‹ Crews break ground... | Police looking for... › Victim Services of Durham Region receives funding for child-focused advocacy centre

Fri, Mar 15, 2024 8:00 AM GMT

A local group helping victims of crime and sudden tragedy is receiving more than $120,000 in funding from the federal and provincial governments.

‘Victim Services of Durham Region’ is comprised of counsellors, advocates and volunteers. The group helps people navigate the various systems they may brush up against, and provides crisis intervention and emotional support.

It’s also leading the development of Durham’s first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), which will work specifically with children and families.

“This provincial government funding today is the missing piece for us,” said Executive Director Krista MacNeil. “This will allow us to hire two front-line staff who will act as advocates, directly working within the CYAC, so that we can make it operational before the end of the year.”

The CYAC will eventually branch off as its own charity. It will bring in dozens of groups and charities to work together under a single child-friendly roof. “It will allow for remote court testimony from a safe space to reduce the trauma of facing an accused in court,” he added. “It will offer mental health and medical assistance to reduce emergency department visits, and aims to reduce the need for repeat disclosures by survivors.”

The centre’s advocates will serve as points of contact for the families they work with.

“[It] can be quite a few agencies and quite a few individuals,” said MacNeil.

“That advocate will really stay with them throughout the whole process, help them navigate the process and is their key support throughout that process in ensuring that all of their needs are met,” she added.

Officials gathered Friday in Oshawa to announce the $123,810 investment. It comes from the province’s ‘Grant to Support Child Victims of Gun and Gang Violence,’ which in turn comes from an investment from Parliament Hill.