The Government of Canada supports services for child victims of crime in Québec City Region

From: Department of Justice Canada

News release

March 14, 2019 – Québec City, Quebec – Department of Justice Canada

Canadians expect to live in a society where the criminal justice system is fair and impartial, and respects the needs of victims, including children and youth who are victims of crime or witnesses to violence.

Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced $355,000 in funding for the Services intégrés en abus et maltraitance (SIAM) pilot project at the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, for victims of abuse or mistreatment and their families. By bringing institutional and community stakeholders from the police, medical, psychosocial and social justice spheres together under one roof , the SIAM project offers coordinated, integrated and continuing services in response to the needs of child victims of sexual or physical abuse and negligence.

Child victims of abuse and mistreatment need safe spaces where they can talk about the harm they suffered, and receive the services they need to recover. Through the Child Advocacy Centres (CAC), the Government of Canada seeks to offer enhanced support for these victims and their families by providing funding for the creation of multi-disciplinary, coordinated, child-focused services that are available in one location.

The CAC initiative provides funding to a number of victim-serving, non-governmental organizations whose programs and activities are aligned with the Victims Fund and Government of Canada priorities.

Quotes

“The Child Advocacy Centres Initiative is important to our government because it helps young victims and their families rebuild their lives after an assault. The funding for this pilot project will give young people a chance to share their stories safely in a supportive environment to help them overcome the difficulties related to their assault. I am proud that the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale is receiving the support it needs to implement a unified service delivery approach. I know that in this way, it will be able to offer young victims the support they need.”

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

« The creation of the SIAM project is a concrete example of bringing service delivery that is designed to focus on people. It stems from a collaborative approach taken by the Youth Protection Branch du CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale and 11 institutional and community partners. With energy and determination these partners have worked together to offer unparalleled services which, thanks to the $355 000 announced today by the Minister of Justice Canada will make a real difference in supporting children who are victims of abuse and mistreatment and their families. »

Dominique Jobin
Director, Youth Protection Branch, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale

Quick facts

  • Children who have visited a Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) are generally satisfied with the experience, and are more likely to indicate that they were not frightened during the medical/legal interview, compared to children living in communities that do not have a CAC.
    Source: JustFacts: Child Advocacy Centres Melissa Lindsay, Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice 2013-12-05.

  • Parents whose children have visited a CAC are more satisfied with the process and the interview procedures than parents whose children received services from an organization other than a CAC.
    Source: JustFacts: Child Advocacy Centres Melissa Lindsay, Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice 2013-12-05.

  • According to self-reported data from the 2014 General Social Survey on Victimization, close to one-third (32%) of Canadians aged 15 and over declared that they had been victims of physical or sexual assault as children, which represents just under 9 million people.
    Source: JustFacts: Child Advocacy Centres Melissa Lindsay, Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice 2013-12-05.

  • Quebec now has two CACs: The Marie-Vincent Foundation CAC, established in 2011 as well as the new CAC of the CIUSS de la Capitale Nationale, which was created in 2017.

Related products

Contacts

For additional information, media representatives should contact:

Célia Canon
Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
613-862-3270
celia.canon@justice.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified: