CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE - Grande Prairie
Located in the city of Grande Prairie, the Caribou Child & Youth Centre opened in 2012 as the second child advocacy centre in the province of Alberta. The Centre serves children and youth (under 18) who have experienced sexual, physical or psychological abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect. We also work with those who have witnessed other types of trauma or violence. Our services include:
- CHILD VICTIM SUPPORT: We have provided support to thousands of Victims of Crime since 2012.
- THERAPY SERVICES: Our staff help improve coping strategies and foster resiliency with processing trauma for children & youth.
- COURT SUPPORT & ADVOCACY: We provide guidance to those navigating the Criminal Justice System.
- FORENSIC INTERVIEWS: Our structured interviews are intended to elicit detailed information that the child may have experienced or witnessed.
- FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE: We are dedicated to providing assistance to non-offending parents and caregivers.
Caribou Centre Tour
OUR VISION & MISSION
Our collaborative approach strives to minimize stress, anxiety, and trauma to the child witness.
FROM OUR CLIENTS
Read testimonials from our past clients: parents, youth and children
RESOURCES
If a child or youth discloses abuse, we porvide extra information to help you.
Lending Strength
Traditionally,
when a child needed to report abuse, they were expected to do so in much the
same way as an adult – within an institutional setting designed for adult needs
and expectations. This meant that the child was expected to go to a police station,
wait among unfamiliar people and intimidating surroundings, then be asked to
recount their experience multiple times to different professionals involved in
the investigation. For a child who has found the courage to disclose, this
process can be overwhelming and scary.
Recognizing
how difficult this experience can be, several community agencies partnered to
establish a more supportive, streamlined, and child-centered approach to investigations
of child abuse.
Today,
children and youth can access support through the Caribou Child & Youth
Centre. Using a collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach, the Centre
works to reduce stress, anxiety, and trauma for young witnesses while promoting
protection and justice.
Advocacy & Referrals On Behalf of the Child Victims of Abuse
What We Do To Help
What is provided at the Caribou Centre?
The Caribou Child and Youth Centre is a child friendly space for RCMP, GPPS and Child and Family Services to conduct interviews of alleged crimes of abuse against children.
A space for children to testify remotely during court proceedings.
Audio video recording of the interviews to be used in court proceedings.
Crisis intervention, support and counselling to child victims of crime and non–offending family members.
Facility dogs to support children during child forensic interviews and court proceedings.
Ongoing support to the non-offending family members.
Court preparation, accompaniment and support throughout the court process.
249 Individual Children Interviewed Regarding Allegations Of Abuse in 2025
2500+ Child Victims of Crime Supported Since 2012
Multi-Disciplinary Team
The Caribou Child and Youth Centre’s ability to safeguard the interests and well-being of abused children, while at the same time fight for the truth and justice comes from its multi-disciplinary team.
By combining the skills and resources of several agencies in one, The Caribou Child and Youth Centre is equipped to focus on the well being of the children that come through our doors.
- We provide a safe and comfortable environment for the child as they go through this process.
- We help to simplify the process and decrease some of the stress associated with reports of child abuse.
- We advocate for the child within the criminal justice system and help find supports within our community.
Thank You to Our Partners
Our Partners in Serving and Protecting Children combine the skills and resources of several agencies into one, The Caribou Child and Youth Centre is equipped to focus on the well being of the children that come through our doors.
