By Daryl Major

Child poverty rates rise in Nanaimo, south-end kids most vulnerable, report says

Dec 6, 2016 | 4:43 PM

NANAIMO – A study out of the University of British Columbia shows child poverty rates in the mid-island are higher than the provincial average.

The B.C. rate is 32.2 per cent overall, while it sits at 34 per cent in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District. That’s up from 29 per cent since the first study released in 2007.

Of the five indicators used, social and emotion health is the number one concern and Julie Rushton of the United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island says they’re looking at ways to align projects they already fund with the existing groups addressing the needs of vulnerable kids.

“The more people we have in the forest looking for the answers the better we are to cover ground,” said Rushton. “And look at what are the indicators that we need to address to create some change in the health of our children.”

Dialogue is important in affecting change and Rushton says they’re actively seeking information on how to address areas of concern.

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“Gathering information from the people that we need to,” said Rushton. “A lot of times we can gather information from the parents. But we wonder are they the right parents and are we going to where these parents are and do we have relationships with these parents to do the work.”

According to the UBC study, the most vulnerable kids in Nanaimo live in the south part of town and the Townsite-downtown area.

The study also found the child poverty rate in the Qualicum School District is 37 per cent.