Plan to Protect Holiday Hours:
December 24 9:00am - 3:00pm ET
December 25 CLOSED
December 28 CLOSED
December 31 9:00am - 3:00pm ET
January 1 CLOSED
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Joy and Grief - and a desperate need for a dose of Peace |
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On behalf of the team at Plan to Protect, may we be one of the first to wish you a very
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
At this time of the year we are all eager to experience a dose of holiday joy and peace, wishing for some cheer. However, our hearts are heavy as we grieve over what we can't have this season, or what others are experiencing.
I think of:
- those that have lost loved ones this past year;
- the Elderly, who are extremely isolated and have not seen loved ones for months;
- individuals with disabilities that have been told they cannot access their day programs;
- students separated from their friends and programs doing school online;
- domestic violence victims struggling to live with someone who is abusing them; or
- children, youth and adults experiencing physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect.
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Today I read the words of a colleague, Michayla White, Executive Director of INCM writing to Children’s Pastors:
Joy and grief are not mutually exclusive of one another. They can co-exist, and it takes conviction and honesty to hold them together on our journeys...we are not a people that live in denial of our earthly circumstances, and we do not ignore pain (our own pain, or the pain of our fellow man); yet, through it all, our eyes are to remain fixed on the eternal glory of God and His Kingdom. It is an invitation to journey honestly and with purpose while letting Him be the Prince of Peace.
Michayla reminds her readers that joy and grief can co-exist if our focus is on the right thing. This holiday season may we find joy in the simple! Joy in the message of the holidays.
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Letter from the Editor:
The word vulnerable can have many different connotations. Originally derived from the Latin noun vulnus (“wound”), it led to the Latin verb vulnerare, meaning “to wound.” In the military, vulnerability is the measurement of how likely it is for damage to be inflicted. If someone is vulnerable they are capable of being physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked.
In this issue of PROTECT we are exploring the idea of vulnerability by looking at how we can protect vulnerable adults. With a desire to protect those who could be wounded, we’ve included articles on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (p.7), Protecting Adults with Disabilities (p.9), The Last Chapter of Life (p.19), and Assisting Those Caught in Addiction (p.28). We also recognize that we’re living in a chaotic COVID-19 world, which increases many individual’s susceptibility to vulnerability. For this reason, we’ve included Vulnerable Populations in the Midst of a Pandemic (p.13), and an article on Mental Health in a Pandemic (p.25).
I would also highly recommend you check out our interview with Cedarview Alliance Church (p.5) and our snapshot of Norfolk Pregnancy and Family Resource Centre (p.23) to see how these two organizations are working to protect vulnerable individuals. They truly epitomize seeing the beauty in those that they work with. While there are negative connotations around the word vulnerable, there can also be a good kind of vulnerable.
Brene Brown interviewed two different groups of people: those who had a strong sense of love and belonging and those who really struggled with that mindset. One of the distinguishing factors between these two groups was vulnerability. The group who felt a strong sense of love and belonging embraced the notion that what made them vulnerable also made them beautiful. Brene writes, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, accountability and authenticity." She clearly believes that "What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful." Here at PROTECT we agree. Being vulnerable may mean there is a greater risk, but it also means there is a greater opportunity for us to all see the beauty in our differences. Let’s work together to help prevent the harm and to see the beauty. - Tori Bissell
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Amber is joining the Plan to Protect® team in December 2020 as Lead Trainer. She brings over 15 years of experience in the camping industry through her work at Muskoka Woods where she worked leading teams, training staff and ensuring program excellence in her various roles. Before Muskoka Woods, Amber held positions in marketing at World Vision and fundraising at the Muskoka Woods Youth Foundation. Her previous roles, and current participation on the Fluid Gathering Advisory Board, have fueled her passion for the development of young people and the creation of safe environments where they thrive. She is married to her husband, Chris, and has a teenage daughter. As a family they love to travel, spend time outdoors, play games and enjoy time with their dog, Wrigley.
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LAST CALL for Submissions: Safety Writing Contest |
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Do you know a young person that loves to write?
We are holding a writing contest for children. Authors must be under 18 years of age. We are seeking children’s books on a topic that relates to safety and protection.
Extended Deadline: December 15th, 2020 at 9:00pm ET
When submitting use SUBJECT LINE: Safety Writing Contest
Include your story, suggested illustrations, name, 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, or
- 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
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You aren’t a member yet, but if you become a Member during December, you will receive one month free AND double the on-line training registrations. Value exceeds $100.
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You will have access to policy statements, webinars, access to our help desk, subscription to PROTECT magazine, training platform, and much more! |
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FREE WEBINAR TODAY - JOIN US |
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Avoid Holiday Cybercrime: A Scam & Fraud Prevention Seminar for Seniors and their Families
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
12:00pm-1:00pm ET
With special guest: Claudiu Popa from the KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation
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TREAT YOURSELF WITH A GIFT AND WE WILL TREAT YOU! |
1) SIGN UP for Plan to Protect® ScreeningCanada and your first Enhanced Criminal Record Check will be on us.
2) Become a Member during December and receive one month free AND double the on-line training registrations. A $350 value. CLICK HERE to join!
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