City of Surrey's Children and Youth At-Risk Table reaches major milestone accepting 1,000 clients
A thousand children and youth in Surrey have been given the supports they need through Surrey's Children and Youth At-Risk Table (CHART).
Surrey, B.C. – A thousand children and youth in Surrey have been given the supports they need through Surrey's Children and Youth At-Risk Table (CHART). Since launching in 2019, CHART has brought together a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team of community partner agencies to identify and coordinate support for children and youth facing various risks, including exploitation and other vulnerabilities.
“I want to commend all members of the Children and Youth At-Risk Table for their unwavering commitment to supporting children, youth and families in Surrey,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration, and it’s because of the strong partnerships we’ve developed that we’ve been able to make a real difference in the lives of Surrey’s children, youth and families. We are committed to continuing this vital work, so our most vulnerable young people have the tools and supports they need to thrive.”
CHART involves 21 partner organizations representing health care, education, law enforcement, government and not-for-profit. Under the City’s coordination, professionals from each member organization gather weekly to develop and implement tailored, multi-agency support plans for six- to 19-year-old Surrey residents and their families. Each plan takes into consideration an individual’s strengths, interests and vulnerabilities, ensuring services are responsive to age, gender, culture, neighbourhood context and family needs.
CHART plays a critical role in addressing complex and interconnected challenges faced by at-risk youth. Since the table’s inception:
- Approximately one in five female youth have been victims of sexual exploitation and were connected to professionals that specialize in supporting clinical counselling, empowerment and education.
- Over 60 per cent of male youth associated with negative peer groups and were paired with positive mentors and outreach services to build healthier social networks.
- Nearly half of youth experienced weak attachment to a parent or caregiver and were linked with counselling family preservation services aimed at restoring connection and trust.
- About one third of youth identified as Indigenous and were offered specific supports to strengthen cultural identity and connection.
“CHART has paved the way for other communities to develop their own child and youth specific tables,” said Councillor Rob Stutt. “The outcomes speak for themselves with roughly three quarters of those supported experiencing significant risk reduction and being successfully connected to relevant services. While it's a difficult truth that so many children in our community are in need, the collaborative work of CHART is setting a powerful example for other communities on how to effectively support vulnerable young people."
For more information, including a list of CHART partners, visit surrey.ca/communitysafety.