A centre designed to make it easier for children to disclose abuse has opened in Windsor.
The Windsor-Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre has officially opened the doors at its permanent location at St. Clair College in the Anthony Toldo Centre for Applied Health Sciences.
"Annually, sadly, over 700 cases of child youth physical and sexual abuse are investigated by partner agencies in the Windsor-Essex County area, these are just the reported cases," says Essex County OPP Inspector Glenn Miller.
The centre allows for a co-ordinated and seamless approach on how to deal with the abuse with a specially trained team of professionals consisting of police, child protection workers and medical staff. There are interview and monitoring rooms in the centre.
It was temporarily located at Windsor Regional Hospital but it needed to expand hence the new location.
"Victimization is a complex issue," says Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick. "But they tell me that 93% of perpetrators are known to their victims when it is a child, so that tells me it makes it more difficult for a young person to come forward to report."
The Windsor-Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre opens at St. Clair College. (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
Windsor Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre Executive Director Michelle Oake says the location is child-friendly and safe.
"It is right on a bus route so we can service the Windsor and Essex community and it is right off the highway too so it is a perfect location and it is also being housed in an educational facility. It is a neutral environment."
The centre will also prevent a child from having to repeat their story, therefore reducing trauma.