Kindex
Kindex generates evidence and mobilizes knowledge about child abuse and neglect to inform policy and practice for Canadian CYACs.
Bridging research and practice
CYACs play a unique role in responding to child abuse and neglect. They offer an integrated, multi-system approach to investigations and interventions for children, youth and their families who have experienced abuse.
As CYACs continue to expand across Canada, differences in implementation and operation create valuable opportunities to learn from each other and generate Canadian specific research on effective CYAC processes and practices. Initially, Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre and the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary began to explore the idea of a community-academic partnership to address the gap in CYAC-specific research. The goal of the community-academic partnerships was to generate and integrate new evidence and knowledge about child abuse and neglect into everyday practice. Yet, what began as a community-academic partnership, quickly gained momentum. CYACs across Canada, together with academic partners from various universities recognized the value and called for the partnership to be scaled nationally. This collective engagement laid the foundation to Kindex, shaping it’s form and function.
Meet the people behind Kindex
STORY
Meet Kindex
Kindex is a forum to generate evidence, share knowledge and advance practices, ultimately strengthening outcomes for children, youth, and their families impacted by child abuse and neglect in Canada. Our name is a blend of two key elements: our foundation and approach.
Kin
Represents our foundation. Rooted in the meaning of kinship and relationships, Kindex, brings together people, teams, and systems united by a shared commitment to better serve children, youth, and their families impacted by child abuse and neglect.
dex
Represents our approach. Together, we build data capacity, generate evidence, and support knowledge exchange to inform policy and strengthen practices for CYACs and their multidisciplinary team partners.
The logo is a stylized “K” that is created from the interwoven shapes that wrap around and support each other. This mirrors the wrap-around support CYACs provide to children, youth, and their families impacted by child abuse and neglect. The icon forms our belief in connection, collaboration, shared responsibility.
Rather than conducting one-off research projects between academics and practitioners, Kindex fosters ongoing collaboration and co-design between academic partners and CYACs to generate evidence and mobilize knowledge within the CYAC setting including, timely and useful practice supports. Collectively these activities will equip CYAC leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to make evidence-informed decisions to support Canadian children, youth, and their families who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Strategic approach for driving change
Generate evidence
We produce rigorous, context-specific research that addresses the unique challenges faced by CYACs across Canada. This evidence guides the development of effective interventions, policies, and programs for CYACs.
Explore current researchBuild data capacity
We are committed to establishing robust data collection and evaluation processes to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of CYACs. These practices will enable us to conduct rigorous research, demonstrate impact, advocate for systems change and strengthen evidence-informed practices.
Learn about building data capacityAdvance Practice
Our goal is to build on leading practices as well as develop and disseminate practices supports that are accessible, practical, and directly applicable to the work of CYACs.
Access our library of resources
Partnership with Child and Youth Advocacy Centre of Canada (CYACC)
CYACC is the national association of CYACs in Canada. As relentless champions for CYACs, they focus on raising awareness, increasing capacity and advancing sustainability nationally. Together with Kindex, CYACC is working to achieve a future where all children and youth impacted by abuse in Canada have access to the services and supports provided by a CYAC model that are of the highest quality and aligned with evidence-informed best practice.
Learn more about CYACCGuiding principles
How we work together
Relevant and action-oriented
We generate knowledge that is timely, practical, and responsive to the needs of CYACs. We translate evidence into accessible products, tools, and recommendations that inform decision-making, strengthen practice, and improve outcomes for children, youth, and their families.
Participatory and context specific
We co-create knowledge with researchers, elders and knowledge keepers, youth, CYACs, and their multidisciplinary team partners throughout the design, implementation, interpretation, and application of our work. We ground our findings in the realities of local contexts and support partners in identifying actionable opportunities for improvement.
Collaborative
We build strong relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and open communication. We work alongside partners to leverage diverse expertise, coordinate efforts, and achieve shared goals that no single organization could accomplish alone.
Equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization
We recognize and value diverse identities, experiences, perspectives, and ways of knowing. We work to remove barriers, challenge inequities, and create conditions where all individuals and communities can participate meaningfully, influence decisions, and see themselves reflected in our work.
Generosity
We contribute openly to the strength and sustainability of CYACs by sharing knowledge, resources, insights, and lessons learned. We show up as dependable partners, offer our best work in service of collective goals, and foster a culture of mutual support that advances learning, innovation, and impact across the network.
Advisors
Our advisors are experts in the multi-faceted nature of child abuse and neglect. Each advisor brings a unique lens and expertise to ensure the research we conduct is rigorous, relevant, responsive, and applicable. Their expertise helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that the research conducted is of high quality and addresses actual challenges and needs of CYACs. By providing context-specific knowledge, advisors can help shape research questions, methodologies, and interpretations in ways that are meaningful and impactful.
Scientific
University of Toronto
University of Colorado
McGill University
University of Montreal
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
McMaster University
University of Calgary
Mount Royal University
University of Calgary
Thompson Rivers University
Dalhousie University
Policy and Practice
le SIAM
CYAC Kelowna
Toba Centre for Children and Youth
Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre
The Treehouse Vancouver CYAC
Luna CYAC
SeaStar CYAC
Department of Justice
Boost CYAC
Big Bear CYAC
Umingmak Child Advocacy Centre
Youth Rights
Myah Anderson
Kelowna CYAC
Aston Medhurst
Luna CYAC
Charley McNeil
Toba Centre for Children and Youth
Meriem Mahrady
Boost CYAC
Noah Harris
Luna CYAC
Kindex
Team
Naomi Parker
Co-Director, Kindex
Director of Research, Luna CYAC
Gina Dimitropoulous
Co-Director, Kindex
Professor, University of Calgary
Olivia Cullen
Senior Research Associate, Kindex
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
University of Calgary
Janine Elenko
Senior Research Associate, Kindex
Senior Research Associate, Luna CYAC
Noah Harris
Youth Engagement Specialist, Kindex
Youth Researcher, Luna CYAC
Tyler Kruger
Senior Research Associate, Kindex
Senior Research Associate, Toba Centre for Children and Youth
Jennifer McAlpine
Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, Kindex
Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, Luna CYAC
Kindex is proudly led by
Kindex is supported by
Land Acknowledgement
Kindex acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples of the lands across our country that we are on today. We recognize the unique role of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit as the original stewards of this land and embrace the principles of reconciliation. For Kindex, reconciliation is a collective and ongoing journey of listening to and learning from the wisdom of Indigenous communities and leaders. We commit to research and knowledge practices that both acknowledge the past and contribute to a future where justice, healing, and unity are at the forefront.