[Ottawa, Ontario, May 10, 2024] - The Interim Governing Council of the National Network of

Child and Youth Advocacy Centres is pleased to announce the start of its exciting journey

toward the creation of a national association of child and youth advocacy centres (CYACs)

to serve the needs of CYACs and members of the stakeholder community across Canada.

“The vision shared by all CYACs in Canada is that we live in a country where children are

safe and child abuse doesn’t happen,” said Karen Orser, Co-Chair of the Interim Governing

Council and CEO of Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. “Until that vision is realized,

we must ensure that all children and youth who experience abuse – no matter where they

live in Canada – have access to the highest quality supports and services offered by the

integrated teams of professionals at CYACs. This is what we aim to accomplish through

the national association.”

This announcement comes on the heels of the recent approval of seed funding for the

association from the Department of Justice Canada. This significant endorsement

underscores the collective commitment to prioritize the rights and well-being of children

and youth across Canada.

“We wouldn’t be here today without the longstanding commitment from the Department of

Justice Canada to the CYAC model and we look forward to further discussions with

officials about the association,” said Leah Zille, Co-chair and Executive Director of the

Treehouse Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. “The Interim Governing Council looks

forward to working with Association Management and Consulting Services (AMCES),

CYACs, and other key partners and stakeholders from across the country to ensure a

sustainable funding model is in place and the association is able to deliver on its critical

mandate for years to come.”

As an independent organization, the association will dedicate itself to serving as a national

voice, advancing collaboration and partnerships, and elevating consistent practices

throughout the country.

AMCES has been retained by the association’s Interim Governing Council to spearhead the

incorporation process and provide essential management and administrative support for

the initial two years following its launch.

Charting a Course for a Canadian Association of Child and Youth Advocacy Centres /

Tracer la voie d'une association canadienne des centres d’appui aux enfants et à la jeunesse

Initially, AMCES will undertake a consultation process involving CYACs and other

stakeholders across Canada. This process aims to determine the most appropriate

organizational structure for the association and identify strategies to effectively meet the

evolving needs of its constituents.

The consultation process will culminate in the development of recommendations

encompassing the association’s governance policies, membership model, and services.

Progress reports will be issued at regular intervals, and at specific milestones in this

project providing stakeholders with opportunities to offer feedback and shape the

direction of the association.

As a guiding principle throughout the development process, "Getting it Right", will

underscore the importance of collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity in the

development of the association. The input and involvement of stakeholders from diverse

backgrounds will be instrumental in shaping an association that will meet the needs of all

stakeholders.