Research

The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Network is working with the School of Social Work at McGill University in Montreal to develop a research program that will enhance the development of both social policy and program delivery.

There is much to do.

As just one example, the most reliable national Canadian statistics on prevalence can be found in the report of the Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children and Youths (Badgley Committee). Those statistics are almost 25 years old, having been delivered in 1984.

But more than just prevalence, we will look at a range of issues that will improve program delivery and result in improved public policy.

Our research partner is the School of Social Work at McGill University. Investigators Dr. Delphine Collin-Vézina and Dr. Nico Trocmé will lead the efforts on the School’s behalf.

Delphine Collin-Vézina, Ph.D., is a clinical and developmental psychologist who has developed a strong interest in research and clinical topics related to social work, including child welfare and child maltreatment. Prior to joining McGill University’s School of Social Work as an Associate Professor, she completed a postdoctoral degree that fulfilled her wishes to conduct studies on the short- and long-term consequences of child sexual abuse.

Dr. Collin-Vézina studies the incidence of sexual violence in Canada, and the related prevalence rates for at-risk populations (e.g., victims of other forms of maltreatments; First Nations’ people; and, adolescent girls with psychiatric problems, such as borderline personality disorders and eating disorders). To this end, she is developing a research program for the diverse subpopulations of sexually abused children from different health and social services settings. Dr. Collin-Vézina’s research is informed by theoretical concepts in attachment and resiliency. Her background as a clinical psychologist influences her strong focus on the strengths and coping capacities of the sexually abused children and their families.

Nico Trocmé, Ph.D., is The Philip Fisher Chair in Social Work at the School of Social Work, McGill University, and the Scientific Director of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare. Dr. Trocmé was the principle investigator for the both the 1998 and 2003 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS). He is also involved with a number of research teams, including the development and evaluation of home-based comprehensive treatment model in situations of chronic neglect and a survey of risk and resilience for youth receiving child welfare services.

Dr. Trocmé is the chair of the National Advisory Committee overseeing the evaluation of the Alberta Response Model and was as a member of the Ontario Panel of Experts on Child Protection and of the Panel d’experts for the Association des centres jeunesse du Quebec. He has presented expert evidence at several coroner inquests and provides evaluation and service planning consultation to a number of child welfare organizations. Prior to completing his Ph.D., Dr. Trocmé worked for five years as a child welfare and children’s mental health social worker.