people rebecca ulrich joyce schroeder apr212015(Pictured left to right) Rebecca Ulrich, Joyce Schroeder

The Red Cross is joining forces with the Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre to combat abuse.

Rebecca Ulrich is provincial education manager for the Red Cross. She explains the purpose of the partnership.

"The Red Cross partnered in Portage with the Family Abuse Prevention Centre on the Harmony project. We work together to bring training to community leaders to prepare them and give them the resources to educate children, youth, and adults in the community about creating healthy relationships."

Ulrich notes how Harmony found out about their national program.

"While they were exploring their different options, or whether they would develop their own program, they learned about the national program with the Canadian Red Cross. So, that's where the partnership started. The program I focus on is called Respect Education. It looks at violence and abuse prevention in areas like child abuse prevention, dating and domestic violence prevention, as well as bullying prevention."

Joyce Schroeder is Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre executive director, and notes how she heard about the national program.

"On my original Harmony steering committee, I had some teachers from the high school who, when we realized what we were going to be doing as one of our activities, referred me to Rebecca at Red Cross. She, right from the get-go, was just so eager. And she has been instrumental in making that activity very successful for us in this community in helping us reach youth."