Child and Youth Advocacy Centre at Boost Receives Funding From Federal Government Support to Help Young Victims and Their Families

News Release

February 14, 2014 – Ottawa – Department of Justice Canada

Today, Minister of Justice Peter MacKay and Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert announced $300,000 for the implementation of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) at Boost – the first CYAC in Toronto.

The funding is being made available for the CYAC at Boost to ensure that children and youth in the City of Toronto who experience abuse or violence can receive a wide range of services in a coordinated approach all in one location. The establishment of the CYAC at Boost follows the successful completion of a two–year pilot project also funded through the Department of Justice’s Victims Fund. The pilot project supported the planning and development of the CYAC, which is now operational.

CYACs offer the same services as a Child Advocacy Centres (CAC), but to a broader age–range of victims. CYACs provide a safe, child and youth–friendly environment where a collaborative, coordinated team of professionals works together with an approach geared to the specific needs of each victim, to help a child or youth victim navigate the criminal justice system. The work of a CYAC or CAC multi–disciplinary team can greatly reduce the emotional and mental harm to children and youth.

Quick facts

The funding will be used by the CYACat Boost to:
- Establish one location as a single point of access where children, youth and families can receive multidisciplinary services from all of the professionals involved in child abuse investigations in a coordinated and comprehensive manner;
- Provide two advocates who will be central points of contact and support for victims and their families, ensuring that they receive information about their case and referrals to services as needed;
- Increase collaboration and strengthen partnerships with schools, health and community services, other local agencies and community organizations, and municipal, provincial and federal levels of government;
- Identify training needs and develop a training program for staff;
- Establish the CYAC as a Centre of Excellence that will share and disseminate knowledge and best practice to similar centres in Ontario and across the country; and,
- Increase public awareness about children at risk in Toronto through education and outreach.
The funding for the CYAC at Boost, is being provided by the Government of Canada through the Department of Justice Canada’s Victims Fund. The Victims Fund provides support to projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks, or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families.
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has allocated more than $120 million to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system through initiatives delivered by the Department of Justice Canada.
This funding includes $10.25 million for new or enhanced Child Advocacy Centres. So far, CAC and CYAC projects have been funded in 20 cities or municipalities across Canada. CACs adopt a child–focused, coordinated and collaborative approach to addressing the needs of child and youth victims, and their families.

Quotes

“Boost’s reputation as a compassionate, effective organization speaks volumes to the important role they play in the Toronto community. The quality and dedication of the individuals who provide this service is spectacular. For more than thirty years, child and youth victims of abuse have been benefiting from the services provided by Boost. Our Government’s funding and support will help Boost and its many community partners enhance their services for vulnerable young victims and their families, lessen the risk of them being re–victimized and help ensure they are more effectively heard and included in a meaningful way in our country’s criminal justice system – as we’ve promised.”
Peter MacKay,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General

“Child and Youth Advocacy Centres are designed to help those most vulnerable navigate the challenges of our justice system and give them a stronger voice in how justice is carried out. By offering a range of services under one roof, the CYAC at Boost is providing much–needed assistance to victims of abuse and their families right here in the Toronto area.”
Bob Dechert
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice

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Contacts

Paloma Aguilar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613–992–4621

Media Relations
Department of Justice
613–957–4207

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Date modified:: 2014-02-14

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Child and Youth Advocacy Centre at Boost Receives Funding From Federal Government Support to Help Young Victims and Their Families

News Release

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