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Forensic Interviews: Capacity building and quality assurance framework for CYACs
What is it. Information obtained from children and youth is often the sole piece of evidence in police investigations of child abuse. This framework identifies key forensic interviewing practices to ensure legally sound, trauma-informed information gathering methods. It offers practical guidance to build interviewer capacity and improve the quality and consistency of forensic interviews across jurisdictions. How can it help me? Currently, Canada does not have a national governing body…
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Boosting Best Practice in CYACs: Evidence updates and implications to strengthen forensic interviewing
What is it. This document is a rapid evidence synthesis that summarizes new research on forensic interviewing between 2018-2024. A rapid evidence synthesis uses a quick yet rigorous approach to identify, review, and synthesize the most relevant research on a specific topic. This synthesis was completed in four phases: developing the search strategy, retrieving, and screening relevant literature, extracting and synthesizing key findings, and contextualizing the evidence with practical considerations. The search strategy was…
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Understanding the National Guidelines through a First Nations perspective
What is it. Before downloading the report, listen to this 30-minute conversation with the authors, Kristen Coyne and George Harris Jr. Encompass Support Services Society, the host organization of the Langley Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, partnered with a Cultural Advocate to explore the National Guidelines through a First Nations perspective. What began as an…
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Quality assurance in child forensic interviews
What is it. This webinar explored the role of quality assurance in maintaining the integrity of child forensic interviews. Quality assurance involves systematic processes used to ensure that services (e.g., forensic interviews) meet established standards and deliver consistent, reliable outcomes. Dr. Sarah MacDonald provided clear, practical recommendations to assess the quality of child forensic interviews through three key…
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Contributions of an integrated database to the multidisciplinary support of child victims of abuse
What is it. Responding to child abuse and neglect requires a coordinated response from child protection, mental health, medical, law enforcement, judicial, and victim services team members Yet fragmented systems make it difficult to understand service pathways. This study was conducted to address that gap by using Le SIAM’s new intersectoral database. The authors explored child and youth characteristics and…
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Measuring impact of CYACs: Co-developing a theory of change and minimum dataset for Alberta CYACs
What is it. Collecting consistent data across CYACs helps to reveal child abuse trends, highlight areas for ongoing improvement, guide service innovation, and inform practice directions for CYACs. This study highlights the need to collect consistent data to improve service delivery and strengthen programming that supports children, youth, and families who have experienced abuse. The authors describe a collaborative approach used by the…
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Effective monitoring of child forensic interviews
What is it. This webinar examines how interview monitors can strengthen the quality of child forensic interviews. Dr. Cassidy Biener and Dr. Heather Price share new research that clarifies the monitor’s role and why it is essential to both interview quality and the child’s experience. They outline strategies for strengthening the partnership between interviewers and…
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Implementation evaluation of remote testimony
What is it. Testimonial aids can help reduce the trauma children and youth may experience through participating in the criminal legal process and enable them to provide a fulsome testimony. Remote testimony is when a child or youth provides video testimony at a site other than the courthouse. Child and Youth Advocacy Centres have started…
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Remote testimony
What is it. This panel shared practical and legal insights to help CYACs plan and deliver remote testimony effectively. Remote testimony is when a child or youth provides their testimony virtually at a site other than the courthouse. Panelists discussed what CYACs need for a successful setup, such as reliable technology, private spaces, and clearly…
