The Manitoba government will provide up to $100,000 to renew and extend a funding agreement for the Respect in School program for 2020-2021.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement last Thursday along with the following statement.

"With the resumption of in-class learning in Manitoba this fall, students will require emotionally, psychologically and physically supportive school environments to help address anxiety and distress they may have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen. "We are pleased to extend funding for the RIS program that complements many other resources available to schools for the promotion of supportive learning for all students."

The news release accompanying the announcement stated that research has shown that anxiety and distress can interfere with a student's ability to learn and interact in a positive way with peers and teachers. This anxiety and distress also has the ability to affect a student's mental health without proper intervention.

"The pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on Manitobans of all ages," says Goertzen, adding "the renewal of the Respect in School program is one more way we are enhancing the classroom experience for students."

In addition to renewing the RIS program, the government is also extending its funding to the early learning and childcare sector, thus giving early childhood educators access to additional resources to help support children in their care.

Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder of Respect Group Inc., the creator of the RIS program, notes how crucial this is.

"It is critical for adults in the education and child-care systems to be aware of and understand the distress that children and youth can be subjected to on a daily basis, and for them to be able and prepared to intervene as early as possible and help whenever necessary," says Kennedy, adding, "I am pleased to see the Manitoba government take another step with this program for the benefit of young people across the province."

The RIS program offers free online curriculum training for adults working with students in public, funded independent, non-funded independent and First Nations schools. It is designed to improve adults' awareness of distress that students might be experiencing and equips them with the knowledge and skills to properly intervene.