Statistics Canada reports that one out of every three Canadians has experienced child abuse prior to age 16. Prolonged exposure to traumatic events, such as abuse or neglect, can negatively impact the developing brain. Although it may be uncomfortable to talk about, adults who care for children must be prepared to respond when a child or youth reaches out for help as this is the first step on their journey to safety and well-being. This session, facilitated by the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, will provide an opportunity to build your confidence to recognize possible signs of abuse, respond to disclosures, ask open-ended questions if needed and what to expect when reporting suspected child abuse.
Kim Campbell is on secondment to the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre (SKCAC) from the Calgary Board of Education. In her role as Education Coordinator, Kim works with SKCAC staff, community partners and school districts to advance training, processes and practices to promote safe learning environments, enhance understanding of the impact of toxic stress, and increase support for students who have experienced abuse. A major focus is working collaboratively to build the confidence of school staff and pre-service teachers to recognize and respond to suspected child abuse. She is particularly inspired by her work with the Youth Champion Initiative to engage high school students to contribute to a culture of safety, healthy relationships and resiliency within their school-community. Kim has a Masters of Education in Staff Development from the University of Calgary and has enjoyed a variety of teaching and leadership positions at the school, system and provincial level. She is also the proud mom of two teenage boys.
Carrie Sanders is the Practice Specialist at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Center in Calgary, Alberta. Carrie began her career in Child Protection with the Alberta Government where she has remained for the past 17 years. She holds a BA from the University of Saskatchewan and a BSW/MSW from the University of Calgary. During her career, she has remained passionate about the assessment of risk to children and the integration of services to better serve the needs of the clients she works with. Her work experience has often involved collaboration as a Team Leader or front-line worker in programs that are multidisciplinary, such as joint initiatives with the police or health. In September,2016 Carrie was seconded from the Alberta Government to work at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Center in the role of practice specialist to work collaboratively with all partner organizations to support, advance and ensure continuous improvement of the integrated model of practice.
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