(WELLINGTON COUNTY, ON) – The new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) K.I.D.S. Program is a timely and interactive way of engaging students in conversations about matters that are important to them.
K.I.D.S. stands for Knowledge, Issues, Decisions, and Supports, and is another resource available through OPP detachments cross the province.
The K.I.D.S. Program was developed by the OPP as a tool for officers to talk to young people about the decisions they may need to make and what supports are available to them. Officers are going face to face in classrooms with kids to share knowledge they might need when dealing with today’s issues, and to discuss the impact of their decisions.
When educators and police teamed up to create this program, their goal was clear: connect frontline officers with kids to help deliver the message of making the right decision, and to recognize the risks associated with self-victimization on social media (sexting), drug abuse and to prevent crime.
OPP officers are rolling out the highly interactive K.I.D.S. program in Grade Six classes across the province with great success. With the use of videos, workbooks, and interactive games, police are talking directly with kids about the law, peer relationships, issues relating to online and social media, along with drug and mental health awareness. There will be 7 to 9 classroom sessions dealing with these issues.
Wellington County OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Scott Lawson says†We are pleased to receive approval from the Wellington Catholic District School Board, Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington County Police Service Board to deliver this program. We appreciate the continued support from our local service clubs with bringing programs such as this, to our youth.â€
For the past 7 years, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) has been taught to our County youth. During this school year, a transition will take place D.A.R.E.until the OPP K.I.D.S. program is in all 27 schools.
Provincial Constable (PC) Kelly Krpan is the coordinator of the program. PC Krpan along with PC Josh Cunningham and PC Laura Gromeder will be delivering it to our youth across Wellington County. If you have any inquiries with regard to this program, please contact PC Kelly Krpan at Rockwood Operations Centre (519) 856-1506.