February 13, 2015 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Department of Justice Canada
Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced more than $240,000 in funding for enhancements to services offered by the Snowflake Place for Children and Youth. Snowflake Place for Children and Youth is a Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) operating out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Minister MacKay was accompanied at the announcement by Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Saint-Boniface, Shelly Glover.
The funding will be used by the organization to hire two child forensic interview specialists. The purpose of a child forensic interview is to obtain a statement from a young victim in an unbiased and legally sound manner that is also developmentally and culturally sensitive for the young victim being interviewed. By having two on-site forensic interview specialists, the organization aims to improve child abuse investigations by reducing the number of interviews and interviewers for young victims and by ensuring that all interviews are done in a child-friendly setting.
CACs or Child and Youth Advocacy Centres (CYAC) help child and youth victims and their families navigate the criminal justice system. They provide a safe, child- and youth-friendly environment where a coordinated team of professionals works to meet the specific needs of each person. The work of a CAC or CYAC multidisciplinary team can greatly reduce the emotional and mental harm to child and youth victims involved in the criminal justice system.
Follow Department of Justice Canada on Twitter (@JusticeCanadaEn), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.
