Working on healing child victims

A child advocacy center may be a possibility for First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout area.
During a press conference July 23, Greg Rickford, MP for the Kenora district and the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and minister of justice and attorney general of Canada said that a needs-assessment and feasibility study would be put in place for a child advocacy center.
The government of Canada announced the federal victims strategy in 2007, where $90 million was put aside to service victims of crime.
In 2012, with the introduction of the Economic Action Plan, an additional $5 million was added.
Nicholson said that the government of Canada is committing $115,000 to help the assessment process along.
“I heard about these child advocacy centers about three years ago. What they did was take the children and put them in a friendly environment,” said Nicholson. “One size doesn’t fit all, so that’s why it was a good idea to have a feasibility study.”
John Cutfeet, board chair of Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority, said that the child advocacy service program sought to provide necessary support to children who’ve been “victims of sexual crime.”
“A child advocacy center brings together mental health, child welfare, child development, police and crown attorney services to plan for supporting child victims in the most effective and least intrusive way possible,” said Cutfeet.
He added that a child advocacy center increases the likelihood of a child only having to tell their story once, reducing trauma and stress.
“The intent is not to build a bricks and mortar center, but to forge partnerships with the area service providers in consultation with our First Nations communities,” said Cutfeet.
He said that providing child advocacy center services would be a “unique challenge.”
“Along with getting input from our communities, we’ll also be meeting with all he other services that will be involved with the child advocacy center for consultation,” said Cutfeet.
Rickford said that these centers are going to be of great assistance to children and youth by providing “appropriate counseling, medical exams, court preparation, mental health services and child victim services.”
“We know that these child advocacy centers are effective, we know that they provide safe places for children to deal with trauma,” said Rickford. “We just want to be in the best position possible to support that healing … and foster strong relationships in the communities they live in upon them returning.”
The set date for completion of the needs-assessment and feasibility study is March 31, 2013.