Community partners have gathered for a funding announcement that will help provide safe areas for victims of child abuse and their families.
MP Anthony Rota made the announcement of $129,618 in financial backing to establish a Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Nipissing District. The funding came on behalf of the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Various agencies and organizations, all stakeholders in the creation of the centre, were on hand Friday for Rota’s announcement that will assist in enhancing and expanding the integration of social, health, justice, law enforcement and other community services for victims of child abuse.
Executive Director of Hands, Jeffrey Hawkins, says that the new centre will mirror effective advocacy agencies established in larger centres such as Calgary and Toronto. Hawkins adds that one of the centre’s main goals is to have the assorted agencies and organizations working together more efficiently, something this centre will facilitate.
Comfort for victims is easier accomplished, Hawkins says, when an interview regarding difficult subjects is conducted once, instead of several times with the police, child protection services, and victim’s services.
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca has narrowed the search for a location for the new centre to three sites, and Hawkins says a March 2018 launch date is the goal.
“It’s a seamlessly integrated system,” says Hawkins. “It improves the efficiency and effectiveness of all of us to do right by kids in the community.”
