Child Advocacy Centre’s critical work highlighted during PCN Fun Run

“We’re about getting people mentally well and good in their bodies, and part of that is about finding things in our community to give a lift. We think the work the CACAC is doing to lift people up, people who are really young and really vulnerable, is phenomenal,” said Fitzpatrick.

“Their work is making a difference and moving the dial on kids’ futures. To highlight that and do so in a way that is fun, it gets so many more people in the know about how they can be part of the solution.

Fitzpatrick added that everyone has a connection to this issue.

“We see people who don’t unpack trauma in their lives and that creates issues down the road. If we can create a pathway towards a one-stop shop for children, it would be an amazing way to put a line in the sand on where we think these kids’ future should go. And it will all pay dividends 15, 20 years from now.”

Alyssa Barthel, CACAC director of community development, acknowledged that the work they do can be a dark topic of discussion, but it’s those conversations that help kids the most.

“This has really been a great platform to share our story. The last couple years, we’ve seen numbers go up and down, but we have also seen more extreme cases coming into the centre,” she shares. “It is more vital than ever to ensure people know the numbers to call and the services we provide in order to best help the children in our community.”

Adds Barthel, with kids being back in school full-time and around other adults they didn’t get to see as much during the pandemic, it’s key to kearn about recognizing the signs and symptoms of abuse.

“They’re around their peers again and around other guardians. Those people can make the calls when they see the signs, and now people do know what those are thanks to events like the PCN Fun Run,” she said. “Education is the key to prevention.”

As of January 2022, the CACAC has supported 1,973 central Alberta youth from 91 communities. The CACAC notes 96 per cent of children they’ve served know their offender.

In March 2022, the province announced $3.4 million towards a new home for the CACAC.

The CACAC also held its inaugural Courage Cup Ball Hockey Tournament at the Fun Run. An overall event fundraising total was not yet known at time of publication.

More information is at centralalbertacac.ca.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Child Advocacy Centre’s critical work highlighted during PCN Fun Run

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