Understanding the Development and Impact of Child Advocacy Centres (CACs)
2. The Objectives of the FVS
The FVS involves several federal departments and agencies and is coordinated by the Department’s Policy Centre for Victim Issues. The FVS seeks to improve victims’ experiences in the criminal justice system by:
- enhancing victim participation in the criminal justice system;
- ensuring that victims and their families are aware of their role in the criminal justice system and the services available to support them;
- developing policy, legislation, and other initiatives which consider victims’ perspectives;
- increasing awareness of victims’ needs, legislation designed to protect them, and services available to support them among criminal justice system personnel, allied professionals, and the public; and
- creating and disseminating information about effective approaches in Canada and abroad to respond to victims’ needs.
Since the six CACs included in this study received financial support through the FVS, achievement of key FVS objectives were also examined. More specifically, the study assessed the extent to which the CACs:
- increased access to victim services,
- enhanced capacity to deliver appropriate and responsive victim services, and
- reduced financial and non-financial hardships for victims.
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