The region’s first child and youth advocacy centre is expected to open by early 2020.
The facility will be a safe space for children who’ve experienced different forms of trauma.
It’s being called the Care Centre and will run by Waypoints.
Waypoints Community and Corporate Relations Manager Jason Beck tells Mix News this is a service that’s been long overdue in Wood Buffalo.
“It’s best practice across Canada to have a place across Canada to have a place for children and young people who’ve experienced sexual abuse, or maybe have been in a home that’s experienced domestic violence, that needs supports.”
Right now, children would need to travel to other major cities across the province to access a centre like this. Places like Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, and Grand Prairie already offer a facility.
Beck says this centre will go a long way in helping a child recover.
“They come to that one centre that’s been designed to be comfortable for them and then all of these supports services whether it’s RCMP, child services, counselors, who ever else, they all come to that one centre.”
Construction is expected to start in the coming weeks on the facility which is located at Waypoints old Unity House.
