Key Assets Canada, a leading child and family services agency has adopted the world’s first VR experience designed for children’s services and education, created by Antser.

Antser’s VR programme (formerly known as The Cornerstone Partnership) uses 360-degree immersive films and virtual reality headsets, enabling the viewer to experience life from the perspective of a child. Key Assets Canada is keen to implement the programme to support their ongoing recruitment and development of foster families and complement their ongoing efforts to further improve and enhance the lives of children in care.

It’s a unique approach offering a way to understand the impact of attachment and trauma, through the eyes of a child.

Kathryn Rock, CEO of Key Assets Ontario, commented:
“We are very excited to be implementing Antser’s VR and are in the early stages of training our staff to use the VR who will in turn educate foster carers. We have 12 trainers in Canada and in addition to using this as part of our recruitment and training of potential carers we will use the VR technology on a case by case basis, including to support youth within education settings. We have also considered using the VR with our clinicians and play therapists and look forward to the opportunities available to us when working with Antser.”

A number of other fostering agencies and local authorities across the UK are using Antser’s technology within Children’s Services. Discovered at a conference in the UK, Key Assets Canada decided to bring this cutting-edge technology to Canada, making itself the first child and family services agency to start the trend of using VR technology in the promotion of family-based care.

With this great initiative, Key Assets Canada is also able to set an example for other Key Assets entities providing quality care in family settings in nine countries across the world.

Alison Alexander, Strategic Director at Antser, said of the partnership:
“We are pleased to be able to begin this international partnership and are excited about our future working with the Key Assets Group. Walking in the footsteps of a child is the greatest gift we can give anyone. Experiencing their life, for however short a period, changes how we as adults see and respond to children and young people. Our VR technology does just that – takes you inside the world of the unborn child; the 18-month-old child; the toddler; the adolescent. Everyone who has experienced the programme is either moved in the moment or later when they are in a quiet moment and reflect. We are confident that our technology will not only have a positive impact on those already involved in caring for vulnerable children, but with thousands of children currently needing a safe home across the Canadian provinces.”

For more information about Antser, visit www.antser.com or email hello@antser.com.