SHENLA Calls for Collective Action to Address Child & Family Poverty in Lethbridge & Area with Sharon Yanicki

A recent report by SHENLA highlights that child and family poverty is an important issue in Lethbridge and area. This report was funded by the City of Lethbridge and the Government of Canada and prepared by HelpSeeker in collaboration with SHENLA. While rates of poverty have declined somewhat over the last twenty years, children 0-5 years of age continue to experience higher rates of low income across age groups. This presentation will explore which groups of children are differentially affected by poverty in our community, the impacts of poverty, and why action is needed. Child poverty is associated with a cascade of negative impacts over the life course, and a variety of negative impacts at a community level. 

Recommendations for urgent action are identified. What is the City of Lethbridge’s strategy to address poverty? The speaker will argue that a collective impact approach with broad community participation and municipal support is required to address and end child and family poverty in our community.

Speaker:    Sharon Yanicki PhD (2022)

Moderator:  Bev Muendel-Atherstone

Sharon Yanicki is the spokesperson for the Social Health Equity Network of Lethbridge and Area (SHENLA). SHENLA is an umbrella organization promoting health equity. Sharon is on the leadership team of SHENLA and is committed to collective impact to address child poverty and to promote health equity and social inclusion. Sharon is a retired academic and an adjunct assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, with a PhD in nursing. Sharon’s research has focused on: health equity, social inclusion/exclusion, social justice, child poverty, and adverse childhood experiences. Sharon is a retired nurse with many years of experience in public health.