Roots of Empathy can teach the world about babies and how they can get hurt easily. Also about how everybody has a life and not to judge them by how they look or talk. Everybody has feelings ... everybody is important in the world!”

 

- Grade 4 student, Rexton, New Brunswick

Roots of Empathy came to New Brunswick in 2002 when it was introduced in 30 classrooms. The program has since grown and to date more than 13,000 children in the province have experienced the program.

Over the last nine years, more than 500 babies with the Roots of Empathy program have been the youngest teachers in New Brunswick’s classrooms. A similar number of volunteer parents have learned more about their babies and the key role they play in a child's development. Hundreds of New Brunswick classroom teachers have learned about their students' emotional lives and witnessed first-hand the power of helping children to develop social and emotional literacy.

The New Brunswick Ministry of Health and Human Resources Development Canada were integral to getting the program off the ground in the province in the early years, and the Ministry of Health has provided longstanding support for the program through the Healthy Learners in School program. The United Way and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation have supported New Brunswick programs as well.

The program is delivered in English and French in urban, rural and remote communities including schools with high immigrant populations, schools with high concentrations of Aboriginal students, and schools in First Nations communities.

Many agencies in New Brunswick contribute Instructors, Mentors, or local program coordinators (Key Point People) to Roots of Empathy. Roots of Empathy's instructor certification is highly valued in education, health, social service, and related fields, and the training provided is a significant capacity building investment in New Brunswick communities.

Roots of Empathy is committed to providing equitable access to its program in the French language. Our programs, using a dedicated French curriculum, have become well established in French and French immersion classrooms across New Brunswick.

For feedback from New Brunswick students and teachers participating in Roots of Empathy please read the 2009-10 New Brunswick Feedback Report .