A series of booklets has been prepared to assist Islanders who have been affected by child sexual abuse, says Community Services, Senior and Labour Minister Valerie E. Docherty.
“Child sexual abuse results in devastating effects on children and their families,” said Minister Docherty. “All Islanders need to work together to prevent child sexual abuse and support those already affected. The four-part series entitled ‘What Happens Now’ is an excellent resource for anyone affected by child sexual abuse.”
The booklets, prepared by the Provincial Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Committee (PCSAAC), explain what child sexual abuse is and what things are likely to happen following reporting of an incident, such as interviews, laying of charges, undertakings, and testifying in court.
The “What Happens Now” series has been distributed to front-line workers across the province including all RCMP and municipal police departments and child protection offices. They have also been distributed to programs in community and correctional services, and to school counselors in all Island school districts.
Booklets prepared by the Provincial Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Committee include:
• “What Happens Now: A booklet to help children who have been sexually abused”
• “What Happens Now: A booklet to help families of children who have been sexually abused”
• “What Happens Now: A booklet for persons charged with a sexual offence involving a child”
• “What Happens Now: A booklet for family or friends of a person charged with a sexual offence against a child”
The PCSAAC was formed to promote an informed, co-operative and collaborative response to child sexual abuse, and to promote public awareness and child sexual abuse prevention strategies across the province.
“The committee is an excellent example of government and community working together to raise awareness of the reality of child sexual abuse in our families and in our communities,” said PCSAAC Chairperson Dr. Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl. “By working together, we continue to give voice to vulnerable children in an effort to enhance prevention, protection and intervention services.”
All four booklets in the “What Happens Now” series can be accessed online at www.gov.pe.ca/csa. All booklets are available in both official languages.