Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Apr 22/02) - A group of Fort Smith residents has committed to helping high-risk children in the community, particularly those affected by bullying in school.

Carol Macek of the Recovery Foundation balances a ball on strings held by nearly 20 Fort Smith residents who then walked around without letting it fall. The exercise, part of a workshop entitled High Risk Kids, was to demonstrate that a whole community must come together to perform a task. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"The community is very concerned about it," said Carol Macek, who recently presented workshops entitled "High Risk Kids."

Among her many suggestions, Macek said parents should ask their children about bullying, since some may be bullied without saying anything.

"They're suffering in silence."

Al Karasiuk, the principal of P.W. Kaeser high school, said there is greater concern and awareness about bullying among parents and schools, officials. "That's what we as a high school wanted to concentrate on," Karasiuk said.

However, he said he doesn't have any hard data to show bullying is getting worse, only a "gut feeling" it is.

Karasiuk said he hopes the involvement of parents and other residents will help deal with bullying and other factors for high-risk children. "No one organization or agency can do it alone."

That was one of the messages from Macek, who represents the Recovery Foundation, an American-based organization dedicated to helping children.

The Yellowknife resident said change starts with one person or a group of people, using Mothers Against Drunk Driving as an example.

"Never underestimate an angry mother," she told the workshop participants. And we've got a few of them here today."

One of the workshop participants, Edna Hamilton, director of the Youth Centre at Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre, said it is adults' responsibility to be good role models for young people.

"Some people think problems are going to go away on their own," Hamilton said, adding it's up to people to create a healthier community.

Following the April 13 public workshop, people signed up to form both a Community Solutions Group and a Parents Support Group.

The workshop participants discussed numerous risk factors for high risk children besides bullying, from addictions to abuse.

Along with the public meeting, Macek held workshops for teachers at PWK and J.B. Tyrrell elementary school.

Her visit was funded by the federal Department of Justice's Community Mobilization Program.

Along with helping young people being bullied, Macek said bullies also need to be helped to deal with the causes of their actions.

"Kids aren't just born cruel."

And, she added, "it takes a whole community to raise a child."