The Caribou Child and Youth Centre in Grande Prairie has released the following public service announcement about reporting child abuse:

As COVID-19 isolation has swept across our province every community has been faced with making the necessary changes to ensure our health and safety. Everyone copes with change and stress differently and as Child Advocacy Centres’ (CAC) we are committed to our role of keeping children and youth in our community safe.

CAC’s 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 allow them to heal at their own pace.

Typically, in the summer when children are not attending school or after school programs, we see a decline in reports of child abuse. Due to the COVID-19 health pandemic we are seeing this trend occur earlier and it is likely to continue for a longer period.

The caseload at the Caribou Child & Youth Centre has continued to increase each year. This signifies a change in our community as people are recognizing their duty to report child abuse. In 2019, 218 interviews were completed, which was a 27 per cent increase from 2018. In the first 3 months of 2020 the caseload at the Caribou Centre was up 27 per cent from the 2019 rates for January, February, March. As of March 18th, of this year, the Caribou has seen a steady decline in reporting compared with our 2018, and 2019 rates.

This is deeply concerning. We need our community to continue to recognize the moral and legal obligation to report child abuse as this is a time where the typical safeguards for children and youth who experience abuse are impacted. 

Alberta is home to eight CAC’s across the province that provide support to children and youth who have experienced abuse. Each of these Centres’ are fully operational or in various stages of future development. The Child Advocacy Centres’ of Alberta are urging our communities to take action as we all have a responsibility to keep children and youth in our community safe.

Each of us need to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to recognize child abuse and speak up for our children. As communities and as a Province we can work together to ensure every child is heard and believed and be their voice when they need us most. To learn more about how to recognize child abuse and how you can help those in your community visit albertacacs.ca.

To Report Child Abuse in Alberta:

Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437 (KIDS)

Grande Prairie RCMP: 780-830-5700 – or your local detachment