MOOSE JAW — Moose Jaw’s victim services co-ordinator is thrilled with a new venue that will better support abused children and youths by providing them with enhanced trauma-informed services.
During a news conference at the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) headquarters on Aug. 26, representatives with the provincial and federal governments announced the opening of the Little Oak Child and Youth Justice Centre and the expansion of the victim services responder program.
Ottawa is contributing $470,000 over two years toward the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), while the province is providing $223,344, of which $132,717 is dedicated to the centre and $90,627 supports the hiring of two extra internet child exploitation (ICE) officers.
The province announced this funding in April.
The new venue will provide a comfortable and safe environment for children and youths under age 18 who have been victims of abuse, while it will help them and their families navigate the various systems they encounter with support from a multi-disciplinary team.
During a tour of the centre, Terri Roney, the victim services co-ordinator for the MJPS and Moose Jaw RCMP, said the CYAC will meet children where they are, with officers trained in child forensic interviews speaking with the victims. Furthermore, staff with victim services and social services will be available to offer support depending on the case.
“I think it’s honestly a great improvement … for Moose Jaw,” she said. “Unfortunately, these files do happen, and so it’s important that we have the resources in our community to do this.”
Continuing, she said that if Moose Jaw can do as well in helping children and families as other CYACs in Regina and Saskatoon, then everyone in the area will benefit.
The venue opened recently and staff have already conducted several interviews with children and youths.
Previously, an officer would still interview a child with support from victim services and social services, but those conversations would happen in the police station, Roney said. Sometimes those officers would be in uniform, while the interviews would occur in a “soft room” used for adults.
“It worked (and) they did a great job. But as we move forward and learn more about trauma-informed practices, this is just the right avenue to go,” she stated. “And it’s exciting for our community.”
Roney has been the victim services co-ordinator for more than four years, while Sven, her six-year-old black Labrador retriever, has been the accredited facilities dog since December 2022. She noted that such animals play an important role in supporting abused or traumatized children, youths or adults, with officers able to request Sven’s presence for interviews.
Furthermore, the dog can be present in court as a testimonial aid for victims. Therefore, children may see Sven several times as they go through the legal process, which is positive since he helps build relationships while making them feel safe.
Professionally, Roney said she is excited to have officers work in the CYAC, while she is also excited for the children since the venue is a calm, soothing setting.
“There is a lot of thought that went into this space, so I think anything that we can do better in a more trauma-informed practice is a positive, so I’m really happy about that … ,” she added. “I think it’s a really good space.”
During the news conference, the Hon. Buckley Belanger, MP for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River in Saskatchewan and secretary of state for rural development, said every child deserves to feel safe, supported and heard. This is important since “child abuse is heartbreaking” and lasts a lifetime.
He noted that the CYAC model helps roughly 20,000 children, youths and families in Canada annually. Also, over the past decade, federal funding of more than $50 million has supported 45 CYAC venues across the country.
“I have no doubt that Little Oak will become a place of safety (and) … healing for countless children and families in Saskatchewan in the years ahead,” Belanger added.
