A Brief History of the Safe and Caring Schools Initiative

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) evolved from the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s (ATA) Safe and Caring Schools Project (SACS) which began in April 1996 with a grant from the Alberta Education’s Safe and Caring Schools Initiative.

The ATA’s SACS Project began its program development with a review of bullying and violence prevention research and program evaluation literature and formed conclusions about what an effective school bullying and violence prevention program should include. This research indicated that a comprehensive approach would effectively address the bullying and prevent youth violence issues in schools, and close the gaps among existing violence prevention programming.

In 1999, new legislation was introduced in the School Act that requires all school districts to provide a safe and caring learning environment. Section 45 (8) of the School Act currently reads:
"A Board shall ensure that each student enrolled in a school operated by the board is provided with a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours." The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that School Boards encourage optimal learning by providing students with a safe and caring environment that enables them to succeed. Research has demonstrated that, for young people to do well in school, to learn to think critically and to apply new knowledge and skills, schools must remove sources of threat, fear and anxiety.

Under the Alberta Teachers’ Association the SACS Project developed into a comprehensive social development, bullying and violence prevention and character-education endeavour designed to encourage socially responsible and respectful behaviour. The ATA’s SACS Project worked closely with Alberta Education, other government departments that provide services to children and youth, and the Tri-University SACS Project. Other partners and financial supporters of the SACS Project included the Muttart Foundation, Lions Clubs of Alberta, the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund, the National Crime Prevention Strategy, Population Health, Canadian Heritage, VICOM Media Productions, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Creative Control Communications Inc., the Alberta Teachers’ Association and many school districts and community agencies. In April 2002 contributions to the ATA’s SACS Project had totalled well over two and one half million dollars, all of which was spent on program research, development, implementation and evaluation.

The ATA’s SACS Project collaborated with numerous community agencies and organizations that were represented on its Steering Committee. These organizations now participate in the Society’s governance and program development by remaining active members of the Society’s Board of Directors, Advisory Council and project steering committees. In 2003 a decision was made by the Steering Committee to apply for charitable status from Canada Customs and Revenue and to form the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities. The formation of the new society has allowed for charitable status (which was granted in 2004) and provides an opportunity for the school and community stakeholders served by the Safe and Caring programs to participate in governance.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association continues to participate in the Society by providing representation on the Board of Directors, contributing office infrastructure support, providing a variety of in-kind contributions and participating as a valued partner on many of the Society’s projects and in its programs.

As a non-profit organization the Society for SACSC applies for grants and other government funding, accepts donations and depends on valued educational, community, individual and corporate supporters to fund its programs.