RIRO Program

RIRO is based on a simple idea backed by 30 years of research – children learn resiliency skills by watching adults model them. We teach adults the skills to handle life's challenges with resilience and show them how to pass those skills along to children.


A unique program

Reaching IN...Reaching OUT (RIRO) is Canada's only evidence-based program for teaching resiliency thinking and coping skills to young children.

These skills promote children's strengths and resilience thereby helping reduce the sense of helplessness that feeds conflict, violence and the risk for depression. RIRO promotes behaviour that is fundamental to the development of civil society at large, benefiting not only children, but adults working with children, caregivers, parents and the communities where they live, learn and work.

Founded as a pilot project in 2002, RIRO is an innovator in finding ways to incorporate resilience and strengths-based approaches in organizations that support children from birth to seven.


Range of services and supports

RIRO reaches professionals, paraprofessionals and others in the community through a variety of resources, supports and training services.

Training is the cornerstone of RIRO's program. RIRO has trained more than 4,000 professionals and paraprofessionals, benefiting an estimated 40,000 children. RIRO's training services can be easily customized because the skills training modules are designed to work in a variety of settings. Learn more about our training program.

Training RIRO trainers helps us to benefit additional young children. More than 200 training professionals and educators across Canada have already completed RIRO's 5-day trainer "intensive." To further increase training uptake, "Authorized RIRO Trainers" are organized into "hubs" so that they can collaborate and offer support to each other, spreading resiliency knowledge and skills in their own communities. Learn more about becoming a trainer.

Future training plans include the development of a resiliency skills training program for parents. RIRO has now received major funding to adapt and pilot the skills training and develop other resiliency resources to meet the needs of parents.

Our resources are helpful to anyone who wants to learn more about resilience. Check out the guidebook, videos, books for adults, books for children, articles and curriculum materials that we have carefully reviewed and assembled to address the learning needs of children, parents, educators and community members alike.


Our model

RIRO's unique delivery model is very cost effective. By engaging established networks of professionals who work with children, RIRO-trained professionals can transfer resiliency skills to children for less than $7.00 each.