Child & Youth Wellness Action Group
Our Purpose
The Child and Youth Wellness Action Group is an Oceanside action table of the NOW Network that addresses the wellness of children and youth.
Our Vision
A healthy informed and resilient Oceanside community
Our Mission
To collaboratively support well-being by cultivating learning about healthy children and youth development. Advocating for system change for those affected by poverty, mental health conditions, trauma, and substance use, focusing on upstream prevention strategies.
Core Values
Agency, compassion, empathy, and inclusion
Functions
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To promote and nurture healthy development, that ensures health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety, security and early and ongoing learning.
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To facilitate community conversations about healthy development and the impact of trauma across all sectors, using common language, promoting curiosity rather than judgement and seeking a diverse intergenerational perspective.
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To share knowledge and raise awareness of new scientific evidence on child and youth brain development and impacts of trauma.
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To gather community data and stories to inform our work State of the Children and Youth Report.
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To collaboratively advocate for focused/joint initiatives that drive positive impact for children and youth and their families in the Oceanside area.
Our Partners
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Ministry for Children and Families (MCFD) – Child and Youth Mental Health Services
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Oceanside Building Learning Together (OBLT)
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Population and Public Health, Healthy Communities, Island Health
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Qualicum First Nation Family Program
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Qualicum School District
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RCMP
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Society of Organized Services (SOS)
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SOURCES
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United Way British Columbia (UWBC)
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Nautsa’mawt Oceanside Wellness (NOW) Network
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BGC Central Vancouver Island
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Regional District of Nanaimo Recreation
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Early Learning Childcare Council for Oceanside (ELCCO)
To join or learn more about the Child Youth Wellness Action Group contact the CYWAG Chair
Our Projects
Connecting the disconnected: Building capacity and partnerships in communities.
Community Research and Engagement Lab (CoRE-LAB)
CoRE-LAB is part of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at UBC, and is led by Dr. Brenda Poon, an Assistant Professor and Partner at HELP. CoRE-LAB does research that creates community-based and community-specific knowledge about the systems that support children’s well-being and development. We engage directly with communities and build partnerships to promote healthy child development and healthier communities and help communities take action to improve the systems that support their local children.
In 2025 the Child Youth Wellness Action Group in Oceanside was chosen as a community partner in this project.
What we hope to achieve:
Our research process is community-based and community-driven. At the end of this project, we hope that the information we gather will benefit communities directly and can be used to turn knowledge into action.
Learn more about the project here:
Oceanside State of Children and Youth Report 2025
The 2025 Oceanside State of Children and Youth Report has been officially released, offering a comprehensive and deeply human look into the lives of children, youth, and families across the region. This report is the result of a collaborative effort led by the Oceanside Child and Youth Wellness Action Table, a working group of the Naut’sa mawt Oceanside Wellness Network, with support from local organizations and community members.
Titled “Stories Beyond Statistics: Understanding Children and Youth in Oceanside,” the report goes beyond numbers to highlight the lived experiences, challenges, and strengths of young people in the community. It aims to inform policy, guide program development, and inspire collective action toward healthier, more resilient futures.
Visit the Every Door is the Right Door page for a complete list of service providers with addresses and website information.
Service providers may pick up cards free of charge at Family Place, 494 Bay Avenue, Parksville.
First 2000 Days & Beyond is an Oceanside community collaborative focused on improving child wellness by supporting healthy development from conception to age five. Launched in 2019, the initiative brings together health, education, social service, and community partners to address the social determinants of health through a collective impact approach. The project recognizes that a child's earliest years have a profound influence on lifelong health, learning, and well-being, and works to create coordinated, community-wide solutions that help children and families thrive.
Action Areas
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Support Nutrition: Promote food security, prenatal and maternal nutrition, breastfeeding support, and access to reliable nutrition information.
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Promote Early Learning: Increase opportunities for play, strengthen parent-child interactions, encourage healthy attachment, and support family engagement in early development.
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Ensure Protection: Reduce the impacts of toxic stress, strengthen family resilience, support caregivers, and promote positive childhood experiences that build lifelong well-being.
Together, these actions help create a nurturing environment where all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Learn more and access resources at First 2000 Days and Beyond page