Oceanside State of the 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.

Our Recommendations

To improve the well-being of children and youth in Oceanside, a coordinated, community-informed approach is essential. The following recommendations address key challenges identified by community partners and the Child Youth Wellness Action Group, emphasizing the need for equitable, accessible, and culturally responsive supports. By focusing on prevention, early intervention, and stronger systems of care, we can create the conditions for all children, youth and families to thrive—particularly those facing systemic barriers or complex needs.

1. Commit to reconciliation through learning and meaningful, community-defined engagement with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

2. Explore ways to reduce waitlists for community-based services supporting children, youth, and families.

3. Increase parent education and support, particularly for parents of children birth to 12 years old.

4. Include a navigator role to help families access appropriate services.

5. Prioritize early intervention and prevention, including parental support, skill-building, and fostering healthy family habits.

6. Increase awareness of children and youth needs and develop supportive initiatives like the Foundry.

7. Address rural access barriers for families and youth, such as improving transportation and providing closer to home services, to ensure equitable service delivery.

8. Ensure local access to services within Oceanside, minimizing the need for travel outside the community.

9. Expand supports for children and youth with complex mental health and behavioural needs, and their families.

10. Enhance preventive and community-based mental health services to reduce youth hospitalizations and increased harms.

11. Improve access to timely assessments for complex developmental conditions and ensure pre- and post-assessment support is available, regardless of assessment outcome.

12. Increase targeted funding for preventive and support programs aligned with community-identified priorities.

13. Raise incomes through living wages and increased income supports.

14. Expand access to affordable housing, child care, and public transportation.

15. Prioritize targeted supports for Indigenous, racialized, and lone-parent families.