Peel Children’s Aid Society promotes Dress Purple Day for October 27

CEO of Peel CAS delivered presentation to Caledon Council

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon residents are encouraged to wear purple on Friday.

October 27 is “Dress Purple Day” in Ontario. It's an initiative from children's aid societies across the Province to raise awareness around the role individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families.

On October 24, Peel Children's Aid Society (Peel CAS) CEO Mary Beth Moellenkamp delivered a presentation to Caledon Council about Dress Purple Day and the work Peel CAS does in the community.

Joining Moellenkamp was Taqwa, a former youth in care with Peel CAS. 

Moellenkamp said October 27 is about children's aid societies speaking as one voice for vulnerable children.

“It's the time when we advocate for their right to physical safety, their right to cultural safety, their right to spiritual safety, and speak as a community to make sure that their needs are being met,” she said. 

Children's Aid Societies are a critical social safety net, said Moellenkamp. Peel CAS helps 8,000 families each year in Peel, and 99 per cent of its work is done with children, youth and families in their own homes.

In the last year, Peel CAS delivered 80 programs to youth through its Trailblazers Youth Centre, and provided 1,200 children and youth toys for the holidays.

Last year, 129 children were admitted into Peel CAS' care as a result of intimate partner violence.

Moellenkamp said Peel CAS has a customized approach to child welfare, not a one-size fits all approach. She said its Trailblazers Youth Centre was designed by youth, for youth, to ensure health, physical education, identity and literacy needs are met.

“Whenever I have the opportunity to speak to policymakers, it's about making sure that we constantly think about children and youth [in] decision-making,” said Moellenkamp. “Our children and youth are some of the most vulnerable in the community and they often feel like they're invisible, they often feel that they're not seen. This is the one time of year where when you dress purple, you tell them that they matter. You tell them that you stand for them and we tell them as a community that they can be seen and heard and that's really important.”

Taqwa shared her story as a former youth in care with Peel CAS. She ran away from home at the age of 15 with only a backpack and a few days' worth of supplies. She was escaping physical, mental, and sexual abuse. 

After staying with a friend's family, she was transitioned into foster care with Peel CAS.

“My biggest support was my Peel CAS workers. No matter what, I could always count on them to be there for me and to always do their best for me,” she said. “My workers were there for me through thick and thin, in the worst days of my depression and my fight with PTSD and suicide.”

Taqwa said her workers would always spend extra time with her outside of what was scheduled to support her. 

“Undoubtedly, my workers had the biggest impact on my healing journey throughout the years,” she said.

Taqwa said Dress Purple Day is a call out for support and a time to let those who are struggling know they are not alone. She said it lets young people know that help is out there and that it's a community responsibility to keep children and youth safe.

“By wearing purple on October 27, you are showing kids and our community that their voices matter,” said Taqwa.