May 2024

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. DASA/YRP Pilot Program 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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…