November 4, 2024
The Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office (YCAO) has launched a systemic review of the impacts of high conflict custody disputes on Yukon children. “We’ve always seen a high volume of referrals to our office for custody disputes,” said Annette King, Child and Youth Advocate. “But the number of children and youth who have experienced or are experiencing high conflict custody matters is continuing to increase. We are definitely seeing the gaps in services available for these children and the consequences resulting rom that.”
Custody and access disputes arise when separated parents cannot agree on how to divide the ongoing rights and responsibilities of parenting. “On-going disputes between parents can have detrimental impacts on a child’s mental health and wellbeing and have been found to have greater negative influence on a child’s development trajectory than the actual event of separation,” states King.
The review of high conflict custody will examine best practices being used in Canada, the supports and services currently in place for children and youth in the Yukon, gaps in services, as well as provide recommendations for improvements within the Territory. The review will focus on reports from the past 10 years but will also consider stories and information from outside this timeframe. The Advocate will provide an initial report to the Yukon government and formal reports will be made public and tabled by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Spring 2025.
YCAO wants to hear the stories and experiences of youth and caregivers who are currently involved in high conflict custody disputes, and adults who were previously subjected to high conflict custody disputes. The survey can be accessed through the YCAO website at: www.ycao.ca/highconflictcustody. If you are interested in sharing your story directly with one of our reviewers, email lucy.luna@ycao.ca or call the office at (867) 456-5575. The engagement period of the review is ongoing until December 2024.
The Child & Youth Advocate Office is an independent office of the Legislative Assembly. The operations of the office are guided by the Child and Youth Advocate Act. Children, youth or others concerned about a child or youth receiving services within Yukon government can contact the Child and Youth Advocate Office at (867) 456-5575.
(867) 456-5575
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