The Cochrane Block Parent program has been operating in the community for roughly one year and has only 10 homes registered.
Started by acting chair Wendy Renneberg, the program’s purpose is to provide a safe place for someone during an emergency. Renneberg’s daughter sparked the idea for her to start a chapter in town.
“My daughter was in kindergarten last year, and there was a little girl on her bus who would walk home every day which was down at the end of her street. And I thought to myself ‘There’s no place for her to go, what if that was my daughter? ‘ And, it was around the same time that Airdrie had the flashing and there was that attempted abduction in Calgary,” Renneberg explained.
The volunteer-run program has chapters all over Canada. Registered Block Parents receive a sign that they may put in their window when they’re available and able to help those who need assistance.
“When I put it out there on Facebook and asked if people would be interested, I got hundreds of responses. I sent out hundreds of registration packages and only got a couple back,” Renneberg said.
In order to become a Block Parent, a person must be over the age of 18 and must have a current police check performed. Renneberg believes Cochrane’s low turnout in numbers is due to the inconvenience of having a police check performed.
“There was a Block Parent Program here many years ago, but it disbanded and I don’t know why,” Renneberg said.
“I think the discouraging factor was a combination of the hours that the RCMP station is open and the ability for people to actually get there,” Renneberg explained.
Renneberg said people must submit the papers in person because photo ID must be shown at the RCMP station.
Renneberg and the Cochrane chapter has reached out to Airdrie’s and Okotoks’ Block Parent chapters to learn how to increase registration. The chapter is also considering forming partnerships with town council as well as schools within Cochrane.
“We’re trying to just get the word out there and attending as many events as we can,” Renneberg said.
Renneberg also wants to educate the general public about the responsibilities of a Block Parent. She said there is no training involved to be a Block Parent.
“It’s not just for children – it’s for anybody having an emergency that needs help. For example if a parent doesn’t show up at the bus stop to pick up their child or if a child is being bullied. Or if a senior is feeling unwell or somebody is out and get’s injured,” Renneberg explained.
Block Parents are never required to allow people entrance into their homes. They are also not expected to administer first aid, provide food/drink, or allow use of their washrooms.
“It’s a very simple process – there’s a registration form that you fill in and that information is used by the national organization so they know where every Block Parent is. And then there’s the police check,” Renneberg said.
Renneberg explained the program is convenient because it’s about the time a person is able to give. For example, if an adult is in their home and able to answer the door then they can put their sign in the window – if an adult is at home but busy, they can take the sign out of the window.
“Once all the paperwork is completed, we meet and go to their home and make sure it’s a safe place. We go over the sign rules – when to give assistance, when you don’t have to give assistance. We also go over emergency information and then provide them their sign,” Renneberg said.
The signs are personalized with a date that indicates if the Block Parent’s police check is current. Renneberg hopes that once the program has 25 registered homes within Cochrane, a sign can be put up on the highway stating it is a Block Parent community.
“It’s a very easy program to follow through with, there is really no set commitment. It’s based on the time you can give – it doesn’t matter if you just have five minutes to put that sign out, it could make the difference,” Renneberg said.
For more information about the Cochrane Block Parent program, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/cochraneblockparents.
