About CYACC

Strengthening Canada's response to child abuse through national leadership, collaboration and evidence-informed practice.

Child & Youth Advocacy Centres of Canada (CYACC) is the national organization supporting and strengthening Child and Youth Advocacy Centres across Canada. We work alongside CYACs, governments, and sector partners, including Kindex, the research and knowledge centre of Canadian CYACs, to improve how communities respond to child abuse.

By convening leaders from across the country, supporting implementation of evidence-informed practices, advancing national standards, and fostering collaboration across jurisdictions, CYACC is working to ensure that children and youth, regardless of where they live, have equitable access to coordinated, child-centred and trauma-informed services.

Together, we are building a stronger national network that improves outcomes for children, youth and families while supporting lasting system change.

What We Do

CYACC is more than a membership organization. We serve as Canada's national leadership and coordination body for Child and Youth Advocacy Centres.

Our role is to strengthen the systems that support children and youth affected by abuse by:

• Convening leaders from across Canada's CYAC network
• Supporting national collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Advancing evidence-informed practice and continuous quality improvement
• Supporting implementation of justice reforms and child-centred public policy
• Promoting equitable access to high-quality Child and Youth Advocacy Centre services across Canada
• Building national capacity through education, accreditation, research partnerships and sector leadership

By working collaboratively with governments, researchers, Indigenous partners, service providers and communities, CYACC helps strengthen the consistency, quality and accountability of child advocacy services across Canada.

Our Vision All children and youth impacted by abuse in Canada have access to the services and supports provided by a CYAC model that are of the highest quality and aligned with evidence-informed best practice.

Our Mission To be relentless champions for children and youth through our support of all Canadian CYACs. Our focus is on raising awareness, increasing capacity, and advancing sustainability nationally.

We are proud to work alongside dedicated professionals, partners, and communities who are making a difference every day. Thank you for being part of this important work.

 

Our Logo

At its core, the Child & Youth Advocacy Centres of Canada logo design symbolizes holding children as the heart of everything CYACC does. With arms in an embracing form, the central child figure is joyously reaching upward and forward, representing collective effort toward each child’s well-being. This main figure embodies strength and momentum, rising together with purpose. The shapes clustered together are directly inspired by Indigenous beading practices. Beading is a cherished intergenerational practice among Indigenous peoples in Canada, embodying cultural significance and the beader’s identity. The circle beads in different sizes and colours represent the diversity of the CYACC member centres, along with the diversity of the children and youth they serve, and the strength of connecting together. The logo conveys energy, joy, and movement; as the vibrant colours and friendly, round shapes interact with one another  to form the full brand identity. With the acronym type in lowercase, this gives the logo mark  a friendly, approachable and accessible feel, while maintaining  the sturdy sincerity that CYACC embodies.