Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre

When a child or youth chooses to tell you something is happening to them it means they trust you and have identified you as a safe person to talk to. It is important to prepare ourselves and know how to react when hearing their story. How you react will have an impact on them and it’s crucial to know how to respond and what actions need to be taken. Remain Calm & Be Strong: Do not let the child see or sense any negative emotions or reactions, this may result in the child being less likely to tell their story again.

There are five main types of child abuse: Physical Abuse: The intentional use of force on any part of a child’s body that results in serious injuries. Sexual Abuse: The improper exposure of a child to sexual contact, activity, or behaviour. Emotional Abuse: Anything that causes serious mental or emotional harm to a child. Neglect: Any lack of care that causes serious harm to a child’s development or endangers the child in any way.

The Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CCYAC), a program of the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre, supports children and youth, along with their non-offending caregivers, throughout the investigative, judicial, and healing processes. Services include onsite forensic interviews in a child-friendly environment, emotional support, system navigation, and access to specialized therapeutic resources. The CCYAC collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of experts, including mental health professionals, law enforcement, child protection agencies, and crown prosecutors.