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Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

October 2023

Welcome to our Fall newsletter with the latest updates on our pilot program, Dress Purple Day along with a few of the recent findings in Raising Canada’s 2023 report.

To guide planning and resource allocation for the future CYAC, we launched a DASA/YRP pilot in September 2022.  Both organizations collected data during the six-month period between September 2022 and March 2023.  The information collected included case counts for physical and sexual assault, referral source, age of the child/youth, and investigation status. It was agreed that data collection would continue into the fall.  Below are a few of the other recommendations noted in the report:

  • Provide DASA information/training sessions to community agencies in York Region who respond to child abuse cases (Victim Services, for example)
  • Add case conferences between DASA and YRP detectives to review the material for more complex cases. 
  • Add more nurses to the DASA team to provide 24/7 coverage in the Region, thereby eliminating the need for redirects to distant hospitals.
  • Consider having a DASA satellite unit at one of the other hospitals in York Region to increase ease of access to forensic medical services.

Every October Children’s Aid Societies across the province raise awareness about the important role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families.  Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness among children and youth, including elementary, middle, and high school students, about their right to safety and well-being in all spaces. Not just physical safety and well-being—children and youth have the right to have their intersectional identity, which includes culture, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, protected and supported in all spaces. This year, Dress Purple Day will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023. In honour of our partner, and Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario, we will support their campaign by encouraging our staff, community and other partners, to wear something purple on October 27th to show children, youth, and families that we are here to help!

Details of the campaign can be found HERE

Raising Canada released their 6th annual report tracking the top 10 threats to childhood.  In this latest report Child Abuse has moved up from 4th top threat to 3rd. It states that nearly two-thirds (60%) of Canadians report experiencing some form of maltreatment before the age of 15. The report goes on to explain that this new finding represents a more comprehensive understanding of child maltreatment across Canada than has been previously reported through other surveys, which estimated 33% of Canadians experienced maltreatment in childhood. We encourage you to visit Children First Canada and read their 2023 Raising Canada Report. 

We wish you all an enjoyable fall and look forward to updating you in our next newsletter. 

May

07

2024

May 2024

Earlier this year, we shared a very exciting announcement. Cedar Centre was accreditated by Imagine Canada, a prestigious milestone that highlights Cedar Centre’s unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and excellence in its work in the Child & Youth Mental Health, Adult Mental Health and Addictions, Violence Against Women, and Anti-Human Trafficking sectors.  We are immensely proud to have received this accreditation. It is a testament to the hard work and…

May

01

2023

May Flowers
May 2023

It’s been four years since we started Project Hope. We can all be proud of the work that has been accomplished during this time: from researching and selecting a co-located model, to developing a business plan and governance model, to launching our first pilot program with DASA and YRP. Communicating the value of a CYAC for York Region has also been a key priority to ensure support across stakeholders and…

December

01

2022

December frosted trees
December 2022

Since our last update in the Spring, we’re excited to share with you the latest developments for Project Hope along with a recent study that provides new analysis on social return on investment results for CYACs in British Columbia. Pilot programs YRP/DASA referralsThis September we launched a pilot program focused on supporting referrals from YRP to DASA for sexual abuse cases. The purpose of this pilot is to look at…

May

01

2022

May flowers
May 2022

The Project Hope team has been busy over this last year developing a pilot program, planning office designs for the ideal shared space, and attending the annual National CYAC-CAE Network Conference. Below is an update on our progress. Pilot program This fall we are launching a pilot program focused on supporting referrals from YRP to DASA for sexual assault/abuse. A working group has been formed to develop a logic model,…

June

01

2021

June lake island
June 2021

We are excited to report on the progress we’ve made over the last few months.The Planning Committee continues to meet regularly and has almost finalized the ideal workflow for York Region’s Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC). Partners are working on estimates for resource and space requirements to help us better understand the size of building we will need to house the new Centre. As previously highlighted in our timeline,…

March

01

2021

March flower
March 2021

As we continue to develop the region’s first Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, it is important that we create awareness and secure support from the communities the Centre will serve. To that end, we have developed specific campaigns and initiatives around public and government relations and general community awareness that we’d like to share with you here. In early January, we reached out to news sources in York Region and…

December

01

2020

December snow covered berries
December 2020

We are excited to welcome Jewish Family and Child Service and Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services to the CYAC partnership. As critical, legislated service providers, they will help ensure that the future Child & Youth Advocacy Centre not only reflects the needs of our community but also ensures that clients have access to culturally appropriate services. Jewish Family and Child Service is a multi-service agency that strengthens and supports…

September

01

2020

September orange leaves
September 2020

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, our hearts go out to all the health care professionals and other essential service workers who are risking their lives every day to take care of us. The #stayhome orders have certainly helped to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases over the past several months. Unfortunately, there are unintended consequences to having everyone shelter at home. Reports released over the last several…

May

01

2020

May dew on new leaves
May 2020

These last few months have been an extremely challenging time, unlike anything we’ve seen or had to deal with in our lifetime. Our hearts go out to all the health care professionals and other essential service workers who are risking their lives every day to take care of us. Stress is a contributing factor for abuse, particularly physical abuse. During the pandemic, adults are experiencing increased levels of stress, and…

December

01

2019

December snow covered barn
December 2019

Imagine a place where all children and youth in York Region who have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect feel welcome and safe. A place where criminal justice, child protection, and mental health services are fully integrated and under one roof. A place where multi-disciplined teams are committed to ensuring that our processes do not cause further harm. A place where everyone is dedicated to ensuring the right…

January

30

2024

CEDAR CENTRE ACHIEVES IMAGINE CANADA ACCREDITATION, DEMONSTRATING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

YORK REGION, January 30, 2024 – Cedar Centre is thrilled to announce its recent accreditation by Imagine Canada, a prestigious milestone that highlights the organization's unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and excellence in their work in the Child & Youth Mental Health, Adult Mental Health and Addictions, Violence Against Women, and Anti-Human Trafficking sectors.  The Standards is a recognized nonprofit accreditation created to provide best practices that help organizations improve…

January

13

2021

YORK REGION TO GET ITS FIRST CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE

NEWMARKET, Ontario - Cedar Centre, the leading provider of trauma-specific therapyto children, youth, and adults in York Region who have experienced interpersonalchildhood trauma, announced today their intention to create the region’s first Child andYouth Advocacy Centre (CYAC). In partnership with York Regional Police, York RegionChildren’s Aid Society, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services, andJewish Family and Child Service, the CYAC will ensure these children and youth whohave experienced physical, sexual,…