December 2024
December 17, 2024
We’re excited to share updates on the progress made this year with Project Hope! Our efforts have brought together regional partners and diverse expertise through several Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, all united by a shared commitment to our mission.
To strengthen community support, we coordinated training sessions on Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault (DASA) services for our partners, equipping them with the tools to better understand and use these critical resources. Additionally, we arranged facility tours for York Region Children’s Aid Society (YRCAS) service teams and supervisors, familiarizing them with DASA, the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP), and the Newmarket Courthouse Remote Testimony spaces. These tours helped deepen inter-agency relationships, demonstrating how collaboration can improve support for families.
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the experience of those we serve, teams have been working on ways to improve the DASA waiting area, making it a more welcoming and comfortable space for children, youth, and families awaiting forensic services. Meanwhile, the DASA/YRP pilot program recently completed two years of data collection, providing valuable insights to inform future planning for the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC).
The last few months have focused on laying the foundation for the CYAC’s future sustainability. Working closely with the Sustainability of Operations Committee, we’ve been crafting a comprehensive business plan for Project Hope and the Centre itself. Brenda Mulroy, a retired planner from York Regional Police, has been instrumental in this process, bringing her expertise to facilitate strategic planning sessions with executive leaders from YRCAS, DBCFS, JF&CS, YRP, and Cedar Centre. Together, we’ve developed a Vision and Mission Statement alongside a values-driven framework that outlines our goals and objectives. Brenda’s mentorship has been invaluable, and once finalized, the business plan will clearly define our vision and the steps to make it a reality.
Looking ahead, we’ve begun exploring remote testimony initiatives, a key element of the CYAC model. This work aims to provide safer, more accessible options for young individuals involved in legal proceedings. These efforts reflect our continued commitment to supporting and protecting vulnerable youth through innovative and collaborative solutions.
Raising Canada 2024 Report
The Raising Canada 2024 report highlights alarming trends in child abuse and trafficking, identifying violence against children as a critical threat. Approximately 60% of Canadians report experiencing some form of child abuse before age 15, and incidents of online sexual exploitation have more than tripled since 2014. Vulnerable groups, including Indigenous and disabled children, face disproportionately higher risks. Indigenous youth, for instance, experience physical and sexual abuse at more than twice the rate of their non-Indigenous peers. The report underscores the urgent need for stronger protective measures and systemic interventions to address these violations and safeguard children’s rights in Canada.
Learn more at https://childrenfirstcanada.org/campaign/raising-canada/
Welcome, Cassaundra Maxwell!
We are delighted to welcome Cassaundra Maxwell to the team as a professional practicum placement student. Cassaundra has already begun her work on developing the Advocate Program for the emerging CYAC. She brings enthusiasm and insight to this important project, collaborating with the MDT members to shape the purpose and goals of the program. We’re excited about the contributions she will make and look forward to sharing more updates as her work progresses!
We are deeply grateful for the support and guidance provided by provincial and national Child and Youth Advocacy Centres (CYACs), whose research and practice tools have been invaluable in our development efforts.
