SUPPORT
Creating child and family friendly spaces while supporting victims on their journey of healing
Providing Wrap Around Services
Child Life Program
The Child Life Program is made up of a Child Life Specialist, and a team of Child Space Volunteers which includes PALS dogs.
Upon entering the Centre, the Child Life Specialist will meet with the child and family to explain what their time at the Centre may look like. This
includes, using age appropriate tools, such as a child friendly App, anatomically correct puppets and child friendly medical equipment to ensure the child feels prepared for any potential interview and/or medical assessment.
Program Objective
to minimize stress for children and families during potentially challenging or traumatic experiences through the use of:
- Therapeutic Play
- Self-expression Activities
- Age-appropriate education and medical preparation
Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Children
- Engaging children in positive play opportunities that promote a sense of familiarity and control in the Child Space
- Alleviating fears and misconceptions about the CCAC experience by using clear and age-appropriate information
- Planning and rehearsing coping strategies to reduce anxiety and enhance cooperation with the CAC team
- Offering distraction and relaxation techniques to children and youth during medical exams
The Child Space provides a safe environment where children can feel free to explore and engage in play activities. Play is essential to children's ability to cope with stress, as play is familiar to them and allows them the opportunity to communicate, express emotions, and achieve a sense of control.
Our Police Bears provide comfort and warmth to children who are going through a difficult and challenging time.
Each sweater has been caringly knit by members of the community, and the bears have been generously donated by various community organizations
At the beginning of a visit to the Centre, children or youth can spend some time with the Child Life Specialist learning about what to expect during their time at the Centre. They can go through the details and pictures in the app, which was designed with their perspective in mind to give them all the information they need to be confident about what to expect during their visit.
At the beginning of a visit to the Centre, children or youth can spend some time with the Child Life Specialist learning about what to expect during their time at the Centre. They can go through the details and pictures in the app, which was designed with their perspective in mind to give them all the information they need to be confident about what to expect during their visit.
Children and Youth are given a handmade, donated Quilt when they come to the Centre. These quilts serve as a token of the wrap around support and care they receive throughout their time at the Centre. The Quilts are generously donated to the Centre by a group of volunteers that represent the loving support from our community.
Victim Support Program
The Victim Support Team is made up of 2 coordinators, an Aboriginal Liaison Coordinator, and a team of Specialized Volunteers referred to as Advocates.
Program Objective
To walk alongside the families in their road to recovery by providing support, information and referrals and help families cope with the impact of abuse
The Role of Victim Support at the Centre is to:
- Liase with other victim services to make support more accessible and available to children and their families from diverse areas
- Provide support, information and resources to children, youth and families that are referred through the Centre
- Be a consistent and continual support to children, youth and families providing ongoing support and follow up throughout their entire process through the CAC (first entry, investigation, medical, court and after)
- Ensure families have an accurate understanding of the different components of the process at the Centre and that they know who to go to for specific questions
- To increase child and families access to resources that are available to them
Who can access the VS Program?
We welcome any child, youth or family receiving services through the CCAC. Additional support may be provided for other requests where possible
Services can be provided to children and families for as long as they are needed
