Searching for Child Abuse Services

• Emotional support, trauma counselling, safety planning and follow-up care.

• child protection services: investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect; strengthening of family support networks
• foster care: foster parents work with social workers to develop a plan for each child in their care; agency provides ongoing support and training for foster families
• family support program: immediate, intensive, time limited in-home support to families in crisis
• adoption services: trained staff assist persons / families wishing to adopt and birth parents who wish to make an adoption plan for their child(ren), including an unborn child; places children for adoption; support provided for adopted persons / birth families who request information about the adoption
• pregnancy counselling: helps women examine available options; facilitates decision making

• Education Support Program
• Enrichment Program
• Prevention and Early Help Program
• Permanency Partnerships

• Adoption Services
• Community Education
• Counselling and Referral Services
• Crisis Intervention
• Investigation of Abuse and Neglect
• Ongoing Support for Families
• Residential Services
• Sexual Abuse Survivor Services
• Training for Foster Parents

• child protection services: investigates suspected child abuse or neglect; works with families to strengthen support networks
• foster care: foster parents work with social workers to develop a plan for each child in their care; agency provides ongoing support and training for foster families
• family support program: immediate, intensive, time limited in-home support to families in crisis
• adoption services: trained staff assist individuals / families wishing to adopt and birth parents who wish to make an adoption plan for their child(ren), including an unborn child; places children for adoption; support provided for adopted persons / birth families who request more information about the adoption
• pregnancy counselling: helps women examine available options / facilitates decision making

• Women's healing group
  
• Men's healing circles
  
• Men's drum group
  
• Youth groups
  
• Community lunch
  
• Community clothes closet
  
• Cultural programming
  
• Language classes
  
• Court Support Worker
  
• Certified Gladue Writer
  

• Adoption Services
• Community Education
• Counselling and Referral Services
• Crisis Intervention
• Investigation of Abuse and Neglect
• Ongoing Support for Families
• Residential Services
• Sexual Abuse Survivor Services
• Training for Foster Parents

Services include:
Adoption/Adoption Disclosure

• recruitment, assessment, support, pre- and post-counselling to adoptive parents
• match children and youth with adoptive parents
• provide adoption disclosure information and counselling to adopted persons over 18 years of age and their birth parents

Child Protection

• mandated by the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) to protect children from abuse and neglect
• provide emergency after hours service for children and youth who are at risk

Community-based Services

• workers co-located in various community locations, e.g., schools, counselling agencies, the Halton Regional Police Service, to provide protection services to at-risk children and youth

Connecting Youth to the Community

• life skills programs to assist youth in the transition to independent living

Family Support

• assessment and supportive services to parents to maintain children and youth in their homes and when children and youth come into care, which expedites their return home
• supervise access for children, youth and their families, when required

Foster Care

• recruit, train and support resource parents
• match children and youth to appropriate placements

Fundraising

• for programs and services not covered by government funding that help the children and youth served by the Society

Volunteer Programs

• special events volunteers, summer camp volunteers, mentors/special friends, seasonal, Food for Life volunteer, volunteer drivers

For resources, including guidelines on what age a child can be left alone or for babysitting another child, see resources here

There is also a South Halton/Head office in Burlington

This is a general overview of Crisis & Distress resources, serving Halton region

• In an emergency call 9-1-1 for police, fire and/or ambulance
• for emergency shelters in Halton and surrounding area, see listing BTN4778

General Crisis & Distress

YOUTH (17 yrs & younger)

ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids)

• 905-878-9785
• for children and youth in crisis, and caregivers/community members
• see listing, BTN4032

ADULTS (16 yrs & older)

COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team)

• 1-877-825-9011
• telephone support and mobile intervention program for those who are in crisis and have a mental health concern
• see listing, MHH0509

ALL AGES

Distress Centre Halton

• Oakville: 905-849-4541
• Burlington: 905-681-1488
• North Halton: 905-877-1211
• Hamilton: 905-561-5800
• see listing, MHH0488

Wellness Together Canada

• Adults: 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to 741741​
• Youth: 1-888-668-6810 or text WELLNESS to 686868
• PocketWell App
• many online resources
• see listing, MET2199

Addiction & Gambling

ConnexOntario

• 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247
• online chat
• email
• access to addiction, mental health and problem gambling services
• see listing, LON6230

Caregivers

Ontario Caregiver Organization

• Toll free helpline 1-833-416-2273 (CARE)
• supports Ontario's caregivers by being the one point of contact for information about existing services and supports
• online chat
• peer and community support groups
• see listing, MET8105

Children and Youth Mental Health

One Stop Talk (available Mon-Fri 12 noon-8 pm & Sat 12 noon-4 pm)

• 1-855-416-8255
• connect directly with a counsellor through online chat, video and voice
• offers children, youth (within 18 years of age) and their families immediate access to free mental health support through single session counselling and ensures direct referral to additional service when needed
• services are provided through an integrated network of infant, child and youth mental health agencies across Ontario
• see listing, MET1991

Kids Help Phone

• 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
• online chat
• bilingual help-line provides free counselling, information and referral on anonymous basis to children and youth
• ages 5-30
• see listing, MET6983

Good2Talk (post-secondary school students)

• 1-866-925-5454
• provides information and referrals about services and supports for mental health, addictions and well-being on and off campus or speak anonymously with a professional counsellor
• see listing, MET2344

Naseeha (available daily, 12 noon-12 midnight)

• Helpline and Text line: 1-866-627-3342
• Muslim youth helpline serving Muslim and non-Muslim youth across North America
• a safe zone for youths and individuals to talk and get the help they need
• provides workshops, web therapy sessions, and phone & texting mental health support
• see listing, PEL1127

Youthspace.ca (available Mon-Sun 9 pm-3 am)

• Text line 778-783-0177
• Online crisis and emotional support chat service for youth
• chat online or via text message
• conversations limited to 60 minutes
• see listing, IMP0305

First Responders

Boots on the Ground

• Toll free 1-833-677-2668
• peer support for first responders
• services offered to retired and serving police officers, firefighters, EMS and corrections officers across the province
• able to provide in person peer support 24/7 in the GTA
• see listing, OAK0181

Indigenous peoples

Hope for Wellness Helpline

• 1-855-242-3310
• online chat
• a mental health helpline, telephone or online chat, for Indigenous peoples
• provides immediate, culturally relevant crisis counselling support
• refers callers to additional supports if needed
• see listing, IMP0326

TALK4HEALING

• Helpline and Text line: 1-855-554-4325 (1-855-554-HEAL)
• online chat
• 24/7 help, support and resources for Indigenous women, by Indigenous women, all across Ontario
• services in 14 Indigenous languages
• see listing, IMP0327

Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line

• 1-866-925-4419
• immediate and culturally appropriate counselling supports to former students who are experiencing distress
• see website

2SLGBTQ+

LGBT YouthLine (available Sun to Fri, 4 pm-9:30 pm)

• Text 647-694-4275
• email: helpline@youthline.ca
• online chat
• peer support by email, text and online chat
• information and referral
• anonymous and confidential
• Youth Line blog
• referral database of LGBTQ+ youth services
• see listing, MET7095

Trans Lifeline (available daily 5 pm-1 am)

• Toll free 1-877-330-6366
• a hot-line that is staffed by transgender people for transgender people in crisis
• based out of the USA
• see listing, IMP0092

Interligne

• Phone or Text 1-888-505-1010
• confidential information and support service for individuals concerned with sexual orientation and gender identity issues
• service offered through telephone, text, chat, and email
• Acts of Homophobia Registry
• see listing, IMP0133

Veterans

Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service

• Toll free 1-800-268-7708
• TTY 1-800-567-5803
• psychological support for veterans, former RCMP members, their families and caregivers
• see website

VETS (Veterans Emergency Transition Services) Canada

• 1-888-228-3871
• for Canadian veterans who are in crisis, at risk of becoming homeless or are homeless and their family members
• see listing, IMP0122

Sexual Assault and Domestic/Family Violence

YOUTH

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting (see full listing, BTN0483)

For children in need of care/protection, report to either:

• Halton Children's Aid Society toll free 1-866-607-5437
• Halton Regional Police Service, Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Bureau at (non-emergency) 905-825-4747 ext 8970

ADULTS

Halton Womens Place

• South Halton: 905-332-7892
• North Halton: 905-878-8555
• 24 hour crisis lines and shelter for abused women and their dependent children, emergency transportation to shelter available
• see listing, BTN2544

SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services)

• 24 hour crisis line: 905-875-1555
• 24 hour anti-human trafficking crisis support line: 289-837-3999
• free individual counselling for ages 14 and up
• support services for friends and family members
• advocacy, support and accompaniment to Nina's Place, the police station and court
• see listing, OAK2741

Femaide

• 1-877-336-2433 (1-877-FEMAIDE)
• provincial crisis line and confidential services for Francophone women who are victims or survivors of any form of violence or are in distress
• crisis intervention, support and referral to community agencies
• see listing, MET4619

Assaulted Women's Helpline

• 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone
• telephone crisis counselling, emotional support, information and referrals to emergency shelters, legal information and community services
• ages 16 and up
• see listing, MET5691

Seniors Safety Line

• 1-866-299-1011
• 24 hour crisis and support line for seniors in Ontario who have experienced any type of abuse or neglect
• see listing, MET5690

Other three-digit (N11) helplines serving Halton

• 811 - Health Care Information & Service Navigation Assistance (Health Connect Ontario)
• 711 - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS, relay service, IP-relay)
• 611 - Telephone Service Provider
• 511 - Provincial Road Conditions & Tow Truck Services, in restricted Tow Zones (Ontario 511)
• 411 - Commercial & Residential Directory Assistance (YellowPages)
• 311 - Regional Services Intake & Information, Public & Family Health Information Line (Access Halton)
• 211 - Community Information, Resource & Service Navigation (Ontario 211)

For a larger list of resources available, visit General Crisis Intervention Hotlines or Distress Phone Lines

By law, any individual (including professionals, officials and members of the public) witnessing or with reasonable grounds to suspect an act of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, desertion or need for protection must report the incident to:
Halton Children's Aid Society, 905-333-4441

If the matter is urgent and the Children's Aid Society cannot be reached, call Halton Regional Police Service, 905-825-4777 ext 8970

The Duty to Report applies to any child who is, or appears to be, under the age of 16 years, and to children already under a child protection order who are 16 and 17 years old

On January 1, 2018, Ontario raised the age of protection from 16 to 18. A professional, or member of the public, who is concerned that a 16 or 17 year old is or may be in need of protection may, but is not required to, make a report to a society and the society is required to assess the reported information

The Duty to Report applies even when the information is otherwise confidential or privileged, and overrides any other provincial statutes, specifically any provisions that would otherwise prohibit someone from making a disclosure.
Visit Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: It's Your Duty which provides definitions as well as responsibilities of professionals, officials and members of the public under the Child and Family Services Act (or download brochure here)

If you witness or suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation or if a victim comes to you there are agencies in Halton Region that offer help and support services:

Reporting to Police

Halton Regional Police Service

• call 905-825-4777 and ask for the on-duty Vice unit officer

Crime Stoppers of Halton

• 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
  
  

Crisis Support & Counselling

Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS)

• 24/7 crisis line 905-875-1555
• Anti-Human Trafficking Services 905-825-3622

Distress Centre Halton

• 24/7 distress line Oakville 905-849-4541, Burlington 905-681-1488, North Halton 905-877-1211

COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team)

• 24/7 crisis line 1-877-825-9011

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline

• 24/7 helpline 1-833-900-1010
  
  

Peer Accompaniment or Mobile Support Workers

Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS)

• 905-825-3622 (after hours call crisis line 905-875-1555)

EFry Hope and Help for Women

• 905-624-1755 (after hours call Female Mobile Support 905-459-1315 ext 250)

Restorations Second Stage Homes

• 905-962-7378
  
  

Emergency Shelter and Practical Assistance

Halton Women's Place

• 905-878-8555 (north Halton), 905-332-7892 (south Halton)

Access Halton

• call 3-1-1
• emergency shelter intake and referral to Salvation Army Halton Lighthouse Shelter (men) or Wesley Housing Services - Halton (women and families)
  

Halton Regional Police Service - Victim Services

• 905-825-4777 ext 5239
  
  

Health Care Support (sexual assault or abuse) & Hospital Emergency Rooms

Nina's Place (located at Joseph Brant Hospital)

• 905-336-4116
• Halton Region's only sexual assault and domestic violence care centre

Joseph Brant Hospital

• 905-632-3737

Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital

• 905-845-2571

Milton District Hospital

• 905-878-2383

Georgetown Hospital

• 905-873-0111
  
  

Support for people younger than 18 or have dependents younger than 18

Halton Children's Aid Society

• 24/7 helpline 905-333-4441

Halton Regional Police Service - Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Bureau

• 24/7 non-emergency 905-825-4747 ext 8970

Internet Child Exploitation Counselling Program (ICE)

• 1-866-264-8900, Mon-Fri 8:30 am-12 noon, 1 pm-4:30 pm
• referrals to short-term counselling

• intake and investigation
• ongoing family services
• resources
• children's services
• adoption
• family support/supervised access
• kinship service

• Talk-In Clinic - walk in counselling for immediate problem solving, therapeutic conversations, information and support Talk-in Clinic: Wed 1 pm-7 pm
• crisis intervention and support
• individual and family counselling
• education and support groups
• sexual abuse treatment
• links to other DCAFS services and referrals to community services
• after hours, in-home and office appointments can be arranged

• family counselling and parenting support
• adoption and foster care services and recruitment
• adoption disclosure

• consultation and support for Children's Aid Societies managing complex child protection and immigration cases
• short-term interventions to assist children and crown wards with immigration related status challenges
• awareness, partnerships, protocol development, data collection, research and resource development related to immigration status issues

• coping skills
• social inclusion
• harm reduction supplies
• care kits
• healthy sexuality clinic

Services include:
Adoption/Adoption Disclosure

• recruitment, assessment, support, pre- and post-counselling to adoptive parents
• match children and youth with adoptive parents
• provide adoption disclosure information and counselling to adopted persons over 18 years of age and their birth parents

Child Protection

• mandated by the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) to protect children from abuse and neglect
• provide emergency after hours service for children and youth who are at risk

Community-based Services

• workers co-located in various community locations, e.g., schools, counselling agencies, the Halton Regional Police Service, to provide protection services to at-risk children and youth

Connecting Youth to the Community

• life skills programs to assist youth in the transition to independent living

Family Support

• assessment and supportive services to parents to maintain children and youth in their homes and when children and youth come into care, which expedites their return home
• supervise access for children, youth and their families, when required

Foster Care

• recruit, train and support resource parents
• match children and youth to appropriate placements

Fundraising

• for programs and services not covered by government funding that help the children and youth served by the Society

Volunteer Programs

• special events volunteers, summer camp volunteers, mentors/special friends, seasonal, Food for Life volunteer, volunteer drivers

For resources, including guidelines on what age a child can be left alone or for babysitting another child, see resources here

There is also a North Halton Office in Milton

Responsible for investigating all reported cases of sexual assault as well as child abuse cases where the following has occurred:

• there is serious injury inflicted on a child
• the child has previously been a victim of abuse that has been investigated by police or the Halton Children's Aid Society
• the suspect under investigation has been previously investigated for abuse

CASA investigators are specially trained in:

• major case management
• search warrants
• interviewing
• sexual assault investigations
• offences against children

The CASA Unit maintains close working relationships with a number of community-based agencies, including:

• Nina's Place - Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre
• Halton Children's Aid Society
• Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS)
• HRPS Victim Services Unit

• support with finding housing, accessing child care, health care and other community and social services
• help completing government forms and applications
• seasonal income tax clinic
• connection with community and volunteer opportunities
• monthly Service Canada clinics to assist with OAS, GIS, CPP, CPP disability and survival benefits
• weekly virtual English conversation circle
• participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by Achēv -- (see separate entry), day and evening classes available in various locations

• workshops covering job search preparation and strategies, labour market information, workplace culture, resume, cover letter and interview preparation, career information and networking opportunities

• individual or group sessions
• short-term, goal focused counselling including the development of transition and safety strategies and information on rights and options
• crisis and support counselling to assist individuals seeking immediate assistance
• linking women to appropriate services in the community that address legal, housing, financial and long term counselling needs

• support and tools to manage the challenges of stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, parenting, family conflict, trauma and other life transitions through individual counselling and educational workshops

• activities to encourage and reinforce family language learning

• EarlyON Child and Family Centre https://calendar.brantford.ca/earlyoncentre for program information

• specialized, specially trained, healthcare team of nurses
• collection of forensic evidence
• crisis intervention
• documentation and photographs
• physical examination and treatment of injuries
• testing and prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections (STI), pregnancy and HIV
• referrals to community agencies for counselling
• no charge for any services or medication