Regional News
November 27, 2008 08:54 PM
Teresa Latchford
York Region Abuse Program is turning 20, but it’s the community that should be celebrating.
The organization, which is dedicated to supporting those who have experienced child sexual abuse already has a portfolio of programs, but even after two decades of service, its programs continue to expand.
“People live with the trauma in different ways,” executive director Alison Peck said. “We serve a very diverse region so the wider range of programming we can offer, the more people we can support.”
The organization has expanded its child and family program, which provides individual and group therapy for children three to 12 years old who have been sexually abused.
It also offers psycho-educational support for their caregivers, thanks to a capacity grant from the Ontario Victims Services Secretariat.
This expansion allows for the assessment of a child’s sexualized behaviour.
“This behaviour needs to be addressed because the child could be at risk of offending,” Ms Peck explained.
“The assessment can tell us if a child could go from victim to victimizer.”
Funds from the United Way of York Region have allowed the organization to hire additional front-line staff to facilitate more support programming for males and females who have experienced sexual abuse in their childhood and are dealing with the emotions as adults.
A recent partnership with a local community advisory group led to the creation of a support group specifically for gay and bisexual men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
“We need to provide a safe and supportive environment in each working group,” Ms Peck added.
“People tend to be most comfortable with others like themselves.”
The organization is working on adding a support group for lesbians.
The program offers an abuse prevention program designed to reach elementary and high school students through plays, videos and classroom discussions surrounding abuse, defining the term and teaching youth to stay safe from all forms of abuse.
The volunteer program also relies on contributions of volunteers and students who provide administrative, outreach, transportation, fundraising and participation support to sustain programs and services.
For more information about programs at YRAP, call 905-853-3040 and ask to speak to a representative from the intake department.