Legislative Barriers to Integrated Practice in Child Advocacy Centres
Abstract
A significant portion of the Canadian population has experienced abuse in
their childhood, with some studies claiming the prevalence being as high as 32% of
Canadians (Afifi et al, 2014). The effects of child abuse-related trauma can be
physical and mental and can last well into adulthood. There are also significant
fiscal costs associated with child abuse and resultant trauma.
The current policy response in Canada is the adoption of Child Advocacy
Centres (also known as Child Protection Centres or Youth Advocacy Centres). The
Child Advocacy Centre model is based on integration, as agencies occupy the same
space and share expertise in order to provide victims with the best possible care
and resources. The goal of these centres is to create a “one-stop-shop” of services for
victims of abuse. Several cost-benefit analyses of the currently operating centres
suggest that they are positive models for streamlining child abuse cases and also
have a significant social return on investment.
The goal of this study is to illuminate barriers that inhibit integration
between organizations within these centres. How and when organizations are
permitted to share information are important aspects of such integration. This
Description
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Article
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Keywords
International Resources, Canada, Children's Advocacy Center, legislation, multidisciplinary teams
Citation
Jenner, B. (2017). Legislative Barriers to Integrated Practice in Child Advocacy Centres (Master's thesis, Graduate Studies).