About Us

Who We Are

WE ARE WECYAC

We are Windsor Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre, the only child/youth advocacy center in Windsor Essex and a trusted ally for children, youth, and families in need of support and advocacy. WECYAC serves children/youth who are under 18 years of age and who have suffered sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, sexual exploitation and are witnesses of domestic violence or abuse.

We provide a safe space for children/youth to disclose abuse to a specially trained team of professionals.

CYAC

Child / Youth Advocacy Centre

At WECYAC, we’re a dedicated team focused on giving children and teens who’ve faced abuse the support they need. We get it – it’s tough. That’s why we’re here to create a safe space where they can begin to heal and thrive. We team up with experts like the police, therapists, and hospitals to make sure they get the right help. Our goal? To kickstart their journey to healing and make sure they get the justice they deserve. We’re all about working together, using different approaches tailored to each young person’s situation and needs.

Our Vision + Mission

Vision:

To be the most compassionate, innovative, and responsive organization empowering young victims of abuse and crime.

Mission:

To deliver community-based support to child and youth victims of abuse and crime through collaborative investigation, advocacy, and exceptional care.

Our Values:

COMPASSION

We prioritize caring and understanding in all interactions, demonstrating integrity, honesty, and respect. Our commitment is to actively listen empathetically.

COLLABORATION

We build strong partnerships with community stakeholders to enhance service delivery and coordination. Committed to a collaborative approach, we are open to share and grow in our own expertise with other professionals and the broader community.

COMMITMENT

Our passion drives us to consistently advocate for the best interests of the children, youth, and families we serve. We acknowledge the individuality of each child, adapting our services to meet their specific needs with flexibility and responsiveness.

INNOVATION

We create programs and services that are specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of the children, youth, and families we serve. We work closely with our community partners to develop, deliver, and coordinate services.

INTEGRITY

We place the needs of children and youth at the forefront of our work, building trust through effective relationships and respectful actions. Our conduct consistently reflects our deep respect for the children, youth, and families we support.

Our History

Since opening our doors in 2018, WECYAC has been dedicated to supporting and advocating for the children and youth in our community. From the beginning, our mission has been to provide a safe, nurturing environment where our children and youth can find the help and resources they need.

Over the years, we have grown and evolved, continually expanding our services and collaboration  to better meet the needs of those we serve. Our commitment to protecting and empowering children and youth of Windsor remains at the heart of everything we do.

2018-2019

WECYAC opened its doors in the Applied Health Sciences Building, located on the main campus of St. Clair College. The only CYAC in Canada to be housed in an academic institution

2019-2020

WECYAC hired a full-time Advocate providing support and service to our community and continues to work towards building partnerships.

2020-2021

WECYAC saw a 37% increase in clients serviced and a 77% increase in interviews hosted. WECYAC hired additional staff to meet the needs of our community during the ongoing pandemic.

2021-2022

WECYAC continued to see a steady increase in clients served, interviews hosted, and charges laid despite the lasting repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022-2023

WECYAC saw an increase in total clients served (22%), charges laid (24%), male children (18%) children aged 13-17 years (64%), and sexual abuse (16%).