By: Elisabeth Wells, OKN Executive Director
About 8 years ago, a group of like-minded professionals gathered to embark on a website redesign journey aimed at creating a hub of knowledge, collaboration, and support for those dedicated to the well-being of children, youth, and families. As a long-standing member of Our Kids Network (OKN), I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with the OKN team to move my vision forward.
OKN is deeply committed to promoting and advancing child and youth well-being in Halton. Over the past 26 years, Our Kids Network has established a solid foundation of working collaboratively with our community partners to advance the Halton 7 and our vision of “All Children and Youth Thrive”. We have worked tirelessly to build strong partnerships with service providers, researchers, educators, and community members to support our vision. And now, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, which includes an innovative resource hub designed to share and exchange knowledge and data.
OKN Resource Hub, a Catalyst for Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
The idea for the knowledge hub has been a long time in the making. We recognized the need for a centralized platform where professionals could access the latest research and resources related to child and youth development. We wanted to create a space where service providers, researchers, and community partners could come together to collaborate, share knowledge and best practices, and work towards the common goal of improving the lives of children and families in our community.
Over the years, we have gathered and created a wealth of knowledge and resources related to child and youth wellbeing and development. We have conducted research, collected data, and developed best practice guides, toolkits and resources like the OKN Data Portal to support professionals working with children, youth and families in Halton. We have also built strong relationships with community partners who share our vision for a brighter future for children and youth.
Unlocking a Wealth of Knowledge for Child and Youth Development
With the launch of our new website, we are proud to share our knowledge and resources with the wider community. Our resource hub features a searchable database that allows users to access our Halton-specific data, research reports, and other resources on a wide range of topics, such as early childhood development, findings about kids’ wellbeing in Halton, and Indigenous Reconciliation. We have also included tools and guides to help professionals working with children and families deliver effective services and programs.
As we launch our new website and resource hub, we are filled with excitement and hope for the future. We are grateful for the partnerships we have built and the support we have received from our community partners. We look forward to continuing our journey towards improving the lives of children and families in Halton and beyond.
