Message from the president...
In 2007, we will complete the implementation of the Centre d’expertise en agression sexuelle Marie-Vincent. In operation for only a few months, the Centre currently plays a leadership role in Québec in the area of countering sexual abuse. The Centre is also supported by the Government of Québec’s “Stratégie d'action jeunesse 2006-2009”.
The Centre d’expertise will use the funds raised by the Foundation to fulfil its mission and it will employ best practices focused on cutting edge training. The Centre will implement specialized treatment for four to twelve year-old children and their parents for a twelve week period. Effective in 2007, the Centre will also offer a treatment program for children dealing with sexual disorders, as well as personalized services for parents of children who disclosed a sexual aggression. These new services are part of the Centre’s mission to increase its professional and scientific activities in order that its staff and partners adopt a learning culture focused on the ongoing development of expertise in the area of sexual abuse. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the excellent work accomplished in this field by Lucie Joyal and her team of professionals and I congratulate them for their uplifting dedication and creative spirit.
In the coming year, the Marie-Vincent Interuniversity Chair on child sexual aggression, directed by Professor Marc Tourigny, will undertake two research projects. The first project will involve the intergenerational cycle of child sexual abuse and the second initiative will address the co-occurrence of child abuse and its impact on adult life.
It is estimated that more than half the mothers of sexually abused children were sexually assaulted as children. This phenomenon also applies to the fathers. Approximately 20% of fathers of children victims of sexual aggression were themselves sexually assaulted as children. These findings suggest that the sexual abuse of parents is a risk factor that needs to be considered. The data gathered as part of a study on the intergenerational cycle will provide us with a better understanding of how childhood sexual abuse experienced by parents can influence sexual abuse patterns relating to their own children. We expect that this research will produce concrete results such as identifying the needs of parents who were victims of childhood sexual aggression and preventing child sexual abuse, an essential component of the Marie-Vincent Foundation’s mission.
While we are gaining a deeper understanding of the impact and sometimes devastating effects of child sexual abuse, few studies have focused on the phenomenon of the co-occurrence of various types of abuse or the prevalence of abuse within the adult population. Few assessments have been performed on the incidence of abuse among the clientele of youth protection agencies. In addition, there are no research results available on the co-occurrence of all types of abuse including sexual, physical and psychological abuse, negligence or the fact that children witness abuse. It is therefore important to examine this phenomenon in greater depth because studies show that a combination of abuse can significantly increase the severity of the consequences among victims, making it necessary to design clinical intervention protocols that address this situation. This is another aspect of the Centre’s innovative mission.
Our objectives: to make cutting edge and integrated sexual aggression treatment available to all child victims in Québec, to play a leading role in developing best practices and to disseminate the knowledge we acquire to provide better training to child care workers.
Jean Saint-Onge
