Little Warriors Awarded Multi-Year Grant to Advance National Policy & Advocacy Framework for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Support
Little Warriors is honoured to share that we have been awarded a multi-year grant from the McConnell Foundation to support the development of a National Policy and Advocacy Framework for Child Sexual Abuse Deterrence and Support.
This milestone reflects both the impact of our work and the leadership role Little Warriors plays in shaping national dialogue, advancing prevention, and transforming systems to protect children and support survivors across Canada.
This investment will help drive the change our country urgently needs, bringing together leaders and voices from coast to coast to create a future where fewer children experience harm, and every survivor has the support they deserve.
About the Project
Over the next three years, this grant will enable Little Warriors to convene and collaborate with child advocacy centres, survivors, Indigenous leaders, researchers, policymakers, and frontline youth-serving organizations across Canada to:
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Build a National Policy & Advocacy Framework that sets the foundation for long-term, systemic change
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Address critical gaps in prevention, online safety, trafficking, judicial processes, and survivor supports
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Empower grassroots advocates and community leaders who are driving change on the ground
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Lift and embed Indigenous and marginalized voices, ensuring culturally informed and equitable solutions
This work builds on our longstanding collaboration with the University of Alberta, child and family services, and a wide network of community and sector partners nationwide. Together, we will strengthen the systems that protect children and support healing and justice.
Why This Matters
Child sexual abuse remains one of the most under-addressed public health and human rights issues in Canada.
For too long, responses to child sexual abuse have been fragmented, under-resourced, and reactive, leaving children vulnerable and survivors unsupported.
This initiative is a critical step toward:
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A coordinated national strategy
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Evidence-based policy and prevention
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Trauma-informed systems and supports
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Survivor-centered approaches and accountability
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Meaningful action at all levels of government and community
We know healing matters. But prevention matters too.
The McConnell Foundation’s support accelerates our ability to connect research to action, elevate survivor voices, and champion systems-level change that protects children for generations to come.
What Happens Next
In the coming months, Little Warriors will:
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Establish a National Steering Committee with partners and sector leaders
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Begin structured consultation and engagement with survivors, experts, and communities
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Invite internal and external stakeholders to share insights, expertise, and lived experience
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Provide regular updates as this transformative project advances
Together, we will shape a future where prevention is prioritized, justice systems are strengthened, survivors are supported, and every child has the chance to grow up safe and free.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To the McConnell Foundation, thank you for believing in this work, in our mission, and in the importance of building a safer, more compassionate future for children across Canada.
And to our partners, advocates, survivors, and community supporters, thank you for standing with us. This milestone is yours, too.
At Little Warriors, we believe a safer future is possible.
Together, we are building it.