.

During the past four weeks, we have recorded four podcasts on caring for the vulnerable sector during a pandemic. Each podcast featured four expert guests representing different people groups. CLICK HERE

Caring for Youth: Victoria Bissell, Child Protection Coordinator for Rift Valley Academy and a Crisis Kids Help Line Counsellor.

Caring for Children: Sara Austin, Executive Director, Children First Canada (recently produced the Raising Canada 2020 Study on the Ten Threats Children Are Facing).

Caring for the Elderly: The Honorable Daisy Wai, MPP for the Richmond Hill Riding, Asst. Minister of Seniors and Accessibility.

Caring for those with Disabilities: Archie Allison, Director, Access and Awareness for Variety Village/Variety Ontario, Coach for Paralympics.

These four webinars provide tangible ways to care for individuals during a pandemic - here's our countdown of our top ten tips found in these podcasts:
10) Create a memory book for the seniors in your life.
9) Host an online book club.
8) Recruit a family to go caroling to (not at Christmas, but for Thanksgiving).
7) Send handwritten cards in the mail.
6) Do a zoom movie night with youth (deliver theatre popcorn to their door).
5) Offer to do grocery shopping for seniors.
4) Rake leaves for the elderly.
3) Drop off a Thanksgiving gift basket to the Seniors in your community.
2) Host an Arts Festival online.

1) Host a creative writing contest for children and young people. This is our favourite which we have chosen to initiate. We are seeking a children's book on a topic that relates to safety and protection. Authors must be 18 years of age or younger (must be in elementary or high school).

Submit entries by November 30th, 2020 by 9:00 pm ET to writingcontest@plantoprotect.com

When submitting use SUBJECT LINE: Safety Writing Contest

Include your story, suggested illustrations, name and age of author, name of sponsoring adult, contact information (name, phone number and email address) of sponsoring adult. 

Winners will be announced in our January 2021 newsletter.

Entries for the Competition are by reading age:
·        Picture Book 
·        Chapter Book
·        Middle Grade
·        Young Adult   

Maximum length of an entry is 1,500 words.  

Three top prizes will be awarded:
1)    Scholarship of $500 to the #1 Winning Recipient
2)    Scholarship of $250 to the #2 Winning Recipient
3)    $100 Amazon Gift card to the #3 Runner Up

-Melodie Bissell, President and CEO at Plan to Protect®
Social distancing and wearing a mask can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Plan to Protect® Promotions
Monthly Service Subscription

  You asked, we answered! 
For the first time ever...

Monthly Service Subscription
COST: $195 per month

YOU RECEIVE:
  • 10 online training registrations per month (to be used on www.plantoprotectschool.com – registrations can be applied to any course with the exception of the certification training courses)
  • Special pricing of $25.00 for Criminal Record Checks on the Plan to Protect® ScreeningCanada platform
  • Ongoing email and phone support
  • Monthly coaching calls
  • Book Club: Read a book selected for the Month and join in a Book Club Facebook Group to discuss and review

FEES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION
  • $195 per month plus tax
  • Minimum of three months
  • 30 day cancellation
  • First of the month due date
  • Credit Card must be kept on file
  • NOTE: Pay for one-year up front, and receive the 12th month free!
  • No additional discounts
  • ​Taxes Additional
  • Disclaimer: Price subject to change without notice

For questions or more information, please contact info@plantoprotect.com

Terms and Conditions:
Training registrations carry over
Unused training registrations expire 30 days after termination of subscription
FREE Resources
Plan to Protect® with Melodie Bissell

Join Melodie Bissell and Amanda Kelly for the safest podcast on the internet, as they break down some of the most frequently asked questions about reaching that HIGHEST standard of protection.

A new episode of Plan to Protect® with Melodie Bissell is posted every Wednesday, and is available on YouTube and on the Plan to Protect Serious about Safety MasterClass on Facebook.

Podcasts Recorded in September:

Caring for Youth: Victoria Bissell, Child Protection Coordinator for Rift Valley Academy and a Crisis Kids Help Line Counsellor.

Caring for Children: Sara Austin, Executive Director, Children First Canada (recently produced the Raising Canada 2020 Study on the Ten Threats Children Are Facing).

Caring for the Elderly: The Honorable Daisy Wai, MPP for the Richmond Hill Riding, Asst. Minister of Seniors and Accessibility

Caring for those with Disabilities: Archie Allison, Director, Access and Awareness for Variety Village/Variety Ontario, Coach for Paralympics.
Congratulations to the Winner of the $100 Amazon Gift Card for subscribing to our Plan to Protect® with Melodie Bissell Podcast - Austin Toews!
Plan to Protect® Parent

Today, desperate parents are trying to make the decision as how best to educate their children in a COVID world? Everyone has an opinion as to what is best for your child. Even your child has an opinion. 
 
You can help resource parents as they make this decision. Share these timely resources with your parents:

  • Encourage your parents to read Melodie's most recent BLOG Parents Take 5 for Safety.
  • Encourage them to subscribe to Melodie and Amanda's weekly PODCAST. The next few episodes will be focused on topics of interest to parents.
  • Encourage parents to access our Parent Resource page which has webinars, resources and tips for parents and guardians.
  • Join our Plan to Protect Parent Page on Facebook.
  • Download and share the GIF image with your parents in newsletters and on your website.
Training Highlights
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Plan to Protect® by Reporting and Responding to Abuse
(Complimentary)

October 8, 2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm ET

Should you call child protection services if you suspect abuse? How do you make sure your staff and volunteers are comfortable doing so? How do you provide a listening ear to a vulnerable friend who has been abused? Learn more about why we report child abuse and respond to vulnerable adult abuse in this webinar! This is designed for leaders and administrators who work with vulnerable sectors. Michael Brain, the Lead Trainer at Plan to Protect® will discuss what to do when you suspect abuse, how to report or respond, and how to maintain confidentiality.
Upcoming Plan to Protect® Training and Certification

Start learning safely from your home today!

To learn more or to register, click the name of the training.

Click here for the full 2020 training calendar.
FAQ: Annual Background Checks
Q: Our volunteers are asking if they can just sign a declaration annually that they have not committed a crime. Can we accept this instead of requiring renewals on a regular basis!


A: Perhaps teachers have suggested this as it is a practice that some school boards follow. However, this is not a best practice. Not only could individuals not disclose convictions, but organizations that are taking these shortcuts including school boards are self-insured so they may not be mandated to do regular updates of Criminal Record Checks. At Plan to Protect®, we will always recommend the HIGHEST STANDARD of abuse prevention and protection of the vulnerable sector. Insurance companies in North America require renewals of Criminal Record Checks (normally every 1-5 years). Our recommendation is that for programs and activities that are held once a year, you renew the Criminal Record Check annually. If you hold your programs daily or weekly, the renewals should be done every 3 years. As pardons can be granted for some crimes after five years, we do not recommend you wait for five years before requiring a renewal.

When doing a Criminal Record Check, we recommend you obtain the original and keep it on file, or at the minimum, keep a true copy of the original on file. Sign off that you have seen the original.

Criminal Record Checks should be kept in a locked and secure file cabinet or in a secure platform.

Plan to Protect® provides Enhanced Criminal Record Checks through the Plan to Protect® ScreeningCanada platform. Our data security is encrypted in-transit and at rest. Data handling is in accordance with or based on standards set out by ISO/IEC 27001 and the SOC framework, as well as Canadian and provincial security laws.