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Leading Ontario treatment centre has a new name by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Wednesday, July 16, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The name may have changed, but the care Radius Child & Youth Services offers youths at 60 Lakeshore Rd. W. remains the same. The organization that has helped abused children for some 30 years, is no longer calling itself the Halton Trauma Centre. Its rebranding reflects the fact that a once small, community resource has grown into Ontario's largest provider of specialized programs, research and consultation for children and youths affected by interpersonal violence, according to its executive director Darryl Hall. And it no longer serves only Halton. Hall said the new name is being welcomed by clients. "They said very strongly that they didn't want to have to sign out of school and have people know they would be coming to a child abuse service." Radius sees approximately 220 children and their caregivers at its Oakville location each year -- a number which grows steadily as Halton's population climbs. Five staff and 20 consultants, including social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, provide programs to help children and youths who are victims of neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Hall said the centre offers treatment to those exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviour and who commit sexual harm. Clients are often referred by a Children's Aid Society. "Sometimes kids and youths Darryl Hall come in who are very symptomatic. They have potentially been removed from their home and placed in a foster or group care facility so they have lots of worries and concerns," said Hall. "Others have disclosed abuse, which happened outside the home, and have very supportive parents or caregivers and they are not so symptomatic. So there is a very wide range of children that we see here." Hall said treatment children receive is as varied as their experiences. Radius' services are unique in that every child receives a specialized assessment to identify trauma impact, said Hall. This allows for provision of focused and specialized treatment, which -- depending on the child's age, type of abuse they have suffered and level of functionality -- could include family, individual or group therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or play or expressive arts therapy. Hall noted in the vast majority of child abuse cases, abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust and power, often within the child's immediate or extended family. As a result, some of the young people to come through the door at Radius have deep-rooted trust issues. Others experience guilt over the upheaval that coming forward and talking about the abuse has caused within their family. Treatment can take three to 15 months, but without proper care, Hall said, the risk is greater that a youth will fall into a life of substance abuse or suffer from mental health issues like posttraumatic stress disorder. SUMMER SCHOOL · · · · · · Grades 1-12 and High School Credits All Subjects Organization and Study Skills Essay Writing Foundation Skills for High School And More! SUCCESS 1484 Cornwall Road | Oakville, ON COAT MADNESS! Friday, July 18th 10:00 a.m. - Midnight. 905.844.3240 www.chisholmacademy.com · Spring Cloth Coats · Winter Cloth Coats · Sheepskins *excluding new arrivals · Leather · Furs · Handbags · Accessories 209 Lakeshore Road East, Downtown Oakville (1st lights west of Trafalgar) 905-845-2031 *50 to 70% OFF Everything in the store! U sarah pacini lauren vidal crea concept blacky dress jean paul It's not easy work, but Hall said it is rewarding. "We get kids and families coming back 10 years later who have gone through university and have gotten married and have kids of their own," said Hall. "It is not true that these kids are broken and will never be healed again. They are normal, everyday kids of our community." Radius receives funding from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and from the United Ways across Halton. It also relies on community support to lessen its wait list -- currently about six months, which Hall said, is too long. "Imagine yourself as a young boy or girl who worked up the courage to tell (someone about abuse) and has been removed from home and is now waiting six months for our service," he said. "That is a very difficult situation for that young person to be in." The Stout Monk's Annual Spring Golf Classic was recently recognized for raising $21,420 for Radius. For more information, visit www.radiuschild-youthservices.ca. delacorstudio.com U be nique 118 Thomas Street, Downtown Oakville 905 469 4278