Transforming Practices Conference 2026

NEW ABSTRACT:
For this presentation, we discuss the research on adolescent sexual exploitation to understand the factors that associate with sexual exploitation for both adolescent boys and girls. We assess further if the sexual exploitation of boys is linked with similar risky behaviours as noted among girls. With specific focus on marginalized adolescent boys, we explore the factors that help build their resilience in the face of sexual exploitation victimization.

Please note this session has recently been updated with a new topic and abstract.

This session will provide an overview of the informational lessons that the CACAC is offering to youth groups and schools to counter child exploitation and trafficking. Knowledge is power, and our intention is to provide all youth in Central Alberta information regarding the methods used for online and in person grooming and to recognize the risks. We cover basic ways to keep themselves safe online, and provide students with information to recognize the signs of possible exploitation and trafficking. We encourage them to report to trusted adults if they have any concerns for their own or a peers wellbeing.

The Counter Exploitation and Trafficking information sessions can be adjusted for length to fit the available class times of each school or youth group. We also provide information sessions for staff, parents, and community groups. These sessions will provide basic statistics on the prevalence of trafficking within Central Alberta and information to recognize grooming risks and signs of trafficking in our youth.

The session provides participants play techniques for children that can help lower symptoms related to trauma. Techniques will be shown on the use of sand tray, visual impact techniques and art to help children and teens with trauma process their experience.  The session will further demonstrate how techniques can be modified to help work with children and youth with concerning sexualized behavior. 

In this session, we will discuss learnings to date from a scoping review to examine both the conceptualization and response to problematic sexual behaviour in children under 12 from sector perspectives spanning law enforcement, child protection, mental health, and education. Participants will learn about areas of alignment between these partnering sectors, and areas where we need to develop clarity for a strong, collaborative response to promote child and youth well-being.

The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

The CS 101 Presentation will provide you with an overview of the Child Intervention System, including Child Intervention Legislation and responsibilities. There will also be a focus on threshold for involvement, decision making in Child Intervention and the different services to children in care. Lastly, there will be information shared about the duty to report.

During this two-part LE-only session, attendees will learn about exclusive and non-exclusive paedophiles, situational offenders, the role of child sexual abuse material in the paedophilic subculture and cross-associated sexual deviances.

You do not need to attend part 1 in order to attend part 2.
This session contains sensitive content; law enforcement strongly preferred. 

Non‑fatal strangulation is no longer an issue seen only in adult intimate‑partner violence — it is now an emerging and deeply concerning trend among children and youth, appearing in peer‑on‑peer violence, sexual assault cases, high‑risk behaviours, and family‑based abuse. Even when no external injuries are visible, the physiological and neurological consequences can be severe, life‑altering, and sometimes fatal. Because these cases often present subtly, healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement all play a critical role in early recognition, documentation, safety planning, and coordinated intervention. Increasing awareness and education across sectors is essential to protect vulnerable young people and prevent escalation to serious harm or homicide.

This session equips healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, assess, document, and respond to strangulation in young people. Participants will learn clinical red flags, trauma‑informed assessment strategies, safety‑planning considerations, and best‑practice documentation to support both medical care and legal processes. The goal is to strengthen cross‑sector awareness and ensure that no child experiencing strangulation goes unseen, unsupported, or unsafe.

Child sexual abuse is a profound violation of boundaries, safety, and trust that disrupts development, relationships, and identity. Its impact is not confined to a single event—it unfolds over time, shaping how individuals experience themselves, others, and the world.This session focuses on the specific ways child sexual abuse can shape a girl’s developing sense of gender, power, and relational worth—and how these early experiences carry forward into adolescence and adulthood with clinical, cultural, and political implications.

This youth-led session will explore a framework for youth engagement that was co-developed with youth from across Canada. The framework is intended to support CYACs and researchers to meaningfully engage young people with experiences of child maltreatment to safely share their lived experience, be part of research and advocacy, and build skills to use their voices to shape practice and policy.

On December 05, 2005, members from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Child Abuse Unit and Homicide Unit initiated an investigation into the suspicious death of two-year-old Blake Douglas HARVEY who died in Calgary .  The original investigative team conducted a thorough criminal investigation into the death of HARVEY but the case eventually went “cold” due to a lack of evidence against the caregiver(s).  In September 2013, the file was reviewed, re-opened, and assigned to Detective M. CAVILLA in January 2014.  

Following is a summary of the 2005 investigation as well the subsequent "cold case" investigation that followed years later (2014/2015). Collaboration between partner law enforcement agencies and medical experts will be highlighted in this case study.

The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

This presentation explores the journey of puppies as they develop into confident, capable Facility Dogs. Attendees will learn how thoughtful early training, intentional socialization, and developmental milestones shape a puppy’s future success in working roles. We will discuss how to identify strengths, emerging skills, and potential challenges early on, allowing programs to make informed, welfare-focused decisions about career paths. Practical examples and real-world insights will highlight how early identification and support set the foundation for resilient, reliable Facility Dogs who thrive in their professional roles.

The Child Abuse and Exploitation Prevention and Response Certificate Program will equip professionals with the specialized knowledge, practical skills, and evidence-informed approaches needed to effectively recognize, prevent, and respond to child abuse, exploitation and trafficking. This comprehensive program supports those working with children and youth across sectors.
This session will provide an overview of the program’s four-course structure:

• Building Safe Spaces: Trauma Awareness
• Navigating & Preventing Child Abuse Together
• Protecting Youth in a Digital World
• Not for Sale: Protecting Canada’s Youth from Trafficking

Participants will gain insight into key learning outcomes and explore how the program strengthens individual practice while enhancing coordinated, system-wide responses. Emphasis will be placed on building capacity, increasing confidence in reporting and intervention, and fostering safer environments for children and youth.

Student Engagement in Child and Youth Well-being: Community Service Learning, Applied Study, and Summer Research Initiatives. This will be a showcase of student work, with students presenting on the impact of their community-engaged projects.

This presentation explores the impact of trauma on vulnerable populations, with a focus on enhancing trauma-informed responses across helping professions. The purpose is to equip frontline workers with a deeper understanding of how trauma manifests differently depending on the type (acute, chronic, or complex) and the individual’s context, including identity, age, culture, and systemic exposure. Key concepts such as the fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and friend responses are explained to help decode behavioural reactions often misinterpreted in service settings. Vulnerable populations—including children, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, newcomers, and those affected by poverty, abuse, or systemic violence—experience higher rates of trauma and face barriers to healing within traditional systems. The session presents practical strategies for frontline workers that emphasize emotional safety, empowerment, cultural humility, and relational care. Findings underscore that trauma is not solely about the event, but about how it impacts the nervous system, relationships, and sense of self over time. Workers who understand the nuances of trauma are more likely to build trust, reduce re-traumatization, and support long-term healing. In conclusion, adopting a trauma-informed approach is not an optional skill but an essential framework for all professionals working in community, health, justice, and education sectors. It transforms service delivery from one-size-fits-all to person-centred, ultimately promoting dignity, resilience, and more effective outcomes for those most at risk.

Most survivors of child sexual abuse do not receive support in childhood. Many begin therapy in adulthood—often decades later—carrying patterns shaped in the absence of safety, recognition, and repair.
This means healing is gradual and relational—requiring repeated experiences of safety and trust that reshape how the brain and body respond over time.