Halton Region, Ontario - Our Kids Network (OKN) announced today that Christine Hartley resigned from her post as executive director, effective February 25, 2022.
Christine has been a catalyst in cultivating relationships between OKN and its network of experts. Her wealth of knowledge and leadership brought communities together to enhance professionals’ capacity to serve children, youth, and families in Halton. Her strong belief in collective impact was reflected in the emphasis she placed on synergy and collaboration within OKN’s team members.
Read the full message.
Halton Region, Ontario – The inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a watershed moment in Canadian history, and as September 30 approaches Our Kids Network (OKN) encourages all Halton residents to use the occasion as an opportunity to honour the lives of Indigenous people and engage in deep reflection on the impact of the Residential School System on their families, culture, and language. Read the full news release
Young people often feel they are not heard by community organizations that develop programs and resources to meet their needs. Now, by participating in an important survey, they can help agencies across Halton Region make decisions about supports for teens and children. Read the full news release.
Young people in Halton want to feel safe and be able to voice their concerns without risk of harm – and they had the chance to do just that during a unique virtual Halton Youth Initiative event hosted by the Milton Public Library June 1.
Read the full release
Halton Region, Ontario – Our Kids Network, a Halton-wide partnership of organizations serving children, youth, and families, has announced that Christine Hartley will be its new Executive Director, effective February 1, 2021. Read the full message.
Every November 20th, Canadians celebrate National Child Day to recognize the rights of children and their important role in families and communities, here at home and around the world. In Halton, Our Kids Network uses the occasion to remind people to think about every child’s basic rights, such as the right to education and healthcare, the right to be protected from abuse and neglect, and the right to participate in matters affecting them.
Read the full news release.
Our Kids Network (OKN) joins the national campaign to commemorate the residential school experience and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Read the news release.
“We know it is Halton professionals and agencies’ contributions and dedication to the growth and evolution of Our Kids Network for more than 20 years that have brought us to this important point in time.”
The OKN Collective Impact Report for 2019-20 looks at highlights of the network’s activities between March 2019 and March 2020.
The report includes details on OKN’s renewed vision and mission, and a newly defined role; launch of the Data Portal 2.0, expanded Halton Youth Initiative, planning for Indigenous Reconciliation, and much more.
View the report reader view print view
In these unprecedented times, we hope you are keeping safe and well. While physical distancing has become the new normal, it is gratifying to see people finding creative ways to continue supporting children, youth and families. Our strong communities will get us through this.
We continue to focus on support for service providers and organizations that provide services to children, youth and families.
Professionals who work with children, youth and families in Halton can use both the OKN Neighbourhood Data Profiles (on the well-being of children 0 to 12 years-old) and the municipal “Tell Them From Me (TTFM) / OurSCHOOL Secondary School Survey” (on the well-being of Halton youth, 13 to 18 years-old) to plan and implement programs and services at the local level. View the neighbourhood profiles and municipal data.
Professionals who work with children, youth and families in Halton can use both the OKN Neighbourhood Data Profiles (on the well-being of children 0 to 12 years-old) and the municipal “Tell Them From Me (TTFM)/OurSCHOOL Secondary School Survey” (on the well-being of Halton youth, 13 to 18 years-old) to plan and implement programs and services at the local level. View the neighbourhood profiles and municipal data.
Halton Region, Ontario – Every November 20th, Canadians celebrate National Child Day to draw attention to children’s rights and recognize two historic events: the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1959, and the UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the convention.
The Our Kids Network Data Portal 2.0 has been launched with upgrades that can help professionals analyze and utilize data to deepen understanding and reveal even more compelling and meaningful information about the children, youth and families of Halton. The Data Portal 2.0 upgrade has more options and control, resulting in complete customization of your maps, charts and graphs in the way you visualize them. The streamlined and simplified look makes it easy to find the data you’re looking for and work with it. About the OKN Data Portal 2.0.
Key features
Download data for your own use.
Organized by the Halton 7 population results, OKN data prior to 2015 is now available for downloading. The Excel tables show the data by year, and OKN neighbourhood and municipality. Each file includes metadata describing the indicator, data source and year(s) available. View and download the Excel files.
Halton: OKN is recognized nationally as a leader in creating innovative, strong collaborations and one that has made huge strides in in improving life for children and families in Halton is Protocol Partners. In a groundbreaking move, eight Protocol Partners signed a formal Our Kids Network Partnership Agreement that provides a structure for working together, sharing resources, and putting research into practice. Learn more.
The Early Years Mental Health Toolkit describes the factors that contribute to the healthy social and emotional development of young children. Practitioners can benefit from evidence-based information and resources that promote, protect and enhance the mental health of infants/children and their caregivers. Read the news release. Read the Inside Halton story
Strong relationships play an important role in bullying prevention, positive mental health and well-being, youth engagement, social emotional learning, and many other risk and protective factors. Together with our partners, Our Kids Network (OKN) has developed a user-friendly collection of materials to educate and familiarize you and your organization with the Developmental Assets framework developed by the Search Institute. Learn more here
Halton Region – Our Kids Network (OKN) implemented a new project over the past three years that focused on building strength and resiliency in young children. The evidence-based “Early Years Initiative” was possible through a generous investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and included enhanced programming, parent education and information activities. Read the full news release.
Online resource introduces “8 Areas of Focus” to deepen knowledge and understanding of healthy social-emotional development in infants and young children
Halton Region, Ontario –The Halton-based Early Years Mental Health Toolkit is a new online resource for service providers who work with and support families with infants and young children. A comprehensive resource on social-emotional development in the first six years of a child's life, the toolkit was developed by the Our Kids Network (OKN) Early Years Mental Health (EYMH) Committee. Read the news release. Read the Inside Halton story
November 20 is the 25th annual National Child Day Halton Region, Ontario – Twenty-five years ago, the Canadian government proclaimed November 20 as National Child Day to commemorate two historic events: the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Read more
Survey asked youth about peer relationships, safety, bullying, and physical activity Two new reports outline the results of the 2015-2016 Tell Them From Me /OurSCHOOL surveys of elementary and secondary students across Halton Region. The results show that most Halton students value what they’re learning in school, have at least one close friend, and are physically active; at the same time, some students are lacking a sense of belonging at school and many are exceeding the recommendations for daily recreational screen time.
Full news release 2015-2016 Tell Them From Me / OurSCHOOL Elementary Report 2015-2016 Tell Them From Me / OurSCHOOL Secondary Report
Halton iparent and Information Hub provide online support and valuable information to build parenting skills. With Family Day (Monday, February 20) approaching, Our Kids Network wants to remind parents, other caregivers, and everyone that strong families are an essential part of a healthy community. Read the news release.
Premier joins discussion with Our Kids Network on community hubs Our Kids Network was delighted to host The Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, The Hon. Indira Nadoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, and Karen Pitre, Special Advisor to the Premier on Community Hubs, at the OKN Acton Hub at McKenzie Smith Bennett Public School on November 8. Read the full story.
Cree teachings say that identical twins are born with two bodies, but share one heart. Meet Tapwewin and Pawaken, 10-year-old brothers trying to make sense of the world, their family and each other. http://bit.ly/2qKMOFy #NationalAboriginalMonth Go to cbc.ca for more documentaries on the lives and contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history and future.
How does volleyball help heal? 18-year-old Alicia Mollen explores her history of being bullied, then recovering and building a healthy life. http://bit.ly/2qJLgY4 #NationalAboriginalMonth Go to cbc.ca for more documentaries on the lives and contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history and future.
Yagorihwanirats, a young Mohawk child, attends a unique and special school: a Mohawk immersion program, inspired by her great-grandmother - who, as a child, was forced to not speak her language. http://bit.ly/2rOnePZ #NationalAboriginalMonth Go to cbc.ca for more documentaries on the lives and contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history and future.
Filmmaker J.J. Neepin recreates her great-grandfather's portrait and explores the responsibility of wearing a headdress. "To me, the headdress is a symbol of leadership." http://bit.ly/2rOetpb #NationalAboriginalMonth Go to cbc.ca for more documentaries on the lives and contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history and future.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 14. OKN guest blogger, Kathie Callan, a mom, grandmother, foster mom, aunt, and caring friend to youth reflects on being a mother to many different children. Read the blog.
“The Forum’s focus was on ‘creating environments where meaningful relationships for children and youth will thrive.’ As we came together, some as staff teams, some as single representatives from our organizations, we knew that this day would be different." Read the blog.
7 Strategies to Use the Power of Relationships, Research and Knowledge to Help Kids Thrive
Practical ideas and strategies to use relationships, research and knowledge to work towards the Halton 7 (seven conditions of well-being to ensure that all children thrive). Booklet