Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre launches phase one of new practice model

“Today, at 8:00 this morning, we had our first group meeting discussing what that’s going to look like, and so it’s just very exciting we can now announce a CYAC practice is happening in our community,” said Tara Ettinger, coordinator and director for Big Bear CYAC.

Director of Operations for the Ministry for Children and Family Development in Kamloops Nadine Ryan says this collaboration is helpful in reducing stress on children and their families.

“It’s really important that when families and children come forward for services that our agencies in Kamloops come together in a very coordinated way so that we can provide the most timely response possible,” she said, “and to help families in that time of stress and to also help them connect with services that are going to assist their families in a time of need.”

In their first meeting, the agencies were already reviewing a child’s case and the best way to proceed.

“Today was really that opportunity to bring us to the table for the focus being on that child and streamlining and coordinating services,” said Tracy Scott, who works for Interior Health and serves as vice president for Big Bear CYAC, “so that’s what we did as a trial for today and for the most part it went well.”

The goal is to eventually have all of the essential services located in one building.

“We’re hoping in the next couple of years we’ll secure a location, secure a building and actually have Big Bear where all the professionals are actually working under the one roof,” Ettinger said.

Jocelyn Barratt, a social worker with the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) clinic, says a new building is necessary in order to have the space required for each of these professionals.

“That new space, dedicated to our project, I think is going to have some tremendous impacts, not just for families, but for the community partners coming together.”

In addition to having held their first meeting, the Big Bear CYAC is celebrating the launch of a documentary.

“Basically, what is a child and youth advocacy centre and why does it benefit a community when the model is practicing within a community?” Ettinger said.

The documentary is screening for invited guests at Mastermind Studios and will later be available for viewing on the Big Bear CYAC website.

by Jill Sperling

Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre launches phase one of new practice model

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