Diversity and Inclusion

Cultural, linguistic, and socially inclusive services are available to all children, youth and their families at the CYAC.

Activities

CYAC activities or elements that contribute to diversity and inclusion may include: 

  • Intentional and responsive design and decoration of the physical space 
  • Identification of cultural needs of the child/youth in relation to their healing
  • Provisions to reduce verbal and non-verbal communication barriers 
  • Use of data to identify disparities or inequalities in service usage to inform services and outreach strategies

For more information on diversity and inclusion in CYACs, see the guideline and key components here.

CYAC Guidelines

Outputs

The activities and elements at your CYAC will determine what outputs your track related to diversity and inclusion. Example outputs are: 

  • Aspects of the physical space that promote inclusion (e.g., # of universal washrooms, space for smudging)
  • # of translators used
  • # and type of cultural supports provided of facilitated for healing
  • # of times Elders/knowledge keepers participate at family/child’s request
  • Whether consent and intake forms include questions or information relating to diversity and inclusion (e.g., self-identified gender, preferred names)

Child and youth outcomes

Diversity and inclusion within the CYAC model enables a responsive and accessible multi-system response to child abuse. Ways to know how diversity and inclusion activities and elements contribute to the CYAC response are: 

  • Children and youth are safe to express themselves
  • Children, youth, and families are connected with cultural supports
  • Children, youth, and families from diverse backgrounds are accessing and engaged in supports and services 
  • Children, youth, and families from diverse backgrounds and diverse abilities are represented in the CYAC physical space (e.g., books, toys, artwork)
  • Children, youth, and families have access to interpretation services and can engage in the investigation and/or treatment process in the language they prefer

Data Collection Practices

Data collection practices need to reflect your local operational and community context. You may already have tools in place to track these outputs and outcomes, or have tools that can be adapted to reflect these outputs and outcomes. If you need support in enhancing your data collection practices, please connect with us.

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