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block parent
DCHP-2 (Aug 2012)
n. — proprietary, Urban culture
someone who has volunteered their home as a refuge, particularly for neighbourhood children, in an emergency.
Type: 5. Frequency — A block parent is a volunteer who is part of a program to assist neighbourhood children and other local people in an emergency. Block parent is a registered trademark. The Block Parent program originated in the US and was active in some US cities as early as the 1950s. The program was first introduced to Canada in 1968 in London, Ontario. A national Block Parent committee was formed in 1983, and in 1986 the Block Parent Program of Canada was incorporated (see Block Parent reference). The nationalization of the program may explain the high prevalence of the term in Canada (see Chart 1). In the US, the programs often operate at local levels, and there is no national US program.
See also COD-2, s.v. "Block Parent", which is marked "esp. Cdn".
See also COD-2, s.v. "Block Parent", which is marked "esp. Cdn".
Quotations
1976
The home and council, which represents more than 2,000 parents, will make a formal presentation to its local association presidents outlining the block parent program at its March meeting.
1978
The letter tells parents to warn their children to stay away from strangers, not to accept gifts or rides from strangers, and to run to a block parent's house if they are in trouble.
1993
Anyhoo, the reason I'm bringing all of this up is because I wish to send a message to all of those who look upon me as a driver in much the same light they would upon Charles Manson as a block parent.
2001
Block Parent of Canada has been helping people in need of community assistance for 32 years.
In 1968, the City of London, Ont., suffered an unusual spate of crime against its children. The National Council of Jewish Women became aware of a program called Block Parent, which was operating successfully in some parts of the United States.
With a mission to "provide immediate assistance through a safety network and to offer supportive community educational programs," Block Parent came north and as of 1999, Block Parent of Canada was servicing 145,433 Canadian homes. It operates in affiliation with the RCMP, who screen all participants in the program over the age of 12. Governor General Adrienne Clarkson serves as its patron.
2007
"Block Parents provide assistance to all citizens, especially children, who find themselves in an emergency or threatening situation, while away from their homes," she said, reading from a prepared statement.
2009
But in London, there are 4,260 active block parents, said Tara Kovach, the area's program assistant. Block Parent began there in 1968, after the murder of a nine-year-old boy.
2013
In the past, children knew they could knock on a Block Parent door if they were lost, forgot their keys or were feeling unsafe. But in recent years the number of Block Parent homes in Oshawa has dwindled from more than 700 to less than 30.
"This organization's been in Oshawa since 1976, so it's been around for an awful long time," said Heather Christie, chairwoman of Block Parents Oshawa. "People just don't want to do it anymore. We've had a lot of older folks who were involved with it since 1976 quit."
References
- Block Parent • "About the Block Parent® Program of Canada Inc. "
- COD-2
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