Content Advisory: This webinar explores sensitive subject matter that may be difficult for some participations. While the content is intended to support professional learning, some participants may find the subject emotionally challenging. Please consider your well-being when deciding to attend.
Professionals responding to child abuse play a critical and lasting role in the lives of children and families during some of their most difficult moments. While Child Advocacy Centres and specialized child abuse investigation practices continue to grow across Canada, there remains no standardized trauma-informed practice guide for responding to child abuse investigations nationwide.
Join us on Tuesday, August 11 from noon to 1 p.m. (ET) for an engaging and thought-provoking webinar led by Cynthia Ashe, Executive Director, Canadian Child Forensic Interview Practice Association, that explores the need for consistent, evidence-based response strategies in child abuse investigations.
Cynthia will examine the challenges created by fragmented approaches and share practical, sustainable solutions that support vulnerable children and families while strengthening investigative integrity. Participants will gain insight into trauma-informed practices, the evolving role of Child Forensic Interviews, and the importance of standardized response models across agencies and jurisdictions.
After this webinar, participants will:
- Understand the current landscape of child abuse response practices in Canada.
- Explore the importance of trauma-informed approaches in child abuse investigations.
- Learn how standardized response strategies can improve outcomes for children, families, and professionals.
- Examine the role of Child Forensic Interviews and collaborative response models.
- Identify practical tools and approaches that can be applied in a variety of investigative and service contexts.
Whether you work in policing, training, policy development, victim services, child advocacy, or related fields, this session will provide actionable knowledge that can be applied across diverse communities and service environments.
Please note that this presentation will be offered in English only and will be recorded but offered exclusively on our learning management system.
Meet our Presenter
Cynthia Ashe, Executive Director, Canadian Child Forensic Interview Practice Association
Cynthia has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for 14 years and has worked exclusively in child abuse investigations for six years, specializing in Child Forensic Interviews (CFI).
Having completed nearly 1,000 CFIs, Cynthia is a recognized expert nominated in 2026 for the International Women in Policing Leadership Award and has received the Beverley MacLean Legacy Award, the McNeil Shield for Leadership and Excellence, the RCMP Veterans Association Community Service Award, and was named to MADD’s Alexa’s Team, recognizing her dedication and efforts to take impaired drivers off the roads. She also founded the Canadian Child Forensic Interview Practice Association, striving to enhance the integrity of child abuse investigations, while reducing the impact on children and families through the development and implementation of standardized trauma informed practice protocols across all partner agencies responding to child abuse.
As a former paratrooper and veteran of Afghanistan, Cynthia has prioritized her own wellness and healing. She believes in sharing the weight of this work in ways that strengthen our longevity and ability to serve our most vulnerable.
Please register by Monday, August 10 at noon (ET).
If you are unable to complete the survey, please register by emailing communications@cpkn.ca.