The Centre
The CYAC is located in North Bay, Ontario and has indoor and outdoor play areas for children and youth. The Centre is equipped with two interview rooms and two monitoring rooms for forensic interviewing. As well, the Center is set up for remote testimony. Sensory activities, toys and a playground are available for children to play. Plain clothed police officers and/or child protection workers may attend along with the CYAC Coordinator. (Childcare or babysitting services are not provided).
CYAC's History
In 1985, the first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) was established in Huntsville, Alabama to create a system that brought together professionals from law enforcement, criminal justice, child protection services, medical and mental health under one roof, where they worked together as a team in child abuse cases. The idea of community partnerships revolutionized the system response to child sexual abuse. Today, almost 40 years later, Child and Youth Advocacy Centres are regarded as a leading practice responding to child abuse cases. There are more than 900 CYACs in the United States and in 10 other countries across the world. In Canada there are 40 in various stages of development.
The Child and Youth Advocacy Centre of Nipissing received funding in 2018 from the Department of Justice Canada Victims Fund to operate in Nipissing District. In March of 2019 the centre opened its doors bringing a local, collaborative, child-focused approach to child abuse investigations. A group of dedicated, cross-sectoral professionals with a passion to provide trauma informed services for child and youth victims in the district came together to create this partnership. The Centre’s current Administrative Lead is Victim Services of Nipissing District.
The CYAC of Nipissing provides a physically and psychologically safe environment for children, youth and non-offending caregivers to be interviewed, and offers a seamless transition to other available community supports. Community partners connect with families through the CYAC, which improves the process by: reducing the potential for gaps in service; minimizing the number of interviews given by children and youth; and, increasing access to community services.
Further, the cooperative, team-approach support by a CYAC results in more thorough investigations, better evidence gathering and higher conviction rates, as evidenced in many jurisdictions.
Our Purpose is Child Advocacy
Our team is here to ensure a child’s needs are met and remain a priority. Service providers work collaboratively with children and their families to build on strengths to move forward through the criminal justice system and beyond.
Forensic Interview
Specialty trained professionals will record statements in a child friendly environment.
Learn about our simplified process