October is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Calgary, AB – October is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Child Advocacy Centres (CACs) across Alberta are coming together to raise awareness about child abuse and the important role communities can play in helping to keep children and youth safe.

Child Advocacy Centres provide children and youth who have experienced abuse a safe space to share their story and receive the support and resources they need throughout the disclosure, investigation, and judicial process. Alberta is home to eight of the 27 Child Advocacy Centres in Canada, all of which provide customized supports that best suit the specific needs of each child or youth along their healing journey. A goal of CACs as a collective is to increase awareness in our communities about child abuse prevention and intervention.

Statistics Canada reports that one-in-three Canadians have experienced some type of abuse before the age of 16. Child abuse is not limited to any particular community or demographic; it can happen anywhere, and we all have a role to play in keeping children and youth safe. It is important that everyone is informed on what they can do to help create safer communities by recognizing the signs of abuse and understanding their responsibility to speak up. This is more than just an ethical responsibility – it is, in fact, everyone’s legal duty to report suspected child abuse.

On October 24th, CACs are encouraging Albertans to #GoBlueAB by wearing blue in solidarity with all those who have been impacted by child abuse, and to spark more conversation and awareness. Here in Calgary, Mayor Nenshi has issued a proclamation on behalf of The City in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Calgary Tower will light up in blue on the 24th as a beacon of hope and healing for the many children and youth in our community who have experienced abuse.

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The Calgary and Area Child Advocacy Centre (CCAC) is a non-profit organization that, together with a multidisciplinary team of partners (Alberta Health Services, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, Calgary Police Service, Children’s Services, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police), is changing the way our communities understand and address child abuse. We provide integrated wrap-around services to assess, investigate, intervene, and support children and youth who have experienced abuse while bringing offenders to justice. For more information, please explore our website or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Media Contact:
Rocky Hynes, Director of Communications
Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre
403.428.5415
rhynes@calgarycac.ca