Research Focus Areas
Academics and CYAC practitioners collaboratively identified five research focus areas, highlighting research and knowledge needs for Canadian CYACs.
Responding to research gaps and knowledge needs
We foster partnerships between academics and practitioners to research effective practices and strategies for preventing, responding to, and treating child abuse and neglect.
Our goal is to generate evidence and knowledge from our five research focus areas to inform policy and practice for CYACs across Canada ultimately, strengthening outcomes for children and youth experiencing abuse and neglect.
Effectiveness of the CYAC Model
The CYAC approach is widely acknowledged as a leading model for addressing the needs of children, youth, and families experiencing child abuse and neglect across Canadian jurisdictions. While practitioners and families clearly recognize the benefits of this approach, there is a pressing need to demonstrate its immediate and long-term outcomes for vulnerable children, youth, and their families through continuous evaluation and research. The diverse environment of the CYAC model in Canada is a strength however, it can present as a unique research opportunity. Therefore, a coordinated and context-specific research approach among academics and Canadian CYAC is essential to inform policy and practice improvements, ultimately strengthening outcomes for children, youth, and their families who have experienced child abuse and neglect.
Browse the library for completed researchResearch Agenda
Updated:
Client Characteristics and Service Use: Descriptive Data of Luna CYAC.
Contact: Olivia Cullen | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
Capturing the Youth Voice to Inform CYAC Outcomes.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Gina Dimitropoulos
Measuring What Matters: Towards a Contextual Understanding and Assessment of Canadian Child and Youth Advocacy Centres’ Multidisciplinary Responses to Child Abuse
Contact: Tyler Kruger | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
System Integration and Coordination
A challenge for CYACs is the collaboration among various professionals who operate under diverse professional and organizational mandates. Each profession within CYACs inherently has its own approach, often accompanied by competing priorities and ethical obligations. Although the diversity of professions is seen as a key factor in the perceived effectiveness of CYACs, the integration of these professionals to provide cohesive, inter-professional services remains challenging. Understanding how system integration and coordination are implemented and optimized within CYACs, and the impact this has on service provision and outcomes for children, youth, and their families who have experienced abuse and neglect is crucial to enhancing the understanding and value of the CYAC model.
Browse the library for completed researchResearch Agenda
Updated:
A Qualitative Study of Multidisciplinary Team Decision-Making in Recurrent Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: Taking a Systems Approach.
Contact: Cassidy Biener | Principal Investigator: Cassidy Biener
Enhancing Collaboration and Integration of Support Services for Children Impacted by Intimate Partner Violence: A Child-Centered Approach.
Contact: Cassidy Biener | Principal Investigator: Cassidy Biener and Jordan Coble
Measuring the Quality of Collaboration in Multidisciplinary Teams Responding to Child Abuse.
Contact: Naomi Parker | Principal Investigator: James Herbert
Trauma-Informed Justice System
It is well-established that many victims of abuse have identified the criminal justice system as a source of re-traumatization and further psychological harm. While CYACs are a significant step-forward in trauma-informed responses, there is room for improvement. Criminal justice professionals, including prosecutors, law enforcement officers, judiciary members, and victim services, must apply trauma-informed practices throughout the progression of a case. Focused efforts are needed to enhance the availability and delivery of specialized training for all criminal justice professionals, as well as to support ongoing and new partnerships between the criminal justice system and other sectors.
Browse the library for completed researchResearch Agenda
Updated:
Trauma Informed Justice in Child Abuse Cases: A Literature Review.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Jennifer Koshan
Remote Testimony Implementation Evaluation.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
Predictors of Pathways to Prosecution of Child Abuse at a Canadian Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.
Contact: Tyler Kruger | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
Examining the Efficacy of Remote Testimony for Children Impacted by Abuse: Psychological Distress, Comfort, and Fairness.
Contact: Cassidy Biener | Principal Investigator: Cassidy Biener
Enhancing Forensic Interview Practices: A Monitor Support and Training Initiative.
Contact: Heather Price | Principal Investigator: Heather Price
At the Intersection of Family and Criminal Court – Responding to Repeated Unsubstantiated Cases of Caregiver-to-Caregiver Allegations of Child Abuse.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
Legal Process Case Review.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Jennifer Koshan
Emerging Topics in Child Sexual Abuse
Rates of child sexual abuse remain alarmingly high, drawing increasing attention to the need for primary prevention and intervention efforts to address emerging concerns. For instance, rapid technological advancements have expanded opportunities for the online sexual exploitation of children. The growth in potential exposure to online risks has outpaced our understanding of how to: prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of online sexual exploitation on children and youth; and effectively leverage secondary prevention interventions targeting risk or protective factors associated with sexual abuse perpetration; and intervene early in cases of sexual victimization of children and youth, or their engagement in problematic sexual behavior.
Browse the library for completed researchResearch Agenda
Updated:
Youth Perspectives on Sexual Consent Messaging.
Contact: Olivia Cullen | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker
Quality Assessment of Community Evidence for an Alberta-based CYAC Response to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviour.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Gina Dimitropoulos
Exploring Trends, Similarities, and Differences in Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Technology-Facilitated Abuse that Leads to Contact Abuse.
Contact: Olivia Cullen | Principal Investigator: Gina Dimitropoulos
Comparing In-Person and Technology-Involved Child Sexual Abuse: Implications for Investigations.
Contact: Tyler Kruger | Principal Investigator: Naomi Parker and Heather Price
Investigation of Consent and Building Evidence for Sexual Assault Cases.
Contact: Janine Elenko | Principal Investigator: Gina Dimitropoulos and Naomi Parker
Therapeutic Approaches in Child Abuse
Child abuse can have profound and lasting impacts for the mental health of children and youth. There is a significant need to understand what evidence-based interventions work best for whom, under what conditions, and in what contexts. To date, interventions aimed at reducing mental health challenges among children and youth who have experienced abuse have primarily focused on one type of abuse (e.g., sexual abuse) and a narrow subset of mental health concerns (e.g., PTSD symptoms). While interventions for internalizing behaviours have received considerable research attention, what is less understood is how to effectively treat externalizing behaviours (e.g., PSB), and the effects of complex trauma. Even fewer studies have co-developed mental health interventions alongside underrepresented peoples, or tested them from the perspectives of Indigenous, racialized, gender and sexually-diverse, and/or economically-disadvantaged children and youth. Given the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism in Canada, collaboration characterized by relational respect and reciprocity needs to occur with First Nations, Metis, Inuit communities.
Browse the library for completed researchResearch Agenda
Updated:
Fostering Child and Adolescent Resilience through Emotions (Families CARE) Project.
Contact: Zita de Snoo | Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber
Get involved
Kindex is built on mutual respect, recognizing each other’s expertise and resources, and maintaining open communication. Reach out to learn more, share your work, or get involved!
We are always looking for students eager to gain research experience. If you are a student or know someone who may be interested, reach out.
