Child and Youth Advocate
About the Child and Youth Advocate Service
The Nipissing Transition House Child and Youth Advocate has a unique role in the shelter. She specifically advocates for the needs of children within the shelter and with their mothers. One thing that can never be forgotten is that while Mom may have been the primary target of the abuse at home, her children have been impacted by it and come to the shelter in crisis, just as Mom does.
The Child and Youth Advocate services include:
- Providing a wide range of information to both resident and non-resident women with a focus on children’s needs and parenting.
- Speaking on a Mother’s behalf and on behalf of her children with agencies and organizations that she deals with.
- Providing accompaniment specific to a woman’s needs as a parent or the needs of her children.
- When possible, providing childcare during admission to the shelter or to appointments where Mom cannot take her children.
- Completing intakes with Moms and children to better assist in determining the needs of the family.
- Safety planning for children.
- One-on-one non-therapeutic counselling with children.
- Assisting children with the adjustment of living in a shelter and the changes they are and will be experiencing in their lives.
- Fun. Many children who come to the shelter have not been able to experience the fun of just being a kid. The Child and Youth Advocate is a role-model and safe adult who provides them with the opportunity to 'just be a kid'.
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