Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna

03/18/2026

🌍💙 Happy World Social Work Day!

Social workers show up in so many ways for our community’s most vulnerable, and our CYAC multi-disciplinary team is a perfect example. We’re proud to work alongside dedicated social workers from Interior Health, Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society, and within our own Child & Family Advocacy and Resilient Families Mental Health programs.

From case coordination and medical advocacy to criminal justice navigation and clinical mental health services, social workers at the CYAC put compassion into action every day, supporting children, youth, and families on the path to healing from child abuse and neglect.

We are grateful to know them and to call them colleagues and partners in this essential work. 💙

03/17/2026

Make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families. 💙

The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna is looking for a clinician to provide trauma-informed counselling and mental health assessments for children, youth, and caregivers impacted by child abuse.

Working as part of a mutually-supportive multidisciplinary team, you’ll contribute to coordinated care alongside professionals from law enforcement, child protection, victim services, and healthcare—helping ensure young people receive the support they need on their journey to healing.

If you are a clinician with strong assessment skills, experience in trauma-informed practice, and a passion for collaborative, child-centered care, we look forward to hearing from you!

🔗 Learn more by clicking the link in our bio.

03/17/2026

Make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families. 💙

The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna is looking for a clinician to provide trauma-informed counselling and mental health assessments for children, youth, and caregivers impacted by child abuse.

Working as part of a mutually-supportive multidisciplinary team, you’ll contribute to coordinated care alongside professionals from law enforcement, child protection, victim services, and healthcare—helping ensure young survivors receive timely, holistic care to begin healing.

If you are a clinician with strong assessment skills, experience in trauma-informed practice, and a passion for collaborative, child-centered care, we look forward to hearing from you!

🔗 Learn more at: https://cyackelowna.com/join-our-team/

02/18/2026

At the heart of this work are strong partnerships that put children first, and the everyday heroes who bring those partnerships to life.

We are both proud and deeply grateful to work alongside dedicated BC RCMP Members like Cst. Mike Lewendon and S/Sgt. Tim Russell, who protect and support our community’s most vulnerable children and families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Please watch the video below to learn more about the critical work of our colleagues with the Kelowna RCMP Child Abuse Unit, who report for duty to the CYAC as essential members of our collaborative, multidisciplinary response to cases of child abuse and neglect.

Together, we give children a safe space to share their truth and the trauma-informed support they and their families need on their journey toward healing.

This is the work most people never see and few could do. Meet Cst. Mike Lewendon and S/Sgt. Tim Russell as they take us behind the scenes of the Kelowna RCMP...

02/16/2026

Happy Family Day from all of us at the CYAC. 💙 Today we celebrate the many forms family can take and the power of care, connection, and belonging.

02/13/2026

Thank you, Landmark District, for shining your light on our work.

We can't help but be reminded of the Mister Rogers theme song:
🎵It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, a beautiful day for a neighbour...!🎵

This is Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna’s Wellness Space 🤍 A place of care, safety, and healing for children, youth, and families in our community.⁠
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Through their Resilient Families Program, the CYAC provides timely, evidence-based mental health support to those who need it most. The impact speaks for itself:⁠
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• 1,077 mental health sessions delivered in their last operating year⁠
• 76% of children and youth initially presented with symptoms consistent with clinical PTSD⁠
• After treatment, 90% saw their symptoms reduced to non-clinical levels⁠
• 100% of children experiencing depression or anxiety had symptoms reduced to non-clinical levels⁠
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Every session matters. Every child matters. Every family matters.⁠
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You can learn more about the important work they do by heading to their website CYACkelowna.com 🔗

02/12/2026

We are holding the community of Tumbler Ridge in our hearts as they navigate the aftermath of this week’s tragic events and thinking of the many children, families, friends, and neighbours whose lives have been profoundly impacted.

As an organization dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families who have experienced trauma, we understand the deep and lasting effects events like this can have on victims and survivors, their families, and surrounding communities. As a team of helping professionals, we also want to honour the many healthcare and mental health workers, educators, victim services workers, and community organizations who will walk alongside those impacted in the weeks and months ahead.

In times like these, we are reminded of the importance of compassion, connection, and standing together to provide safety, hope, and healing.

02/05/2026

A safe space to heal.

This is our Wellness Space, where children, youth, and families access timely, evidence-based mental health services through our Resilient Families Program.

In our last operating year:
💙 1,077 mental health sessions were provided at the CYAC
💙 76% of children and youth initially presented with symptoms consistent with clinical PTSD
💙 After treatment, 90% had their PTSD symptoms reduced to non-clinical levels
💙 100% of children with depression or anxiety had symptoms reduced to non-clinical levels

Every session, every child, and every family matters. Together, we are helping young survivors of child abuse and neglect heal and move forward with resilience.

01/27/2026

The CYAC is seeking an experienced 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 to provide senior clinical leadership within our Resilient Families program during an upcoming maternity leave.

This is a unique opportunity to lead trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health care for children and youth who have experienced abuse within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

We are looking for a seasoned clinician with strong judgment, a collaborative leadership style, and extensive experience in child and adolescent trauma. If you’re passionate about supporting children, youth, and families while growing your experience in a dynamic multidisciplinary setting, we’d love to hear from you!

To learn more and apply, please go to: https://cyackelowna.com/join-our-team/

01/16/2026

Our vision is a community of hope where children and youth feel safe, believed, and nurtured. 💙

Since opening our doors in January 2020, we’ve been working to bring this vision to life by uniting service professionals from different disciplines around the needs of vulnerable children and youth. At the CYAC, we work together as one team, coordinating investigative and support services through an integrated, trauma-informed, and child-friendly approach.

Recognized as a best-practice response to child abuse and neglect, CYACs strengthen communities by supporting children, youth, and their safe family members on the journey to healing. We are grateful to walk alongside them as we strive toward our vision of hope and the bright future that every child deserves.

01/09/2026

Today we celebrate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!

At the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna, BC RCMP members work hand-in-hand with our team every day, conducting forensic child interviews in our kid-friendly, trauma-informed environment. In the last operating year alone, 193 interviews took place at the CYAC.

From there, RCMP continue their investigations, while children and families begin their journey to healing, accessing coordinated, wrap-around supports on site.

Not everyone puts their hand up for this type of work. It takes immense care, empathy, and skill. We are deeply grateful to our partners in the RCMP for their dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. 💙