West Edmonton Children's Services Capacity Study

"It Takes a Whole Community to Raise a Child"

West Edmonton Children's Services Capacity Study - Summary July 1995 - March 1996

[Actual summary letter sent to all participants] click here to see picture created by one of the volunteers (give it some time, it's a big picture)

Thank you for being a part of the West Edmonton Children's Services Capacity Study.

Thanks to you and many other citizens, businesses and associations, the West End Working Group on Children's Services has discovered that the people who live and work in West Edmonton have an incredible abundance of assets and resources to share in support of the growth, development and safety of children.

Who Is The Westend Working Group On Children's Services?
In November of 1994 the Minister for Family and Social Services announced a 3 year plan to redesign the delivery of Children's Services. This plan emphasized community contribution. Over 150 Working Groups were formed throughout Alberta to develop a new plan for Children's Services. The West End Working Group on Children's Services is one of fourteen working groups in the Edmonton region.

Why Was The Capacity Study Conducted?
The West End Working Group on Children's Services believes that "it takes a whole community to raise a child", and wanted to find a way to:

• encourage more citizens and youth to be a part of the planning, and
• discover the existing and potential supports for children in West Edmonton.

The Community Capacity Study was the path the group chose because it includes as many citizens, businesses and associations as possible, and nurtures the development of meaningful partnerships and connections. As well it encourages community and citizen animation, action and planning toward a collective goal or vision.

Recognizing the limited time and resources within the West End Working Group, the Capacity Study Committee decided to conduct comprehensive Capacity Studies in four of the fifty West End communities. The four neighbourhoods selected by the Capacity Study Committee were Ormsby Place, Crestwood, Elmwood, and Britannia/Youngstown. In addition to the four neighbourhoods, the Capacity Study Committee felt it would be beneficial to the working group to conduct a Capacity Study with child-related businesses and associations in the West End.

What Did The Capacity Study Discover?
Members of the West End Working Group and volunteers from the community spent time talking to citizens, businesses and associations to discover the skills and abilities that people had and would be willing to share to support children. As well, youth from H.E.Beriault Junior High School interviewed their peers and assisted the working group when they met with the elementary students at Ormsby Elementary School. In all, 36 businesses and 48 associations shared about their capacities to support the growth, development and safety of children. The Businesses and Associations had many resources to share in support of children, including:

• education and health opportunities
• sports, recreation and environmental programs
• child care
• support for youth and families
• spiritual guidance
• employment opportunities
• financial assistance
• promoting safety and cultural awareness
• developing new partnerships

It is exciting to realize what incredible potential the businesses and associations have to support the community! What is even more exciting is that 52% of the businesses and associations said they were interested in being involved with the West End Working Group! Citizens of West Edmonton also have tremendous assets to contribute to the community!

A total of 424 citizens were interviewed: 96 adults,. 49 Junior High students and 277 Elementary students. The adults and Junior High students said they had experience or talent in:

• caring for children of all ages
• cooking and bulk grocery shopping
• writing, reading and story telling
• volunteering
• recreation and sports
• first aid/CPR
• music
• home maintenance
• computer operation
• art
• 16 different languages!
• business ownership
• making kids laugh
• caring for elders
• animal care
• women's sharing circles

What is phenomenal is the number of people who said they were willing to share their talents - 95% of the adults and 73% of the Junior High students! The elementary students made a unique contribution by drawing pictures and writing short stories about how they could make their community a good place in which to live. Their drawings were insightful, as they showed some of the capacities and gifts of children. Some of the themes that the children drew included, recycling, picking up garbage, helping their parent(s) around the house, encouraging parents to walk or bike - not drive, calling a block parent when in danger and helping in the garden.

It is remarkable to realize the potential we all have to support children! Often we do not recognize or give credit to the talents and skills we develop at home, school, the workplace, community or church. Youth and children are also an incredible resource!

What's Next?
The most exciting result of the West Edmonton Children's Services Capacity Study is the fact that a foundation has now been created from which to build a plan for Children's Services in the West Edmonton. The plan that the West End Working Group is devising will affect us all. The West End Working Group believes it is important to build on the discoveries made during the Capacity Study and ensure that we all have the opportunity to become involved. The West End Working Group will make a concentrated effort to contact those citizens, businesses and associations who said they were interested in this initiative. Together we can make a difference for our children!

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