Glossary

A situation in which the child has been left by the parent(s), the parent's identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child suffers serious harm, as a result of his/her desertion, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or to provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18. Such experiences can interfere with a person’s health, opportunities and stability throughout his or her lifetime, and can even affect future generations. 

An unwanted or indesirable consequence that happens after an action or conversation. For exemple, sleeping disturbances can be an adverse effect of sexual abuse.

Affect regulation is the ability to act on one's own emotions. It is a complex psychological process that covers the ability to trigger, inhibit, maintain or modulate one's own affects and emotions.

It refers to an individual’s psychological functioning incapacity in the areas of forming and maintaining meaningful relationships, creating a stable sense of personal identity and self-awareness, and the ability to modulate and tolerate negative affect. 

A form of insecure attachment in which infants show a combination of positive and negative responses toward a parent. After separation, for example, infants may simultaneously seek and resist close contact with the returning parent. Also called resistant attachment. 

Anorexia is characterized by the search for thinness, the morbid fear of eating and the fear of gaining weight or becoming obese. It is characterized by a stubborn and sometimes dangerous food restriction.

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of disregard for consequences and the rights of others. These individuals commit illegal, deceptive, reckless acts and exploit others for personal gain or pleasure without feeling any remorse.

Attachment styles are based on children's reactions to interactions with their parents in terms of the degree of availability, consistency, protection, and reassurance offered. These are based on abandonment anxiety and level of intimacy avoidance and include four styles: secure, avoidant-fearful, preoccupied, and detached.

It is a disorder affecting concentration, attention span, impulsivity and hyperactivity where individuals are inattentive, easily distracted, impulsive or very active.

A complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong disorder, the degree of impairment in functioning because of these challenges varies between individuals with autism.

A form of insecure attachment in which infants do not seek proximity to their parent after separation. Instead, the infant does not appear distressed by the separation and avoids the returning parent.

Behavior problems are distinguished from normal behaviors by the fact that they are more frequent and that they cause problems in several aspects of the young person's life. There are two types: oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.

This disorder is a mental health problem with significant repercussions. People who have it have difficulties containing their emotions or controlling their impulses. They are extremely sensitive to what is going on around them and can react with intense emotions to small changes in their environment.

Bulimia is characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors (such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse), fasting, or exercise; episodes occur, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

Aggressive and unwanted behaviors, especially among school-aged children, that involve a power imbalance. The behaviors are repeated or have the potential to be repeated over time.

One who provides for the physical, emotional, and social needs of a dependent person. The term most often applies to parents or parent surrogates, child care and nursery workers, health-care specialists, and relatives caring for children, elderly, or ill family members.

Child abuse includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect. It also addresses a pattern of abuse and risks of harm, and is often perpatrated by parental figures.

Childhood adversity is a broad term that refers to a wide range of circumstances or events that pose a serious threat to a child’s physical or psychological well-being. It includes child abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence, bullying, serious accidents or injuries, discrimination, extreme poverty, and community violence.

This type of trauma refers to psychological, physical or sexual violence, psychological and physical neglect, bullying by peers and exposure to psychological and physical violence between parental figures. These traumas occur in childhood, are usually perpetrated by parental figures and impede survivors’ well-being.

The physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult (biological or adoptive parents, step-parents, guardians, other adults). This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence, and neglect.

Child neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide basic needs such as adequate food, sleep, safety, education, clothing or medical treatment. It also includes leaving a child alone or failing to provide adequate supervision.

Child proteciton or child welfare is defined as measures and structures to fulfil children’s rights to protection, and to prevent, protect and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation as well as violence affecting children. 

Any type of sexual activity with children and youth in exchange for money, drugs, food, shelter or any other considerations.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is specific to serious and repetitive traumas that occur during childhood, most often in the form of abuse and which have important consequences in adulthood, particularly in terms of emotional regulation.

This type of trauma is related to chronic and repeated interpersonal traumas and the complex and lasting sequelae associated with them, particularly in the relational, affective, behavioral and identity spheres.

Conduct disorder is characterized by recurrent or persistent behavior in which the child flouts the rights of others or the main rules or social norms related to his age.

It refers to any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. It involves hitting (smacking, slapping, spanking) children with a hand or implement (whip, stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon or similar) but it can also involve kicking, shaking or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair or boxing ears, forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding or forced ingestion.

The way individuals interact with each other. These patterns are predictable and stable in time. 

Couples therapy attempts to improve romantic relationships and resolve interpersonal conflicts.

Crime Victims Assistance Centres, or CAVACs, offer front-line services to any crime victim or witness. Help from CAVACs is available whether the perpetrator of the crime has been identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted.

Cumulative trauma refers to the accumulation of interpersonal trauma, with greater repercussions, such as more severe and complex symptoms.

Cybervictimization is defined as deliberate and repeated harm inflicted through computers, cell phones and other electronic devices that is intended to threaten, harass, embarrass or socially exclude another person using online technology.

Developmental delays are characterized by several developmental problems, which typically include below average intellectual functioning and late achievement of key physical milestones (such as sitting or walking). They are often associated with a lack of social skills and difficulty communicating.

The DSM is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common language and standard criteria.

The DYP is responsible for enforcing the Youth Protection Act (YPA) in his region. The YPA applies to children and teenagers under 18 whose security or development is or may be considered to be in danger.

The act of making something (e.g. abuse) known.

Disengaged parenting is characterized by a lack of responsiveness to a child's needs. Uninvolved parents make few to no demands of their children and they are often indifferent, dismissive, or even completely neglectful.

A form of insecure attachment in which infants show no coherent or consistent behavior during separation from and reunion with their parents. Also called disoriented attachment.

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or "personality states" that alternately take control of the individual's behavior, accompanied by an inability to evoke personal memories.

Domestic violence is defined as isolated or repeated abusive behavior intended to control or harm a family member or significant other. It occurs in a variety of contexts and takes different forms, including physical, psychological and sexual abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. 

Dropping out means leaving high school, college, university for practical reasons, necessities, inability, or disillusionment with the system.

Disorders characterized primarily by a pathological disturbance of attitudes and behaviors related to food, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Emerging adults are no longer teenagers, but they are not quite adults either since they are still dependent on their parents, whether emotionally or financially. They are usually between 16 and 25 years old.

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that attacks a child’s emotional development and sense of self-worth. It includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Emotional abuse includes constantly criticizing, teasing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, ignoring or isolating the child. It may also include exposure to domestic violence.

Emotional neglect involves inattentiveness to the kid’s emotional development, more precisely, overlooking and dismissing some or all the emotional needs of a child — whether deliberately or inadvertently.

Exposure to IPV refers to children witnessing their parental figures experiencing or perpatrating physical, emotional and sexual abuse, harassment, manipulation or coercion on a current or former partner.

A group of conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth. These effects can include physical, psychological, behavioural, and even learning problems.

First Nations is a term used to describe Indigenous peoples in Canada who are not Métis or Inuit. First Nations people are recognized through the Indian Act of Canada, and are the original inhabitants of the land now known as Canada.

This term refers to individuals who have had the experience of being removed from their home and placed "in care" under the child protection system. This may have been a foster family, group home, or other placement.

Families that welcome children and youth who have been placed in care and who cannot live with their families. Foster parents can be relatives or unrelated to the child.

Grief is the anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person. It often includes physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling on the past, and apprehension about the future.

Hypervigilance is a state where attention and sensitivity to the environment are heightened in order to detect potential, though usually unreal danger. Hypervigilance is often linked to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Identity disturbance is a term used to describe incoherence, or inconsistency, in a person's sense of identity. This could mean that a person's goals, beliefs, values and actions are constantly changing. It could also be that the person takes on personality traits of people around them, as they struggle to have and maintain their own identity.

Refers to a child who displays inappropriate sexual behaviour, including age-inappropriate play with toys, self or others; displaying explicit sexual acts; age-inappropriate sexually explicit drawing and/or descriptions; sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge; prostitution or seductive behaviour.

These are youth from parents who reported identifying with Canada's Indigenious individuals, including people who identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

They ensure accessibility, continuity and quality of services for people in their territory. They are reference points where people can go in case of health or psychosocial problems. There, they can receive appropriate services or be directed to another resource of the territorial services network.

They ensure accessibility, continuity and quality of services for people in their territory. They are reference points where people can go in case of health or psychosocial problems. There, they can receive appropriate services or be directed to another resource of the territorial services network.

This disorder is characterized by significant disabilities or limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior before the age of 18. These limitations refer to conceptual, social and practical skills.

Intergenerational trauma is the transmission of trauma effects from one generation to the next, affecting the physical, mental, and emotional health of the next generation. 

Intimate partner violence includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, harassment, manipulation and coercion by a current or former partner.

CLSCs offer first-line health and social services at their service points, but also at school, at work and at home, such as preventive or curative services, rehabilitation or reintegration services.

Marital adjustment is defined as the integration of different personality traits of two individuals in a relationship in order to complement each other to achieve happiness and common goals.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

Mindfulness refers to a state of consciousness that emerges when an individual is available and attentive to the present moment, in a way that is imbued with acceptance and non-judgment.

This disorder is characterized by an overwhelming sense of uncontrolled, repetitive thoughts that run through the mind of individuals despite their desire or will. Individuals are unable to stop having these thoughts, even though they know they are meaningless. These thoughts become obsessions.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a recurrent or persistent pattern of negative, defiant, or even hostile behaviors toward authority figures.

Panic attacks are characterized by the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by certain physical and emotional symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, feeling choked, dizziness, unsteadiness or fainting.

Peer victimization is defined as aggressive behaviors perpetrated repeatedly by one or more young people against another young person, in a context where the aggressor is in a position of superiority vis-à-vis of the victim, or in a context of power imbalance.

An individual who commits harmful, illegal or immoral acts such as sexual abuse.

Generally defined as "any nonaccidental physical injury to the child" and can include striking, kicking, burning, or biting the child, or any action that results in a physical impairment of the child.

Failure to provide for a child's basic survival needs, such as nutrition, clothing, shelter, hygiene, and medical care. Physical neglect may also involve inadequate supervision of a child and other forms of reckless disregard of the child's safety and welfare.

Polyvictimization refers to the experience of multiple types of victimization such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, bullying, and exposure to family violence versus multiple episodes of the same kind of victimization.

Post-traumatic stress disorder results from exposure to death or threat of death, serious injury, or sexual violence to self or others and causing significant distress and pervasive symptoms over a long period of time of time.

Strengths and resources that appear to mediate or serve as a "buffer" against risk factors that contribute to vulnerability to maltreatment or against the negative effects of maltreatment experiences.

A pattern of caregiver behaviors that negatively affect the child's cognitive, social, emotional, and/or physical development. These include acts of omission (ignoring need for social interactions) or commission (spurning, terrorizing). They may be verbal or nonverbal, active or passive, and with or without intent to harm. 

Rehabilitation centers aim to promote young people's recovery and/or further development while establishing a viable balance with their reintegration environment (family or other).

The process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.

Characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. 

Defined as mutual, ongoing and voluntary interactions between two partners that is characterized by specific expressions of affection and intimacy.

Positive parent–child relationship, in which the child displays confidence when the parent is present, shows mild distress when the parent leaves, and quickly reestablishes contact when the parent returns. Children with secure attachment feel protected by their caregivers, and they know that they can depend on them to return. 

Self-harm is the act of injuring oneself without suicidal intent.

A self-report questionnaire is a type of survey, questionnaire, or poll in which respondents read the question and select a response by themselves, without interference.

It is a form of counseling designed to help individuals and couples resolve individual, relationship and sexual difficulties, such as performance anxiety or infidelity.

Inappropriate adolescent or adult sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, sexual exploitation, or exposure to pornography. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely by the police and criminal courts

Sexual anxiety is defined as the tendency to experience tension, discomfort, and anxiety about the sexual aspects of one’s life.

Sexual avoidance is any behavior aimed at avoiding intimacy that can lead to sexual activity. This can occur for many reasons that can create discomforts in intimate settings, such as sexual abuse for example.

Sexual coercion corresponds to behaviors or strategies such as verbal pressure, utilization of substances or force, exercised in order to force the sexual will of another person, without their free and informed consent. .

Sexual compulsion is related to excessive preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges or behaviors that are difficult to control. These can cause distress or negatively affect health, work, relationships or other aspects of life for some individuals.

Sexual identity is how we percieve ourselves as sexual being. Its components are biological sex, gender identity, social and gender role, and sexual orientation.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), can affect the general health, well-being and reproductive capacity of those infected. Participation in sexual risk behaviours can increase your chances of acquiring an STI. There are many types of STIs, including: Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhoea, HIV/AIDS, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV),and Syphilis.

Sexual orientation is a part of individual identity that includes a person's sexual and emotional attraction to another person.

Sexual self-efficacy is defined by an individual's belief in their ability to engage in or refuse sexual activities and to control the context of these activities.

This is a condition, including head injuries and retinal hemorrhages, that may be seen in infants who have been violently shaken.

Spanking is described as a sharp slap or blow to the buttocks, usually with the palm of the hand.

The unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old.

Having thoughts, ideas, or ruminations about the possibility of ending one's own life.

Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself by inflecting self-injuries.

Suicide attempt refers to any non-fatal suicidal behavior and any act of self-injury, self-mutilation, or self-aggression, with or without intent to die.

Therapeutic alliance refers to the mutual collaboration based on trust that is established between the patient and the therapist, which is essential for the achievement of the objectives. This notion of alliance is central and without it, the risk of failure is greater.

Toxic stress is a type of stress that can occur when a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity—such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship—without adequate adult support.

Any disturbing experience that results in significant fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, or other disruptive feelings intense enough to have a long-lasting negative effect on a person’s attitudes, behavior, and other aspects of functioning. Traumatic events often challenge an individual’s view of the world as a just, safe, and predictable place. 

Trauma-informed care consider the traumas experienced and avoid creating new ones in survivors through practices based on awareness, transparency, support, collaboration, safety, choice, collaboration, autonomy and respect in all spheres of care.

Traumatic stress is a normal reaction to an abnormal event, often related to post-traumatic stress disorder. 

In the UK, Europe and the United States an undergraduate student is a student who is working towards a bachelors degree, sometimes known as an undergraduate degree. They are different from postgraduate students who are studying their subject at a higher level than the undergraduate level, having (usually) already been awarded a bachelors degree in a relevant subject. 

The act or process of singling someone out for cruel or unfair treatment, typically through physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Youth is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence.

A youth center is a set of specialized support services for young people and families who are experiencing significant difficulties, endangering the safety and development of children and adolescents.

Also called teen dating violence, it includes physical, psychological or sexual abuse; harassment; or stalking of any person ages 12 to 18 in the context of a past or present romantic or consensual relationship.

The purpose of this act is to protect children whose security or development is or may be considered to be in danger. The Act also aims to put an end to and prevent the recurrence of situations in which the security or the development of a child is in danger.

Youth welfare services aim to assure that the law in respected regarding the well-being, safety and development of children and adolescents and to intervene when these rights are not respected.