Our Kids Network

What Our Kids Network does

Our Kids Network (OKN) is a non-profit collective impact organization founded in 1996 and based in Burlington, Ontario, that serves professionals working with children, youth, and families across Halton Region. The organization operates as a backbone entity for seven Protocol Partners, convening more than 50 member organizations through Action Tables focused on Early Years, Youth, and Mental Health, and providing shared data, frameworks, and resources to coordinate regional service delivery.

OKN's core products are the OKN Data Portal 2.0, a web-based data visualization and storytelling platform that consolidates 30 years of regional indicators across 125 measures, and a Resource Hub containing approximately 500 curated assets for service providers. The organization runs three recurring surveys - the Halton Youth Impact Survey (HYIS), Kindergarten Parent Survey, and Student Mental Health Survey - which together have gathered 143,000+ participant responses and 25,000+ data points. OKN also propagates the proprietary "Halton 7" framework and an adapted Developmental Assets model across partner organizations. The most recent Student Mental Health Survey was conducted in partnership with UNICEF Canada.

Revenue is generated primarily through grants (including the Ontario Trillium Foundation) and direct contributions from the seven Protocol Partners, with a marginal stream from fee-based events priced around $30 per attendee. The 1-10 person backbone team is led by Executive Director Elisabeth Wells, supported by partner-funded coordination capacity. There is no indication of AI/ML capability, venture funding, or geographic expansion beyond Halton Region.

Name

Our Kids Network

Legal name

Our Kids Network

Website

https://ourkidsnetwork.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Our Kids Network is a Halton Region, Ontario-based non-profit collective impact organization founded in 1996 that convenes seven Protocol Partners and 50+ member agencies to coordinate data, programs, and resources for professionals serving children, youth, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Data and Research Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs (EDACALAJ), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Community data research
• Child youth wellbeing
• Knowledge mobilization
• Collective impact network
• Community resource hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: OKN receives funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation and other grantmakers for specific initiatives like the Halton Youth Initiative.
2. Protocol Partner Contributions: Seven Protocol Partners including Halton Region, school boards, and community agencies provide leadership, financial support, and set direction for the network.
3. Fee-based Learning Events: Select learning opportunities including workshops, webinars, and conferences are now offered as paid events. Fee-based model introduced to sustain high-quality learning experiences and ensure long-term stability. Staff from protocol partners receive free registrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Our Kids Network is a non-profit collective-impact partnership that provides community-level data, curated resources, research reports, learning events, and capacity-building supports to professionals serving children, youth, and families in the Halton region of Ontario. Its core deliverables include the online OKN Data Portal 2.0, an online Resource Hub, community surveys (e.g., the Halton Youth Impact Survey), and topical toolkits such as the Early Years Mental Health Toolkit and the Connect, Play and Learn Everyday resource, all framed around the proprietary "Halton 7" wellbeing framework.

Product overview

Our Kids Network (OKN) is a collective impact partnership offering a suite of interconnected products and services focused on child and youth wellbeing in Halton. The core offerings include the OKN Data Portal 2.0 (a neighbourhood-level data visualization platform) and the Resource Hub (a searchable database of nearly 500 resources). These are supported by specialized toolkits like the Early Years Mental Health Toolkit and websites like Connect Play and Learn Everyday. OKN also conducts recurring surveys including the Halton Youth Impact Survey and Kindergarten Parent Survey, producing reports like the Youth Mental Health Report. The organization operates under evidence-based frameworks including the Developmental Assets Framework and Halton 7 conditions, and delivers youth engagement programs and professional learning opportunities (workshops, webinars, conferences).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connect Play and Learn Everyday: A website designed to connect professionals and parents with resources and support to help children grow and learn through play.
• Halton Youth Impact Survey (HYIS)
• Early Years Mental Health Toolkit

Products and services

• OKN Data Portal (Data Portal 2.0)

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of survey participants reported learning new information from OKN's early years community data resources
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Halton RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalton Region is one of seven Protocol Partners providing leadership, financial support, and direction for OKN. Provides staff to Early Years Resiliency Action Table co-chair and Early Years Mental Health Toolkit contacts.
• Halton Children's Aid SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalton Children's Aid Society serves as the Secretariat for OKN, providing office space, financial, human resources, and IT support. One of seven Protocol Partners providing leadership and financial support.
• Halton District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDSB is one of seven Protocol Partners and participated in the 2023 Student Mental Health Survey with 4,425 grade 7 students.
• Halton Catholic District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCDSB is one of seven Protocol Partners and participated in the 2023 Student Mental Health Survey with grade 7 and 10 students.
• ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROCK is one of seven Protocol Partners. Staff contribute to Early Years Resiliency Action Table co-chair and Early Years Mental Health Committee representation.
• ErinoakKidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErinoakKids (Centre for Treatment and Development) is one of seven Protocol Partners providing leadership and financial support for OKN.
• HMC Connections (Halton Multicultural Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMC Connections is one of seven Protocol Partners providing leadership and support, contributing to diversity and inclusion in Halton's child and youth sector.
• Milton Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with OKN to host a youth engagement session focused on the 2023 Halton Youth Mental Health Survey findings, organized as a data walk activity.
• Milton RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with OKN to host a youth engagement session on mental health survey data, using a data walk format integrated into regularly scheduled youth activities.
• UNICEF CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF Canada leads the Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Project in partnership with OTF, Medavie Health Foundation, and Canadian Index of Wellbeing. OKN branded the survey as Halton Youth Impact Survey for local administration.
• Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIW at University of Waterloo manages the online survey platform for the Halton Youth Impact Survey and provides methodology and validation support.
• Early Years Resiliency Action TableminorStrategic or Co-development Partner50 members of the Early Years Resiliency Action Table working together to strengthen children's healthy development and early intervention, with two working groups.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF Canada: National office that leads the Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Project in partnership with OKN. Comparable as a producer of child wellbeing indicators and frameworks, while operating at a global/national scale.
• United Way Halton & Hamilton: A regional community funder and convener operating in the same geography as OKN. Both mobilize local stakeholders and resources to address child and family wellbeing, though United Way operates at a broader funding and convening scale.
• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide youth mental health service also targeting professional and youth audiences with resources and data. Comparable in serving the youth mental health space, though Kids Help Phone operates as a direct service (helpline) rather than a knowledge broker.
• Public Health Ontario: Provincial agency producing population health data and evidence-based resources for professionals. Overlaps with OKN's Data Portal and survey methodology capabilities, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Halton Children's Aid Society: Serves as the Secretariat for OKN and is one of seven Protocol Partners. Both operate as child and family services organizations in Halton with overlapping mandates around child welfare, family support, and community well-being.
• Healthy Child Manitoba: Government-led initiative that uses population-level data and cross-sector partnerships to improve child outcomes. Highly comparable to OKN's Halton 7 framework and neighbourhood-level data portal approach, though at a provincial scale.
• Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW): CIW at University of Waterloo is a direct partner that manages the Halton Youth Impact Survey platform and provides methodology support. Comparable as a knowledge broker that produces wellbeing indicators and frameworks used to inform community planning.
• Children's Mental Health Ontario: Provincial umbrella organization supporting child and youth mental health service providers across Ontario. Comparable in mission around evidence-based resources, professional development, and youth mental health that aligns with OKN's Early Years Mental Health Toolkit and survey work.

Others

• Ontario Trillium Foundation: Major grantmaker that funds OKN's Halton Youth Initiative. Comparable as a funder and ecosystem participant in Ontario's nonprofit and youth services landscape, though not a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Community Foundation of Halton: Local foundation focused on community vitality and well-being in Halton Region. Operates in the same geography and overlapping donor/community ecosystem, making it a relevant regional peer for funding and partnership dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OKNHalt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/our-kids-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Our Kids Network