Helping victims becomechildren again

Child Advocacy Centre Niagara

Annual Report

2009 www.cacniagara.org

"Sexual assault is a very delicate subject, a ghost that lives with its victims for a lifetime." Heather Hall

Mission “Serve victimized children”

Vision “Helping victims become

children again”

One in Three girls and

One in Six boys in Canada experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.* * University of Victoria’s Sexual Assault Centre

Child Advocacy Centre Niagara is a “safe place to tell your secrets” for children traumatized by abuse. A friendly, caring team of professionals work together in a private, safe, child-friendly place. Children are able to provide information that aids in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. Follow-up counselling for children and non-offending family members is provided. Professional partners are Niagara Regional Police, Family and Children’s Services, Family Counselling Centre Niagara and medical professionals. Child Advocacy Centre Niagara is the first dedicated facility of its kind in Canada and serves all of Niagara’s 12 municipalities.

2009 Annual Report / 1

A Year in Review FRANK PARKHOUSE and CINDY PASKEY

2009 Annual Report / 2

“It’s all about the children.”

Frank Parkhouse

It’s immensely gratifying to me that the concept of a Child Advocacy Centre for Niagara came to fruition. When brought to my attention by a group of concerned professionals mid-1998, I knew this is the right thing to do. We’ve successfully operated for almost two years. Niagara’s children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse are better served and I couldn’t be more proud.

I’m deeply grateful for our many volunteers who work tirelessly, behind the scenes. At the start, I hadn’t imagined the long road we were embarking on, with its many ups and downs. Perseverance, the right volunteers and community support made the Centre a reality. Our dedicated team of professionals is able to do their important work, serving young victims and their families every day.

Much has changed in 2009. Roy Hardman, Board Chair, stepped down. Roy’s business expertise and countless volunteer hours were instrumental in developing our business plan and capital campaign that allowed for the purchase and renovation of the building, previously a small church. We miss his presence and wish him every success.

The Centre’s first Executive Director, Greg Shupe, moved on to pursue educational and new career opportunities. We are pleased Cindy Paskey, Executive Director, joined the team. Like all of us, she is deeply committed to improving the lives of Niagara’s abused children. Nicki Inch, our Program Administrator, warmly greets people who visit. Her position is funded through Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Steve Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, took up the cause for Advocacy Centres throughout Canada. He travelled from Ottawa, attending several of our community events. His speech can be viewed on our website.

The many positive comments we receive from all levels of government affirm the importance of Niagara’s multidisciplinary approach to child abuse. We are making strong efforts at securing core financial support needed to continue our work. We believe it’s just a matter of time, especially since the U.S. has demonstrated the effectiveness and cost efficiency of amalgamating services.

We are a model for Canadian Child Advocacy Centres. Communities across Canada are asking about our experience, recognizing the value of providing their children a centre such as ours.

Our partners, Niagara Regional Police Services, Family and Children’s Services, and Family Counselling Centre Niagara provide the highest level of professional, compassionate service. In 2009, nearly one child per day came through our doors. Sadly, abuse is much more prevalent than the known and reported cases. The stigma of abuse is often kept secret due to victim fears. The old system often made children feel guilty, as though they were the perpetrator. With Child Advocacy Centre Niagara we aim to change that experience.

My feelings are mixed when I see children at the Centre. I can’t help but feel good, knowing they have a safe, child-friendly place to be helped. I wonder (and worry about) how they will recover. I’ve learned how vitally important these first steps are in shaping their future.

Hearing from adults who kept their abuse secret for most of their lives, we’ve been told they would have come forward had a centre been available to them. Imagine how their lives would have been made easier.

Abuse robs children of their innocence. We are proud to “serve victimized children.” Our services are instrumental to “Helping victims become children again.”

“The Centre responds to a real need in our community.”

Cindy Paskey

“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, avert-ing our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.”

Garrison Keillor

2009 Annual Report / 3

Counselling is provided to children and their non-offending family members through Family Counselling Centre Niagara. Individualized and specialized therapeutic interventions give hope and let the healing begin.

In One Year 43 families received the counselling support they needed.

Effective, early intervention is the key to preventing high risk behavior which is prevalent in youth who have been abused as children. Research reveals abused children are more likely to repeat a grade in school and drop out of high school. Difficulties developing trusting relationships are not unusual. Physical and mental health suffer, with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, altered immune function, hypertension, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a tendency towards substance abuse, juvenile crime and risky behavior.

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2006; Goldman, Salus, Wolcott,

80% of all child abusers are the father, foster father, stepfather or another relative or close family friend of the victim.* * University of Victoria’s Sexual Assault Centre

“Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.

Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.

Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.

Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.”

Pamela Glenconner

* Based on CACN statistics, 2009

RELATIONSHIP TO CHILD*

Other Known Person 30%

Parent 26%

Unknown 17%

Foster Parents 11%

Other Known Relative 8%

Step Parent 4%

Parent’s boy/girl friend 4%

TYPE OF ABUSE*

Sexual, 52%Physical, 35%

Other 6%

Witnessed Violence, 5%

Neglect, 2%

“Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime.”

Herbert Ward

2009 Annual Report /5

In One Year 339 children from Niagara have been interviewed at CACN accompanied by non-offending family members. They and their loved ones have been helped.

Caring professionals gently interview each child, in an environment that is private, child-friendly and safe. Children go to one place and tell the details one time. Trained experts work as a team to achieve the best outcome. Child Advocacy Centre Niagara is an amalgamation of services. We are Canada’s first stand-alone facility devoted to easing the way for Niagara children who have suffered abuse.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Male, 43% Female, 57%

11 to 15 years, 43%

0 to 5 years, 25%

6 to 10 years, 29%

16 years and older, 4%

CHILD CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS*

Age Gender* Based on CACN statistics, 2009

a safe place to tell your secrets

In One Year 193 girls and 146 boys were able to talk about the alleged abuse in a safe, child-friendly environment.

If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much. Wright Edelman

2009 Annual Report / 6

Calvin’s Story Over several months, Calvin was subjected to threats of physical violence, and sexual abuse by his older brother.

Calvin’s mother could not protect him, because she too was physically abused by her oldest son.

At first Calvin was afraid to speak to the social worker and police, but once they were at the Child Advocacy Centre, everyone made him feel comfortable and at ease. Soon Calvin was able to tell his story.

“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.” Marion Wright Edelman 2009 Annual Report / 6

CACN has controls and procedures to ensure its long-term financial stability and integrity. An external independent financial audit is conducted annually by Thomas Galbraith Chartered Accountant. Complete audited financial statements are available on request.

Frank Parkhouse, Chair

Marlene DeRose, Vice Chair

Sue Phillips, Treasurer

Cheri Martin, Secretary

Shafee BacchusMarion BoaseDoug FrenchHeather HallGlenn Parker

EX-Officio:

Roy HardmanColleen Parks

2009BOARD OF DIRECTORS Funding Financial support helps Child Advocacy Centre Niagara maintain a

private and safe environment that is child-focused. We provide a caring, multi-disciplinary team of professionals. Services help reduce personal and societal costs associated with child abuse.

2009 Annual Report / 7

FUNDING OVERVIEW

Capital Campaign Pledges

29%

Partner Support 26%

Individual & Corporate

Contributions 21 %

Grants 18%

Special Events

5%

Income & Interest

1%

"I am not sure how many sins I would recognize in the world. Some would surely be defused by changed c i r c u m s t a n c e s . But I can imagine none that is more irredeemably sinful than the betrayal, the exploitation, of the young by those who should care for them." Elizabeth Janeway

2009 Annual Report / 8

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009

Statement of Financial Position Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 45,336 Temporary investments 20,234 GST receivable 1,049 66,619 Property, Plant & Equipment Land 128,056 Building 655,694 Equipment 9,293 Depreciation (71,392) 721,651 Restricted assets of Capital Campaign Fund 72,766 Total Assets 861,036 Liabilities Current liabilities 5,629 Due to Capital Fund 72,766 Current portion of long term debt 25,500 Long term debt 281,952 Total Liabilities 385,847 Equity Surplus 475,189

Statement of Financial Activities Revenue Contributions $ 65,263 Grants 46,000 Partner Support 66,000 Interest 623 Total Revenue 177,886 Expenses Advertising & promotion 10,577 Administration 17,449 Building operations 54,066 Building Utilities 7,291 Fund raising expenses 5,617 Wages & Benefits 54,860 Total Expenses 149,860

Excess of Revenue over Expenditures 28,026

FoundationsAbitibi Consolidated Thorold FoundationA. L. Branscombe FoundationThe Branscombe Family FoundationThe Fowler Family FoundationOntario Trillium Foundation

Community SupportAbsolutely Flawless SalonAlexandra Elementary SchoolArtful CookieBest Western Cairncroft HotelBetty's RestaurantBriardale Public SchoolCAA NiagaraCanadian Tire Financial ServicesCanal Marine & IndustrialCasa d'OroChateau Des CharmesChown Cairns LLPCity of St. CatharinesClub Capri College Street Public SchoolCoppola’s RistoranteCreations by Helen Diane's FlowersDilts Piston Hydraulics Inc.District School Board of NiagaraDon Reilly Resource CentreEagle Valley Golf ClubElectronic SupermarketEmbassy Suites HotelEmpire Public SchoolFirstOntario Credit UnionFitch Street Elementary SchoolFort Erie Public SchoolFraming Arts CentreFreedom 55 FinancialG. E. Galbraith Electric Ltd

General Vanier Public SchoolGeorge Darte Funeral HomeGreat Wolf LodgeGreen EarthHenley Island HelpersHoward JohnsonJames Morden Public SchoolJeffery's Greenhouses Ltd.Joe Feta'sJohn Marshall Elementary SchoolJordan Public SchoolJordan Village Kati's Beauty SpaKeefer Mansion InnKiwanis Club of StamfordLick’s Home BurgersLincoln FabricsLincoln GraphicsLions Club of Niagara FallsLittle Red Rooster RestaurantMandarin RestaurantMaple Grove Public SchoolMarjorie Yacobucci PhotographyMathews Public SchoolMay Court Club of St. Catharines Mechanical Contractors AssociationMichael's Inn Gruyich Services Inc.Morzoc Investments Inc.Napier Enterprises Nelles Public SchoolNew Life Pentecostal ChurchNiagara A/V SystemsNiagara Helicopters Ltd.Niagara Regional Police Senior Social ClubO'Hara Truck and Excavating Inc.Old Stone Inn, Niagara FallsOntario Limited 788831Outdoors Oriented Source for AdventureParliament Oak Public SchoolPerformance BMW, St. CatharinesPicasso's Salon Spa

Pinder's Lock & SecurityPort Colborne Hydro Inc.Port Dalhousie FinancialPower Glen Public SchoolPremier LimoPrince of Wales Public SchoolRBC Foundation GroupRetired Women Teachers of OntarioRichmond Street Public SchoolRiver View Public SchoolRobinsongRotary Club of Niagara FallsRotary Club of St. Catharines SunriseSaint Michael Catholic High SchoolSandercott & EvansSearsSenator Gibson Public SchoolSheehan & Rosie Ltd.Sheridan Park Public SchoolSilver Spur United Church WomenStamford DelicatessenSuD SkatesSullivan Mahoney LLPSunnybrook Farm Estate WineryT.R. EndeavoursTD Bank Financial GroupThe Future ShopThe Glass Bug StudioThe KegTim Hortons Scott Street EmployeesTown of PelhamTuxedo ToursUnited Way of Greater TorontoUnited Way of Niagara Falls & Fort ErieUnited Way of South NiagaraUnited Way of St. Catharines & DistrictVine FloralVineland Public SchoolWalker Industries Holding LimitedWestmount Public School

thank youthank you...to our 2009 Donors

“I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.”

Oprah Winfrey

2009 Annual Report / 9

Individuals Alois PoltlAndrea and Paul BevanAndrea GravelleAndrew PfeiferAndy NeroAnn Louise BranscombeAnna GazzelloneAntonietta SavoiaAntonio TrivieriBarbara GoodwinBarbara HughesBeverly BrooksBob and Starlet KempBonnie BrownBrandon KempBrian and Janet AdamsonBrian McArthurBruce and Barbara StevensBruce and Sharon VollickC George ThompsonCam and Linda GrayCarol KriskiCheryl BurgessChristine UrquhartClarice R. West-HobbsD AnzikDavid and Donna van MoorselDeb ArmitageDeborah MoaseDebra AtkinsonDr. Dianne Walser-JebbDon and Lois FretzDon and Cheryl LyndonDon and Irene WarkentinDon and Teri LizzottiDonna CunninghamDoug and Sue McEwenEarl and Tillie ClappElaine RichardsEmilie WetherellEmma NeroEric and Mary Ann SepallaEugene ParcoFrank and Ivy ParkhouseGary and Margie LizzottiGeorge CoppelGraham RepeiGreg Shupe

Guy and Saverina CovelloHeather HallHuguette ChmayIda LuceInes CosolettoJacquie Herman-WingJames and Joyce VidalJames BlochJames BradleyJanice P. LaileyJean ArmitageJean SprattJeff and Elaine WallisJeff DouglasJennie RobertoJessica GagnonJoe and Pauline CreightonJoe PfeiferJohn and Angela MieleJohn and Cathy HendersonJohn and Dale RobinsonJohn and Jan PottsJohn and Patricia McKenzieJohn FranceschiniJohn GillJohn LaFratteJosephine DeRoseJosephine SavoiaJudith PulaJulie SearlesKaren SaylorKathy SchroederKelly and Stephen McDonnellKristine DouglasKurtis KoffeeLaurence LovettLeslie CoatesLois and Tieche CuthbertLucy JanssenLuigi MadalenaLynn JerchelManta ZahosMarcel and Anna IamonacoMargaret LancasterMargo SmithMaria VolanteMarie GristMarilyn DyeMarion BoaseMarion Seymour-Lichty

Marlene and Rudy DeRoseMaya and David PickeringMichael FrancavillaMichael SheaMike and Marissa PisanoNancy AndersonNeil SavoyNelly PetrushkoNick and Lucy PisanoNick AnzikNicole BeaulieuPam WoodsPatricia KeighanPaul and Angela KozachenkoPaul and Katherine CollinsPaul and Nancy HartwellPaul DietschPaulette and Roland PeggsPenny BonazzaPenny TowndrowPrimo and Juliette CantoRaymond and Rosanne PetraroiaRennie and Tony PiscitelliRichard and Barbara RigbyRick WilliamsonRita PaceRobert and Linda LizzottiDr. Robert Stasiak Robert TiecheDr. Robin Williams Rocky and Colleen Di RaddoRoma and Brownie BernardRon and Mary Rose KennyRonald and Nancy JohnstonRosa VolanteRyan HarperShafee and May BacchusSherri Branscombe LavelleSherrill HollickShirley SharpeSusan PhillipsSusan ThibodeauSusan VignaTalin DoyleTed LucianiDr. Thomas Pekar Valerie BlairWendy LasloWilliam Anderson William Gallaway

“Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind.”

Henry David Thoreau

2009 Annual Report / 10

Child Advocacy Centre Niagara 8 Forster Street

St. Catharines, ON L2N 1Z9 905-937-5435

www.cacniagara.org

C.A.C.N.

Child Advocacy Centre Niagara

Many thanks to the generous donors who believe children throughout Niagara deserve “a safe place to tell your secrets”.