Child and youth advocacy centres: A change in practice that can change a lifetime

Abstract

While often a silent and invisible issue, childhood trauma is pervasive, and has profound individual, societal and economic impacts. Many forms of childhood trauma exist, including child physical and sexual abuse. Given the prevalence, impact and availability of prevention and intervention approaches, child abuse deserves the same level of awareness, policy priority and investment as is directed to other issues of significant public health importance. The complex issue of child abuse requires a coordinated multifaceted response, which minimizes system trauma and revictimization for the child and family. The Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) model brings together various sectors to create an integrated, multidisciplinary response that is client-centred and trauma-informed. To ensure that all children, youth and their families who have experienced maltreatment have access to the CYAC model of care when needed, sustainable funding investment in CYACs should be a priority for government at all levels.

Children’s needs during disclosures of abuse

“…The development of trauma-informed practices has helped professionals who work with individuals who have experienced trauma, as with those who have experienced child abuse (Urquhart, Jasiura, TIP Project Team, and TIP Advisory Committee 2013). Increased knowledge regarding abuse trauma and system-induced trauma has resulted in the development of better responses in child abuse investigations such as those in CYACs that conduct investigations in a child-friendly building and use a multidisciplinary and wraparound service approach (Department of Justice Canada, 2013;Shaffer et al 2018). The MDTs in child abuse investigations began in the 1980s to increase communication and information sharing among investigative agencies (Department of Justice Canada 2013; Young and Nelson-Gardell 2018).…”

Fostering resilience in children who have been maltreated: A review and call for translational research.

“…Additionally, barriers to accessing intervention services (e.g., socioeconomic barriers to transportation or childcare for other children) may play a significant role in whether resilient outcomes occur (Crittenden, 1992). Models of care that promote the coordination of interdisciplinary services and wrap-around care in one location, like the Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) model, may help promote resilient outcomes by decreasing systemic trauma and increasing service access (Shaffer et al, 2018). Increased attention to reducing barriers to treatment access and initiation have the potential to make resilient outcomes more equitable and possible for all maltreated children.…”

Paediatric health care in the #MeToo era: Advocating for survivors of sexual violence

“…A trauma-informed approach is supported through meaningful collaboration and partnerships across professions, programs, and systems. Child and Youth Advocacy Centres are one example of a coordinated, multisector, multidisciplinary, trauma-informed model of care taking shape across Canada (12).…”