The CAC team works together to provide a holistic response to abuse, neglect and criminal trauma against children under one roof. The team consists of Police Officers, Child Protective Services, Child and Family Advocates, Victim Service Workers, Medical Staff, as well as Mental Health Support Workers. Through communication and collaborative work, the team strives to remove barriers, simplify the reporting process, and ultimately reduce system trauma. Together, they use their expertise to deliver a net of support for children and their non–offending caregivers, ensuring all needs are met and no family falls through the gaps.
Core services within this program include forensic child interviews, case reviews, and court preparation.
The Child and Family Advocate program provides immediate and ongoing wrap-around support to all families accessing the CAC. Staff members within the program walk alongside families, ensuring they feel supported and validated throughout the interview as well as the investigation, by connecting families with appropriate services. The program strives to increase communication between involved agencies and ensure each child’s needs are prioritized and responded to promptly.
Core services within this program include emotional and practical support, system referrals, as well as case management and coordination.
The Resilient Families Mental Health and Wellness Program oversees the wellbeing of all families connected with the CAC. The program works with Medical Staff and the Child and Family Advocate Program to connect families with appropriate and timely mental and physical health services within the CAC and/or in the community. This program also works collaboratively with community agencies to bridge the gaps between mental health services and ensure families transition smoothly.
Core services within this program include counselling, education and parent support groups, medical examinations, and mental health assessments.
The Building Brighter Futures Program goes beyond responding to child abuse and works towards prevention. Staff within the program work directly with those who provide services to children or are directly impacted by the work of the CAC. The program develops resources targeted at the community's needs that support, prevent, and educate. Through the program, the CAC strives to build an informed and more resilient community that has an increased ability to respond to, and ultimately prevent, child abuse.
Core services within the program include facilitating dialogue in the community, making presentations, as well as providing educational resources and professional training for staff.
