• Mission
• Background
• Goals
• Community Partners
• Guiding Principles
• Meeting Dates

To address the systemic needs of children who are exposed to or experiencing domestic and sexual violence.

In June 1999, representatives from the Calgary Domestic Violence Committee (CDVC) and HomeFront Children's Treatment Subcommittee came together to work towards increased coordination and access to resources for children who witness or are exposed to family violence. They referred to themselves as the Children�s Treatment Committee. The purpose of this Children�s Treatment Committee was to contribute to the reduction of domestic violence through advocacy for, development of, and the enhancement of treatment and community interventions for families, specifically focusing on children impacted by abuse. They operated in a manner consistent with the goals, values, and principles of CDVC and HomeFront.
The first task of the Children's Treatment Committee was to identify programs that provide specialized domestic violence treatment services for children and to clearly define how domestic violence treatment can be differentiated from other types of treatment. As part of this process an overview of treatment programs providing domestic violence treatment for children in Calgary was developed. In addition the Committee has:

• Developed guidelines for children's treatment programs,
• Obtained seed funding and served as an advisory committee to the development of the collaborative Safe Visitation project housed at the YWCA Sheriff King Home, and
• Obtained funding for treatment programs for children.

1. Advocate for the needs of children who are abused within, impacted by, and/or exposed to domestic and sexual violence.
2. Influence social policy in Alberta and Canada as it affects children who are abused within, impacted by and/or exposed to domestic and sexual violence.
3. Elevate awareness of the issue of children who are abused within, impacted by, and/or exposed to domestic and sexual violence.
4. Ensure standards of excellence in service delivery are achieved in the sector.

Alberta Children's Advocate
Alberta Children's Hospital Child Abuse Service
Action Committee Against Violence
Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA)
Calgary Counselling Centre
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter
Catholic Family Service
Children's Cottage
Discovery House
HomeFront
Sonshine Centre - Community Services
Wood's Homes
YWCA Sheriff King Home
Return to top

• We believe children have the right to be safe and to live a life free of social, emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse.
• We believe the physical and emotional safety of the child and the child's family is central to the treatment process.
• We believe the person who chooses abusive behaviour is responsible for initiating, continuing and stopping the violence.
• We believe to be effective, programs for children who are exposed to domestic and sexual violence must be part of a coordinated effort to stop the violence. This includes the involvement of the child(ren) affected, the non-abusive person, the person who has chosen to act abusively, the police, Children's Services, the judiciary, community agencies, and the Legislature.

September 18th, 2006
October 16th, 2006
November 20th, 2006
December 18th, 2006
January 15th, 2007
February 19th, 2007
March 19th, 2007
April 16th, 2007
May 21th, 2007
June 18th, 2007

If you would like more information on this committee, or would like to know how to get involved please contact the Community Development Coordinator (Child & Youth Portfolio) at nyoule@acav.org or 283-3013 ext.226
Return to top