Victim Advocacy and Support Services – Victim Supports

Victim advocacy and support services are offered to all children, youth, and families at the CYAC to help reduce trauma and improve outcomes.

Activities

Victim advocacy and support services can be provided when the child/youth and family come to the CYAC for investigative elements, or during the court process. For victim advocacy and support services specific to the court process, click here [insert link to the court support page]

CYAC activities within the core are of victim advocacy and support services (victim supports) may include: 

  • A victim support specialist liaises between the child/youth, family, and MDT to provide information and resources
  • A victim support specialist ensures continuity of service for the family by acting as single point of contact
  • A victim support specialist acts as the voice of the child in all MDT and case conference discussions related to the file
  • During the child/youth’s interview, caregivers will meet with a designated victim supports specialist who will assess protective factors, identify immediate needs, and provide resources
  • During the child/youth’s interview, caregivers will meet with a designated victim supports specialist to better understand next steps in the investigative and healing journey

For more detail on victim advocacy and support services, see the national guideline and key components.

CYAC Guidelines

Outputs

The types of activities at your CYAC will determine what outputs you track related to victim advocacy and support services. Example outputs are: 

  • # of family contacts
  • #, type and nature of supports provided
  • # and type of referrals

Child and youth outcomes

Victim advocacy and support services within the CYAC model can contribute to safety, justice, and healing for children, youth, and their family. Ways to know how victim advocacy and support services contribute to these outcomes are: 

Safety

  • Children, youth, and caregivers are aware of who their victim supports specialist is, their role, and how to contact them
  • Families are supported with transportation, parking, and childcare
  • Basic needs are assessed and supported
  • Protective factors are recognized and built upon
  • Children, youth, and caregivers have access, or are referred, to the supports and services they need
  • The family is updated regularly
  • The MDT incorporates natural supports into their work with children, youth, and caregivers

Justice

  • Children, youth, and caregivers remain engaged in services between the investigation and prosecution phases

Healing

  • Increased connections with family, friends, and community
  • Caregivers know how to support the child/youth

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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