The Residential Block Parent Program provides a network of safe homes in the neighbourhoods of our communities. Block Parent volunteers are responsible adults who care about the safety of children and others and agree to offer their homes as temporary havens to those who find themselves in threatening or frightening situations. A Block Parent may be called upon to offer help when a child, senior or any individual finds themselves in a dangerous or threatening situation, such as being bullied, lost, hurt or ill, caught in severe weather, frightened by a stranger, being followed by a car or locked out of the house or car. The Block Parent will assist by making the appropriate phone call for the situation, i.e. police, fire, ambulance, parent, etc. They are not asked to provide food, drink, toilet facilities or transportation, administer first aid, become involved in a fight or bullying situation or open their door to anyone if they feel uneasy about the situation (can be handled through a locked door).

Individuals applying to become Block Parents are screened following the Block Parent Program of Canada's Safe Steps Screening Process. One step of this process is a Police Records Check for all residents of the home age 12 and over. Once the application has been approved, a Block Parent sign will be issued and instructions given on its use. It is to be displayed in the window of the Block Parent home only when someone over the age of 18 is available to provide assistance to someone in need of immediate help. The sign is removed from the window when no one is available or they don't wish to be disturbed, i.e. are busy, in the backyard, sleeping, children napping, away, etc. The use of the sign totally revolves around the lifestyle of the Block Parents. They may be available to provide assistance for an hour or two each day or only a couple of hours on the weekend, but whatever time they can provide will be helping to keep the residents of their community safe.

The screening process for Block Parent homes is an ongoing one; Block Parents are contacted on a regular basis by the administration of the community Block Parent Program and systematic re-screenings are required. Every effort is made to ensure a home that is issued a Block Parent sign is indeed a safe haven for anyone in need of immediate help.