Red Deer Polytechnic child abuse researchers working overtime to enhance integrated practice

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2. Ensure that various communities are engaged in coordinated efforts that support their unique local needs and strengths.

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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.

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READ MORE: Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence blazing a trail for youth mental health

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Much of that work is already happening, but Johnson says his team at RDP is eager to keep building up what’s going on in Red Deer as an example of innovative leadership in this field nationwide.

(Red Deer Polytechnic)

“RDP is at the forefront of this right now. We want to work with other institutions and various professionals on the social innovation happening when it comes to child advocacy,” says Johnson.

“We are currently analyzing data from the report and exploring more opportunities to expand the effectiveness of integrated practice.”

Integrated practice, he explains, means filling in the gaps so that children are not being re-traumatized by having to retell a story over and over.

“It means everything is in one building. When a child walks in, RCMP will be there, the CACAC is there, Children and Family Services is there. RDP can offer a lot to this partnership in terms of providing students with knowledge,” Johnson says.

“What we bring to the table is helping the ecosystem of this social innovation network. With the CAC we are partnering in the development of curriculums of the future, which will help students going through the psychology, sociology, justice and health programs to be more aware of the signs of child trauma.

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READ MORE: Child Advocacy Centre releases first ‘State of Child Wellbeing in Central Alberta’ community report

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Since the State of Wellbeing report was released last month, it has been recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a 38-member intergovernmental group founded in 1961.

“There was a lot in the report that shocked the community. We have sex trafficking and human trafficking going on in central Alberta, and many people were not aware of that,” says Johnson.

“Some people just aren’t aware how many kids from marginalized communities are affected, and some are surprised that schools are not being taught how to be aware of the signs of child abuse.”

Going forward, he says, research will bolster community awareness and effect more influence on policy.

The Transforming Practices conferences is sold out and goes May 28 & 29 at the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Jody Carrington, a national best-selling author, and Dr. Michael Ungar, director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University.

More information is at rdpolytech.ca.

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