Each year, the City of Kamloops issues a call for proposals for registered charities and non-profit agencies in our community to apply for Social and Community Development Grants, which are intended to fund special projects, operational costs, and/or capital expenditures that address specific current social problems and/or issues related to the City’s Social Plan or the Livability and Sustainability pillar of the Council Strategic Plan.
Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre received a $10,000 Social and Community Development Grant in 2024. This is how the grant was used:
Submitted by Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre:
Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre provides a collaborative and client-centred response for our most victimized, vulnerable, marginalized, and powerless population—children and youths who have experienced maltreatment or have witnessed violence and become involved in the welfare and/or criminal justice system. We work hard to ensure a coordinated, seamless, and trauma-informed approach to investigations and that the needs of the child/youth are placed first.
The funding we received has strengthened our advocate program, enabling our advocates to provide crucial support to children and youths by offering crisis intervention during and after child and youth forensic interviews, assisting with interview follow-up support planning, and coordinating with the multi-disciplinary team through case reviews and health and wellness meetings. Our advocates help bridge the connection with community resources that promote healing and well-being and provide long-term follow-up to support their recovery and resilience.
We create a collaborative approach when investigating child abuse, which involves bringing all the professionals involved with the case together. These multi-disciplinary team meetings include case reviews, health and wellness meetings, and forensic interview planning meetings, so interviews are tailored specifically towards the child’s or youth’s needs. Our approach helps ensure that no child or youth falls through the cracks and creates a team approach to the common goal of recovery and wellness for everyone. The centre offers a warm, welcoming, supportive, and safe place where children and youths meet with police, child protection, Crown Counsel, and health professionals during investigations.
Children and youths who experience abuse need appropriate responses and support when abuse is first suspected to promote long-term recovery and healing and reduce adequate support and services are available to reduce the risk of maladjustment (poor mental health, etc.) in the future. The Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre supports these goals by addressing child abuse to mitigate adverse outcomes, ensuring children and youths are given respect, a voice, and opportunities to thrive and be included in society.
There are several child and youth advocacy centres across Canada delivering critical services in our communities—the child and youth advocacy centre approach has proven to be essential for improving the outcomes for children and youths and their families. We are continually learning how to better support children, youths, and families impacted by child abuse as they navigate the welfare and criminal justice systems, and receiving funding allows us to continue this important work.
Our team thanks you for supporting Big Bear Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and making a difference in the lives of children, youths, and their families who have been impacted by child abuse.
To learn more about this Social and Community Development Grant, visit Kamloops.ca/Grants. Review the full list of stories of how other groups used their Social and Community Development Grants.
