Supporting Children Throughout Alberta
Alberta is proud to have eight Child Advocacy Centres across the province, these centres are fully operational or in various stages of future development.
Child Advocacy Centres are a safe place where children and youth who have experienced abuse can go to tell their story and be supported throughout the entire disclosure, investigation, judicial and healing journey. By supporting children, youth and their non-offending caregivers we provide them with customized supports that best suit their needs and will allow them to heal at their own pace.
Child abuse is a community-owned issue that deserves our attention, advocacy and action. We are proud of our collaborative work to keep Alberta’s children and youth safe. Children are resilient; we see it every day as they show their courage and strength in telling their story.
Fort McMurray
Waypoints Community Services Association opened the first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre for the Wood Buffalo Region in January of 2019. The Centre is called the “Care Centre for Children and Youth” and is in Fort McMurray. The Centre seeks to improve outcomes for children and youth who have experienced abuse in their community and works with partner agencies to ensure the best possible outcome for children, who have experienced abuse, and their supporting families. Waypoints works in partnerships with the Wood Buffalo RCMP, Northeast Alberta Children’s Services, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Victim’s Services and Waypoints Community Services Association.
Grande Prairie
The Caribou Child & Youth Centre is a Child Advocacy Centre serving Grande Prairie and the NW region of Alberta. The Centre provides a safe and comfortable environment where children and youth (under 18) who have experienced sexual, physical, or psychological abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect can tell their story. The centre seeks to provide children and their families with a single point of contact to assist them throughout the process; from initial disclosure, through investigation, court proceedings, and any ongoing support or therapeutic treatment that is necessary. The Caribou Centre works with a multidisciplinary team of: RCMP, Child Family Services, Pace, Victim Services, as well as Crown Prosecution.
Edmonton
Founded in 2002, The Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre is a non-profit, community-based organization that was established to improve the lives of children who have suffered abuse. As the first Child Advocacy Centre of its kind in Canada, the Zebra Centre’s model was revolutionary - bring together a community of professionals under one roof to support the child throughout the entire disclosure, investigative, judicial and healing process. Edmonton’s Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre is here for children. Together with our partners, we work towards the common goals of supporting children who have experienced abuse and creating a future where every child is heard.
Lloydminster
Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services operates the Little Bear Child Advocacy Centre. This Centre provides a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting individuals and families affected by sexual violence from reporting, investigation and court process. The Centre serves the surrounding community of Lloydminister and provides a warm and welcoming environment for children and families to visit. The Centre works in partnership with the RCMP, Children’s Services and Alberta Justice. Children and Families are supported through the entire process including ongoing counselling and therapy.
Central Alberta
The Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre is a not for profit organization rooted in the protection and recovery of today’s most innocent and vulnerable – our children. The Centre is comprised of a collective that is driven by the courage to support children, youth, and their families affected by child abuse, enabling them to build enduring strength and overcome adversity. Located in Red Deer, the CACAC sees and supports all of the Central Alberta Region Zone by working in a collaborative partnership with the Central Region Children's Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Justice, Alberta Education, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre and the RCMP. Together we harness our collective courage to provide children with supported recovery.
Calgary
Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre exists to be a place of hope, help, and healing for children, youth, and families who are survivors of child abuse. We work with our five integrated partner organizations (Alberta Health Services, Alberta Justice & Solicitor General, Calgary Police Service, Children’s Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to provide integrated services to assess, investigate, intervene, and support children and families impacted by child abuse. Our multi-disciplinary team works to empower those impacted to lead healthy and productive lives, and to create a community that responds collectively to child abuse.
Medicine Hat
"Sanare" (sanāre) is a Latin word for healing. We are a service provider to promote healing within sexual abuse victims. Nobody who experiences sexual, domestic or personal trauma should ever feel alone. We bring trauma survivors and supporters together in the spirit of healing. We use empathy, compassion and experience to help navigate the support system, and to make communities safer and more resilient through education, advocacy, and calls to action. Our work helps Albertans understand and address the real impacts of social, sexual and domestic trauma, and to break the trauma cycle.
Lethbridge
The Chinook Sexual Assault Centre is located in Lethbridge and serves the communities of southwestern Alberta. The Centre is a stand-alone organization that provides leadership, advocacy and comprehensive services specific to victims of sexual violence within Southwestern Alberta. They support children and families who have experienced sexual abuse and are working to develop their Child Advocacy Centre.