Karyn Kennedy
Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
As President & CEO, Karyn Kennedy supervises the management of staff at Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and is actively involved in the development and implementation of new programs and services for children who have been victimized and their families, including Toronto’s first Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, which opened in October 2013. Karyn has presented workshops in Canada and internationally for social workers, police, teachers, physicians, emergency workers and other professionals on issues related to the prevention, investigation, assessment and treatment of child abuse. She has provided guidance and advice to numerous organizations in the development of CACs/CYACs and has taken a leadership role in developing draft guidelines for CACs/CYACs in Ontario and Canada.
OBJECTIVESBoost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) provides an innovative response to child abuse investigations. A partnership among community and government agencies, professionals are co-located for a coordinated,... [ view full abstract ]
OBJECTIVES
Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) provides an innovative response to child abuse investigations. A partnership among community and government agencies, professionals are co-located for a coordinated, interdisciplinary response to child abuse victims. Most cases involve complex trauma associated with serious physical and sexual abuse, and intergenerational trauma. A key objective of this 20-month study was to determine which aspects of the CYAC model contributed to more comprehensive and timely responses to the needs of child/youth victims and caregivers.
METHOD
The evaluation was a mixed-method, multi-site, longitudinal, multi-stakeholder approach. Tools were developed and implemented to collect data from all five Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) services, allowing for the evaluation and implementation of best practice standards and evidence-informed multidisciplinary practices and services.
RESULTS
Key findings revealed that significantly more victim and caregiver referrals to community services, and CYAC mental health services, occurred during joint child protection and police investigations as opposed to independent investigations, and when an Advocate was involved in cases. Investigations with an Advocate were more likely than those without to utilize mental health services. CYAC cases resulted in more referrals when compared to non-CYAC cases, and increased access to timely medical care and treatment, including crisis support and individual and family counselling. MDT members reported superior communication and effective relationships with all partners, resulting in improved connection with clients and resolution of complex cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on evaluation results, the Boost CYAC model led to better collaboration between MDT members, resulting in more coordinated investigations. This increased collaboration contributed to investigative efficiencies, and most importantly, additional support to child/youth victims and families, specifically access to medical and mental health and treatment services. Through interactive discussion, participants will have an opportunity to discuss successful strategies to develop an effective MDT, as well as how to overcome obstacles.
Multi-disciplinary Interagency Approaches (MDIA) and Child Protection Units [Micromanageme
