North Bay police, other agencies, create safe space for young victims of crime
The North Bay Police Service and several other agencies are providing youth a safe, trauma-informed place for them and their families when they’re affected by crime.
The Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) is a partnership between police, Children's Aid Society (CAS), Victim Services of Nipissing District and other agencies to allow children to tell police what's happened in a safe space.
"The old way of doing things for children having to attend the police station can be very intimidating," said CYAC program coordinator Alicia Cote.
"The police station can be very loud and distracting and often for various different reasons, people are coming and going that might not be conducive for children."
When they arrive at the facility, the young person will conduct an interview with Children's Aid Society team members and a police officer s dressed in normal clothes and in a safe space, allowing them to avoid telling a traumatic story several times.
"When there's an abuse investigation, those investigations are all done jointly with police and Children’s Aid Society," said Gisele Hebert, CAS executive director.
After the interview with police, other agencies step in to help. The centre has therapy dog services available with wraparound supports, complete with counselling.
"So our staff members meet with each family and child who enter the centre and we provide them a tour and help answer their questions about the investigation process," said Kathleen Jodouin, executive director of Victim Services of Nipissing District.
The CYAC has its own family room and since opening has served more than 400 children. The youngest was 18 months old.
Police said having the space makes it a lot more comfortable for children to talk to officers.
"When I first went up to major crime, we didn't have this facility,” said Det. Const. Erin Pemberton.
“So we would do the interviews at the police station. A child and their parent would come in and sit in the front lobby with everybody else."
Through funding, police officers received specific training for child-forensic interviewing.
Officials said the next step is looking at ways to allow children to offer court testimony out of the facility to avoid trips to the courthouse.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.