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SharePrevention not reaction
Published: November 18, 2008 6:00 PMUpdated: November 20, 2008 12:59 PM
Vandalism at the Ross Street Plaza, National Addictions Week, National Child Day Nov. 20th. Articles on these three things all happen to be included in this issue of the Observer. They are perhaps unconnected, perhaps not.
Nov. 20, 1989 was the historic date that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was introduced to the world. On the anniversary of this date, the B.C. Association of Social Workers is urging the government to invest in social infrastructure, particularly to reduce poverty.
The Success by 6 program, whose local proponents are putting on National Child Day activities in the Shuswap, realize how important early years and family support are to children's success in life.
People can be more apt to get into drugs and alcohol – and other anti-social behaviour, like vandalism – when they have rough experiences when they're young and not enough supports available to them.
It makes both moral and economic sense to prevent problems rather than try to react to them. Our society and governments can do much more to make sure our young people get to live the lives they deserve.
