Sophie’s Place Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Wins Big at Police Officer of the Year Awards
Vancouver, British Columbia — October 12, 2016 — Sophie’s Place Child & Youth Advocacy Centre won big at the recent Surrey Police Officer of the Year Awards! The Advocacy Centre dedicated to young victims of child abuse, won the Police and Business Partnership Award. What’s more, Sophie’s Place Sergeant, Lyndsay O’Ruairc took home the coveted Police Officer of The Year Award – Nominated by Community!
Named after their patron, Sophie Tweed-Simmons, Sophie’s Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) allows children and youth aged 0-18 to report their experience of physical, mental or sexual abuse in a child-friendly space where they feel safe and welcome. Since 2012, their trained staff and law enforcement professionals have worked to ensure the children they see are heard, and their families have the support they need.
Director of Sophie’s Place, Judy Krawchuk proudly acknowledges all of the agencies who worked together, and continue working together to make Sophie’s Place a reality, “We provide a best-practices model where abused children can receive the services they need from a multi-disciplinary team. That team includes members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), social workers of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), victim services workers of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (MPSSG), and a children’s support coordinator of The Centre for Child Development.”
With 1 in 3 Canadian girls, and 1 in 6 Canadian boys being sexually abused before they reach adulthood, one can see the need for an agency like Sophie’s Place. Says patron Sophie Tweed-Simmons, “It’s really important that kids have a place to go where they can be taken seriously, and where they can express what’s happened to them in a safe environment.”
Clearly, their community and peers feel the same way. Congratulations to Sophie’s Place CYAC and all the other deserving nominees, finalists and winners!
How can you help? Each year, Sophie’s Place needs $150,000 to continue the work they do. Please help by making a donation today.