Changing the Story of Child Abuse in Manitoba
By Christy Dzikowicz, Chief Executive Office at Toba Centre
Each year in our province more than 4,000 cases of child abuse are investigated, and this is likely just the tip of the iceberg as we know many more go unreported. The impacts of child abuse can be devastating and lifelong when children and families don’t receive the support and care they need to help heal.
The agencies and services involved in responding to child abuse have always done important, vital work, but they have not always worked together. This has often meant children and families attended appointments at various locations that are not child friendly, spending time stuck in waiting rooms and having to repeat their story over and over again.
Toba Centre for Children & Youth (Toba Centre) is changing this for kids in Manitoba. As Manitoba’s first and only child advocacy centre (CAC), Toba Centre provides a coordinated community response to child abuse.
Children and families are at the heart of everything we do. They visit one location and receive wrap-around support from a multi-disciplinary team of professionals – law enforcement, medical, child protection, and other support services – who work together to reduce potential trauma and improve services overall.
While we wish there was no need for Toba Centre and no child had to endure abuse, we are thankful we’re able to provide a safe environment where kids and families can feel comfortable and receive the support they need to heal.
Toba Centre for Children & Youth is a charitable organization that coordinates a collaborative approach to interviewing child abuse victims and children who have witnessed violent crimes. To learn more about their work visit tobacentre.ca.