Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Funds Roots of Empathy Program

  • Health and Community Services

June 7, 2023

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has approved $89,000 in one-time funding to support the Roots of Empathy Program for 2023-24.

The Roots of Empathy Program’s mission is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. In doing so, Roots of Empathy addresses the root causes of challenging behaviours in children by fostering the development of social and emotional competence and self-regulation.

This evidence-based program is delivered to elementary school children in Newfoundland and Labrador who are coached to recognize and connect with the vulnerability and humanity of a baby who visits their classroom throughout the school year with their parent(s), along with a trained Roots of Empathy instructor.

In alignment with government’s commitment in Health Accord NL and Our Path of Resilience to invest in children and youth, this funding will help support the continued success of the Roots of Empathy Program, which has benefited more than 30,600 children in over 155 schools in Newfoundland and Labrador since its launch in this province in 2001.

Quotes
“Our government is happy to support this long-running program and its goal of fostering social and emotional health and well-being in children and youth. This support, which aligns with recommendations from Health Accord NL and Our Path of Resilience, furthers our commitment to improving the health of residents across the province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Thank you to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for your continued support to bringing Roots of Empathy to children equitably across the province. Your grant will allow us to continue training volunteer instructors to deliver the program and will provide them with the curriculum, learning materials and valuable mentoring support. Almost 31,000 children have received the program since 2001 and more than 1220 babies have been ‘Tiny Teachers’ helping children to develop empathy. The children in the classroom of today are the leaders and the parents of tomorrow. Supporting the development of empathy in young people is one of the wisest decisions a society can make.”
Mary Gordon
Founder/President, Roots of Empathy

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Learn more
Roots of Empathy

Health Accord NL

Our Path of Resilience

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2023 06 07 1:05 pm