OBJECTIVES:
Change for FIN's primary objective is to open a Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) in Kingston. This highly confidential environment will provide a safe and neutral setting for children and youth to disclose their stories to professional partner organizations such as police, child protection services, and victim services. Change for FIN will also support families in accessing medical, mental health, and legal professionals.
This collaborative approach will provide expert, integrated, and wrap-around services to victims or witnesses of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or maltreatment.
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Change for FIN is committed to changing the experience of children and their families in situations of abuse. Early assistance, action, and empowerment are critical to the long-term physical and mental well-being of children and youth impacted by abuse.
BACKGROUND:
Change for FIN started in 2015 when a group of concerned residents in Kingston came together to advocate for children and youth victims of abuse.
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Recognizing that there was no cohesive approach by community agencies to help families navigate the extremely complex legal and support systems, a volunteer board of directors was formed to create a Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC).
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The board is in the process of completing a feasibility study and thanks to the incredible support and generosity of the Kingston community, Change for FIN is working to achieve its mission of creating a community partner bug to provide collaborative and multi-disciplinary services to children and their families, and to facilitate community education and awareness opportunities to prevent child abuse.
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ABOUT US
ADVOCATE
Advocate for the rights of child survivors of violence
SUPPORT
Offer long-term support to children, youth, and their caregivers
STREAMLINE
Streamline the investigation and prosecution process
JUSTICE
Bring perpetrators to justice and stop the cycle of abuse
EMPOWER
Empower those impacted by child abuse to lead healthy and productive lives
Change for FIN’s Commitment to the Community:
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We work passionately in the best interests of children and youth;
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Our services are responsive and flexible, recognizing each child’s unique situation;
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We build respectful and effective relationships with children, youth, and their families;
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Our space is accessible, safe, and child and family-friendly;
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We foster professional public-private partnerships under one roof to ensure a coordinated, seamless, interdisciplinary response to child abuse victims; and
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We protect our community’s most vulnerable by providing a collective centre of leadership that promotes excellence in child abuse services, research, training, and education.