RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
New State of Child Wellbeing in Central Alberta Report Released

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) have partnered with HelpSeeker Technologies to release a new report that looks at the current state of child wellbeing within central Alberta. The 2024 State of Child Wellbeing in Central Alberta Report explores child welfare in central Alberta, including maltreatment trends, family violence, community characteristics and data-driven insights.

"The goal of the report is twofold: one we want to highlight the specific needs of vulnerable children, families and communities focusing on qualitive data related to socioeconomic factors," comments Dr. Alina Turner, CEO, HelpSeeker. "The second is to use offer informed recommendations that align with evidence-based best practice and foster community responsibility for children's rights, well-being, and safety."

The report looks at national and provincial trends, along with central Alberta community trends. A key dataset of the report came from the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, where researchers looked at data collected from February 2020 to August 2023. Based on the analysis of several data points three priority recommendations have been highlighted, including:

1. Schools and health and community-based support should be involved much earlier in prevention.
2. Ensure that various communities are engaged in coordinated efforts that support their unique local needs and strengths.
3. Establish data-sharing mechanisms to coordinate care that supports children and families to get the right help, when needed, while empowering front-line staff to do their best work in a coordinated manner.

"At Red Deer Polytechnic, we are committed to growing our applied research program in resiliency and child advocacy that focuses on integrated practice, and harnessing the power of data analytics to advance new best practices that will shape the future of child advocacy," comments Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Applied Research, RDP. "The 2024 Child Wellbeing in Central Alberta Report is one of the tools that will connect our applied research to the community that we serve."

"I am immensely proud to announce our collaboration with Red Deer Polytechnic in conducting this pivotal research. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to HelpSeekers and Dr. Alina Turner for their instrumental role in compiling this report and furnishing us with vital data," says Mark Jones, CEO, Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre.

"The insights gleaned from this report affirm our longstanding beliefs at the CACAC and underscore the urgency of early intervention in our pursuit of prevention strategies. Moreover, it reinforces our commitment to being data-driven and remaining at the forefront of research. This collaboration not only enhances our capabilities as a Child Advocacy Centre but also reinforces our position as a Centre of Excellence, driving societal progress through informed action. We are truly excited about the possibilities this partnership brings, and the positive impact it will have on our community and beyond."

View the 2024 State of Child Wellbeing in Central Alberta Report.