Edmonton's Zebra Centre sees big jump in child abuse cases

Edmonton's Zebra Child Protection Centre, which supports victims of abuseas their caseswork throughthe legal system, sawa 22-per-cent increase in its caseload from 2017 to 2018.

More than 2,000 children accessed the centre'sservices in 2018.

Cheryl Diebel, the agency's CEO, attributes the increase to people being better informed about child abuse and being able torecognizeit andthenreportit.

"We think that's really what's motivating the increase in reporting and cases coming through our door," Diebelsaid.

"It's not necessarily an increase in actual abuse happening within the community."

Children who come to the centre are paired with an advocate who guides them through the police and court processes related to their case.

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The Zebra Centrefacilitates police interviews in a child-friendly setting and also offers trauma counselling to victims.

The higher caseload is straining the non-profit's resourcesand the centre is relying more heavily on its approximately 100 volunteers, Diebel said.

"They're really so much of the backbone of what we doand the advocacy that we do for kids."

About 70 per cent of the Zebra Centre's budget is provided by the province, with the remainder raised through fundraising.

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"When I see the numbers growing year over year, it's hard to see and it's hard to digest," saidEmma Wynters,co-founder of Ladies on the Green, a yearly event that raisesmoney for the organization.

"But at the same time it makes me proud that we're able to send so many more children through this centre and that those services are being utilized."

Wynters ishoping to raise $125,000 through the golf charity eventat Edmonton's Victoria Golf Course on Thursday.

The centre is expanding to offer more trauma treatment services and will eventually have to grow again to accommodate the increased demand, Diebel said.

"It's something that we can't avoid."

Volunteers and staff will often support childrenand their familiesfor years. During that time, they'll see a positive change in their lives, Diebel said.

"You see them relax and you see them let go of that anxiety and fear. That's when you know that we're having the impact that we want to have."

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