Simcoe County –A new partnership between New Path Youth & Family Services (New Path) and the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka (CYACSM) aims to make the transition to child and youth mental health services easier for children and youth who have experienced physical or sexual abuse. This partnership will see CYACSM staff supporting children and youth at New Path offices across Simcoe County, creating more timely and easier transitions to mental health services at those same locations.
“You can certainly imagine how frightening it can be for a child or youth to have the courage to disclose that they have been physically or sexually abused. Each situation can be extremely frightening and intimidating, and in these circumstances every child deserves a safe, trauma-informed space to tell their story,” says Dawn MacDonald, Executive Director, The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka. “It’s through our new partnership with New Path that our team of multi-disciplinary partners can conduct forensic interviews across the broader region of Simcoe Muskoka and bring the supportive care of our Child & Youth Advocates closer to home for many families. We know the mental health effects of abuse on children and youth are significant and require on-going support through prevention education, early interventions, therapy, and timely system navigation; our community partners like New Path make it possible for us to ensure this happens.”
New Path is the Lead Agency for child and youth mental health in Simcoe County with the goal of ensuring that all children, youth and families receive timely transitions to mental health services when and where they need them. This partnership helps to ensure access to crucial mental health supports for vulnerable children and youth in our community.
“This is a win-win and a wonderful partnership that has been made possible because of our hybrid working model at New Path, which leaves some of our offices available to be used by our partners, like the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre,” says Jim Harris, CEO, New Path Youth and Family Services. “This creative use of space enables us to support the critical work of the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and enhance those warm hand offs we always strive to make, meaning that children and youth that have experienced abuse will be referred seamlessly and more comfortably to mental health services at New Path. We are committed to working in collaboration with partners that support children and youth and sharing resources, which is simply the right thing to do.”
About the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka
The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka (CYACSM) supports children, youth, and families through the difficult, and frightening process of abuse investigations. We work alongside police and child protection services as a multidisciplinary team, to provide support, care, and system navigation when a report or disclosure of abuse has been made. The Advocacy Centre is voluntary and free of charge for all children/youth (up to and including age 24) and their non-offending family.
The CYACSM provides a child-friendly, trauma-informed space for child abuse forensic interviews to be held, accompanied by the support of a Child & Youth Advocate and a Facility Canine. Child & Youth Advocates support child/youth victims or witnesses of crime including physical abuse, sexual abuse, online exploitation, neglect, intimate partner violence, as well as human trafficking. Our Advocates are with children, youth, and families every step of the way. From the time police or child protection services schedule a forensic interview, throughout their journey, until they feel our support is no longer needed.
Child & Youth Advocates provide individualized coordination of the forensic interview, forensic interview support, and follow up/ongoing support with system navigation, needs assessments, key community & service referrals, education, and connection to cultural resources.
About New Path Youth & Family Services of Simcoe County
New Path Youth & Family Services of Simcoe County (New Path) is an accredited children’s mental health agency providing a range of compassionate, innovative and accessible services for children, youth and their families throughout Simcoe County. We are a registered not-for-profit charitable organization with office locations across Simcoe County, including Alliston, Barrie, Bradford, Cookstown, Collingwood, and Orillia. New Path is also the Lead Agency for children’s mental health in Simcoe County with the goal of enhancing the experience and outcomes of children, youth and their families seeking assistance with mental health and wellness.
New Path offers mental health services for children, youth and their families in-person, by-phone or online. A range of free mental health services are offered by professional counsellors. Families can access a range of free counselling and therapy services by booking an appointment through the Quick Access Child and Youth Mental Health Clinic: www.newpath.ca/book-now/ or for those without internet access, by calling New Path at 705-725-7656.
To learn more about New Path, to donate, or get involved please visit www.newpath.ca, follow us on social media Facebook: New Path Youth & Family Services Twitter: @NewPathYFS Instagram: @NewPathYFS or sign up for our TrailSigns Newsletter