(Dreamstime)

By Mark Jones

Op-Ed

You’re our biggest advocate – and we need your help

Feb 23, 2023 | 2:35 PM

For six years, the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) has been advocating for children and youth who have had opportunities taken from them by abusers. The families we work with need support and guidance at a time that is often highly traumatic. In times of trauma, it’s hard – if not impossible – to navigate the system alone. That’s where the CACAC comes in.

When a child discloses their abuse to someone, it’s a moment of sheer bravery. That’s not to say that those who don’t come forward aren’t brave – in fact, simply getting dressed and trying to have a normal day at school is an act of bravery for a child who lives in an abusive situation. They deserve to have the best support imaginable, and when they tell their stories they should only have to do that once. After all, retelling one’s story of trauma can, in itself, be a form of re-traumatization. Before the CACAC, victims would have to tell their stories three, four, five or more times to different agencies and professionals. Thanks to changes in legislation, we have a multidisciplinary team comprised of many agencies and organizations that meets around the table to discuss these cases together.

These children, youths, and families have suffered from abuse, neglect, and/or sexual exploitation, and it is our job to advocate for them. You might be surprised to learn that one of their biggest advocates is you. The CACAC doesn’t charge these families a single cent to receive our services, and that’s largely thanks to you. Your support over the years has meant that we can continually offer the programs and services that these children need. The need is growing, and we’re poised to meet it head on, but we need your help.

The Centre of Excellence will be the new home of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, as well as the new home for the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) and select Alberta Health Services programs such as the Step Up Step Down youth live-in addiction and mental health program, Red Deer Child and Youth Addiction and Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, and Move Your Mood Studio. One and a half floors of our three-floor building will be leased to AHS, another half-floor to CASASC, and the CACAC will work from the third floor. The Centre of Excellence exists on the Red Deer Polytechnic main campus, and we’ve already begun integrating what we do into many of their curricula. Additionally, RDP will be creating a research hub dedicated to our field.

We need 12 million dollars for this building campaign, and we’ve already privately raised 8.1 million. We’re looking for your help to raise the remaining 3.9 million needed to get this life-saving system running. What we can do at the Centre of Excellence will change the ways in which society responds to child abuse. This project is the first of its kind in North America, and it will be built right here in Central Alberta. The children who need us deserve to have everyone standing up for them. With this campaign, and your financial support, we can make a greater stand. Let’s do this together for them. We’re ready – are you in?

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Mark Jones, CEO Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of rdnewsNOW or Pattison Media. rdnewsNOW reserves the right to edit submissions for length. Column suggestions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@rdnewsNOW.com.