CYACs: an integrated response to child abuse and neglect

The CAC/CYAC provides services to diverse populations of children, youth and their supporting family members in a welcoming, physically and psychologically safe, neutral, trauma-informed and comfortable child- and youth-friendly setting (2021). 

The CAC/CYAC will include an integrated, multidisciplinary team from the core disciplines and agencies involved in the case. This usually includes police, child protection services, medical and mental health assessment and treatment, prosecution, and victim support and advocacy (2021)

Cultural, linguistic and socially inclusive services are available to all children, youth and their families at the CAC/CYAC (2021).

Forensic interviews are recorded and conducted in a manner that is: legally sound; supportive; of an unbiased, fact-finding nature; coordinated among multidisciplinary team members to avoid duplicative interviewing; and grounded in research-based forensic interviewing guidelines (2021).

Victim advocacy and support services are available to all children, youth and their families at the CAC/CYAC. Advocacy and support are offered to help reduce trauma for the child, youth and supporting family members and to improve outcomes (2021).

Specialized medical evaluation and treatment services are routinely made available to all children and youth and are coordinated with the multidisciplinary team response. All cases of suspected child abuse should be assessed to determine the need for a medical evaluation (2021).

Specialized evidence-informed trauma-focused treatment and mental health services, designed to meet the unique needs of children, youth and their non-offending family members, are essential to the multidisciplinary team response (2021).

A case review is a trauma-informed, collaborative, formal process to discuss elements of the case, including the investigation, addressing any safety/risk issues for a child and family, making a plan for ongoing support, and preparing for any criminal justice process as necessary. The frequency of case reviews will depend on the individual circumstances of each case. Participants will include multidisciplinary team members actively involved with the case. Updates, issues and concerns are discussed with the goals of ensuring that all partners have the same information and that the needs of children, youth and caregivers are addressed, as long as they are involved with the CAC/CYAC.

Case tracking refers to a systematic method where specific data are routinely collected on each case served by the CAC/CYAC. CACs/CYACs should develop and implement a system for monitoring case progress and tracking case outcomes for all multidisciplinary team components (2021).

Every CAC/CYAC should have a designated legal entity responsible for the governance of its operations. The role of this entity is to oversee ongoing business practices of the CAC/CYAC, including setting, implementing and regularly reviewing administrative policies, hiring and managing personnel, providing training and support to personnel, securing funding, supervising program and fiscal operations, and long-term planning. In addition, the CAC/CYAC should build awareness of the value of the work and the population they serve within their community. Board directors should be well-acquainted with the mission, vision, values, and purpose of the organization, and the structure and delivery of programs and services.