Children and youth who are victims of and witnesses to abuse and violence will now find it easier to navigate their way through the system.

A young person can end up going to seven or eight different places after first making contact with a reporting agency such as the police or school.

The province’s first-ever child and youth advocacy centre will create a system whereby the agencies go to the victim, saving time and reducing the navigational burden.

Nearly a third of Canadians aged 15 or older reported childhood or physical abuse.

The centre is operated by Key Assets NL, a not-for-profit venture. The federal government has provided funding of $715,000.

For now, the centre is located in the Railway Coastal Museum but a campaign will be launched to raise funds for a permanent facility.