‘Start with Hello’ campaign aims to address child poverty, build inclusive communities in Leeds and Grenville

At the the Brockville General Committee meeting on Tuesday Nov. 19, members of the Every Kid in Our Communities Coalition (EKIOC) Leeds and Grenville, addressed council regarding their ongoing initiatives in the community.

As per their last census, Brockville has the highest rate of child poverty in the Leeds and Grenville, and according to EKIOC Coordinator Jane Hess, “those are the kids that we do really work at, wanting and needing to engage with them.”

Hess was joined by Tawnya Boileau, school health coordinator for the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU). Their presentation was titled ‘Start with Hello: Building a Community for Youth in Leeds & Grenville.’  This program, inspired by the Sandy Hook Promise, aims to foster a safer and more inclusive environment for children and youth by building positive relationships and ensuring they feel valued and connected.

The initiative began in 2019 as a response to the needs expressed by youth, as highlighted in the “Youth Let’s Talk” survey of 2018 at Stingers in Brockville. Comments from young participants emphasized the desire for more welcoming spaces, open conversations, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to their community. Jane Hess told the Committee, “It’s something that we want to do with kids and youth in our community to make them feel welcome, so we start with hello, and from that you build positive relationships.”

Aligned with the principles of the Developmental Relationship Framework, the program seeks to embed developmental assets into the lives of children and youth. The “Start with Hello” campaign launched on Nov. 12, ahead of National Child Day on Nov. 20. This is a day that celebrates children’s rights and the importance of hearing their voices and perspectives to help shape society. 

The day was adopted from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on Nov. 20, 1989. In 1991, Canada joined in, making the commitment that all children are treated with dignity and respect and have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. 

Hess explained, “There’s lots of places where you can talk about Start with Hello…In your workplaces and in your everyday life, and talking to those people that are significant to you, that can have an impact on children and youth.”

As part of the EKIOC larger strategy, the key promotional efforts they are highlighting are:

•   Media releases, press engagements and ongoing social media posts.
•   Presentations to local councils and community events.
•   Making more resources available on the EKIOC website, such as posters, instructions, and tools for fostering developmental relationships.

When asked what is needed from Brockville City Council to move forward, Hess stated, “Basically, we want to work with the community to embed the developmental assets framework into every aspect of life. We want to work with you to build possible developmental assets and developmental relationship framework into the municipal plans.”

For more information on this initiative, visit http://www.everykid.on.ca/ or contact Jane Hess at admin@everykid.on.ca.