Searching for Victims Of Abuse Support Programs

COVID-19 (6 Sept 2021) continues to provide the following supports to our vulnerable, isolated community members living in the former cities of Kanata and Nepean and the former townships of Goulbourn and West Carleton:

• telephone based crisis intervention
• telephone based crisis counseling
• telephone based counseling for women experiencing gender based violence
• telephone based regular check-ins
• telephone support with navigating systems
• food/supplies deliveries
• medically necessary transportation
• virtual programming and services
• online resources

Visit the Facebook page for details on all other programs and services.

Community and social services

Services for Children, Youth and Families

• Ontario Early Years Centre
• Bullying Prevention Program
• The ZONE drop-in for youth
• Queerios Youth Drop-In
• child and youth community development
• homework club
• resources
• Fun Friends programs
• Toys on Tour program

Community Support Programs for Seniors and Adults with Physical Disabilities

• Adult Day Program
• Diners' Club
• caregiver support
• Home Help and Home Maintenance Program
• Telephone Reassurance Program
• Meals on Wheels/Frozen meals
• friendly visiting
• transportation to medical and non-medical appointments
• foot care clinics
• social programs
• Snow Go Assist

Violence Against Women Program

• individual and group counselling for abused women and their children
• Peer Support Program (volunteers supporting abused women)
• Child Witness Program
• Transitional Housing Support Program
• Chrysalis House, a shelter for abused women (24-hour crisis line 613-591-5901)

Counselling Services

• short-term counselling
• crisis counselling
• information and referral services
• confidential counselling and referral services to the LGBTQ+ community

COVID-19 (1 Dec 2021): Telephone and video based counselling and crisis intervention still available.

Short-term counselling (six to eight sessions), telephone support, or walk-in crisis support

Offers counselling for:

• traumatic stress: violence against women, family stressors, assault, grief and loss, onset of illness, etc.
• life transitions: separation/divorce, job loss, relationships, parenting, retirement, etc.
• mental wellness: anxiety, depression, self-esteem, suicidal ideation, anger, stress, addictions, etc.

Information and referral to housing and shelters, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Essential Health and Social Supports, energy assistance programs, bus tickets, baby cupboard, advocacy, etc.

Also offers resources and referrals for those affected by natural disaster in the West Carleton area

Transition house that provides emergency shelter and support to abused women and their dependents.

Services to women include:

• 24-hour crisis line
• crisis support
• counselling
• housing support
• legal system navigation, referrals
• parenting support
• support groups
• advocacy and referral to community resources

Children's services include

• crisis support
• counselling
• support groups

Professional counselling, consultation and education services

• education services include workshops, training and therapy groups to address identified needs and specific requests
• faith incorporated into the therapeutic process

Individual intervention

• anxiety
• depression
• trauma (including emotional, physical, sexual abuse/assault in childhood or more recent, PTSD)
• domestic violence
• sexual addictions and pornography
• decision-making skills
• spiritual/faith issues
• issues related to self-harm
• eating disorders
• bereavement
• mental health challenges
• most other areas

Couple and family intervention

• conflict resolution and communication skills
• healing from trauma as a couple or family
• bereavement issues (including separation/divorce and impact on children)
• forgiveness
• surviving infidelity
• roles in relationships
• challenges of parenting
• blended family issues
• challenges of elderly family members
• adult siblings issues
• most other areas of couple and family intervention

Education services

• abuse prevention training
• conferences on special topics (parent-child relationship throughout life cycles, general relationship skills, see website for monthly Education/Seminar topics)
• bereavement
• vicarious trauma and prevention of burnout
• parenting topics
• emotional and spiritual health
• any life concern topics on request

Culturally sensitive transitional shelter and essential supports for women leaving violence, and remote casework and mental health support for adults and youth

Resident and remote services:

• counselling and treatment programs
• financial assistance and help securing housing
• supports for health and mental health
• education assistance and life skills training
• employment supports including resume workshops, interview preparation, help finding employment
• assistance with immigration issues
• access to legal advice and assistance applying for Legal AID
• referrals including legal, financial, immigration, employment, food
• safety planning and follow-up
• capacity 20

Training and awareness for community organizations

COVID-19 (August 15, 2022): The three food banks supported by PQCHC continue to run on modified schedule and program. Services are accessed by appointment only and available to those people living in the catchments assigned to each location: Pinecrest Terrace Community House 613-596-6703, Morrison Gardens Community 613-596-6229 and Foster Farms Community House 613-596-4866. The Health Clinic operates on appointments only. For more details and up-to-date information, see website.

Health centre focused on family and community health

Primary Health Care:

• medical clinic staffed by family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses / community clinics
• nutrition: individual and group support provided by registered dietitians
• clean needle exchange / safe inhalation
• diabetes education
• falls prevention program
• primary care outreach for seniors
• dental screening
• nursing foot care
• lung health program

Community Health:

• community development: advocacy, education and supports to community residents to increase involvement in the community
• multicultural outreach: assistance to newcomers to facilitate integration into existing services
• health promotion: focusing on enabling people to increase control of their health and address determinants of health
• community house coordination: develop and facilitate programs and outreach to five low-income housing communities, support to planning and community initiatives
• safety and trust: support to community leaders and training to support the development of healthy communities and address issues of concern
• youth programming: homework clubs, United Sisters program for girls 10-14, training, workshops and events for youth, Somali Youth leadership and skills development
• pathways to education: support to high school students from low-income communities to help complete high school and move on to post-secondary education: tutoring, mentoring, financial and advocacy support

PQ Employment Services:

• PQ Employment Services: bring the right people together with the resources they need to find success
• Canada Ontario Job Grant program: provides financial support to individual employers who want to purchase training for their employees

Employment Programs:

• Youth LEAD Employment Program: assists permanent resident and refugee youth between the ages of 15-29 to develop skills and experience working in Canada
• Job Track: 15 week program that provides pre-apprenticeship training in the Child Development Practitioner trade through paid placements in child care settings
• Future Builders: 15 week program that provides pre-apprenticeship training and work experience to youth with barriers to employment (aged 16-29 years) in residential construction trades (i.e. general carpentry)

Children and Family Services:

• Headstart Nursery School: subsidized preschool program
• Early ON Child and Family Centre: universal access, information and referrals, bilingual designation
• Leaping Lizards: after-school programming
• Toy Lending Libraries: educational and recreational toys
• Circle of Support: parenting support for vulnerable families - home visiting
• Pre-Post Natal Programs: focus on infant care, parent education, nutrition program for high risk pregnant women
• School's Cool: school readiness program

Specialized Preschool Programs:

• First Words: screening clinics and treatment for children with speech language developmental delays
• Infant Hearing: screening of all newborns born deaf or at risk of deafness
• Blind/Low Vision: intervention and consultation services for families with infants diagnosed as blind or low-vision

Mental Health:

• Assertive Community Treatment Team: support and treatment to those with severe persistent illness
• Families First: housing assistance
• System Navigation: increase client self-efficacy and autonomy

Individual counseling and support groups for women and children

• service offered in person or over the telephone
• in partnership with the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Counseling services

• short-term counselling to adults and youth
• crisis intervention
• help to women fleeing abuse
• elder abuse response and referrals
• information and referral services

Full service, non-sectarian agency

• more than 65 programs and services

Walk-in counselling clinics:

• Thelma Steinman Seniors Support Unit
• Settlement services
• see separate program records for description

Student support:

• support towards academic and social success by engaging parents, teachers, school administration and other resources in a collaborative model

Shalom Bayit:

• support, guidance and advocacy offered to Jewish women who are experiencing emotional or physical abuse in an effort to assist them and their children towards safety
• seeks to educate the community around issues of domestic violence and to encourage them to intervene where indicated

Street Smarts:

• non-denominational outreach program to the homeless which links homeless people who are ready for change to resources

Children and Youth Services:

• offers Jewish day school support, psycho-educational testing, bullying workshops and crisis intervention

Member agency of Support Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario

COVID-19 (12 Jul 2021): Due to COVID19, The Counselling Group is offering only live video and/ or telephone mental health counselling services until further notice.

Trained and experienced counsellors provide counselling and support services for children, adolescents, and adults

• individual, couple/relationship, family, and group counselling
• holistic, client-centered approach
• special sensitivity to cultural and diversity issues

Counselling services are offered for a variety of issues, including but not limited to:

• anxiety
• depression
• self-esteem
• relationship issues
• chronic pain
• domestic violence and abuse
• disordered eating
• isolation / interpersonal difficulties
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning (LGBTTIQQ) issues
• loss / grief / bereavement
• parenting
• prenatal and post-partum issues
• separation and divorce
• sexual assault
• trauma and post-traumatic stress

Support in situations of elder abuse including emotional abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse and neglect:

• provides information, referrals and intake
• specialized support and case management for older adults
• consultations with family members, friends/neighbors and service providers
• elder abuse education and awareness sessions
• program brochure available: click here

Integrated social services for the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode area (some programs are offered to all residents of Ottawa)

• information and referral
• counselling for individuals, couples, youth and families
• community development
• violence against women services
• elder abuse response and referral (see separate record for details)
• youth programs
• after school kids programs
• playgroups (0-6 years)
• health promotion groups
• Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) application support
• referral to emergency food programs for residents of Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Townships
• Emergency diapers/formula support
• Diabetes Education Program (see separate record for details)
• Good Food Box
• Tools 4 School (see separate record for details)
• general legal advice, notarization of documents and affidavits

Referral to following programs:

• Toy Mountain
• The Snowsuit Fund
• various programs/services provided during the holiday season by local faith and community groups

Offers counselling, mediation and assessment services. Services are client focused and follow a psycho-social holistic model with a structural perspective.

Counselling services:

• Crisis counselling
• individual and couple counselling
• family therapy
• child and youth counselling
• substance abuse assessment and counselling
• counselling for victims/survivors of emotional, physical and sexual violence
• children who witness violence
• children of parents who are separating/divorcing.

Mediation services:

• A way of resolving disputes in a private confidential non-adversarial process with a professional and neutral third party.
• aims to look at the needs and interests of all parties involved in a dispute rather than focusing only on rights.
• allows parties to maintain control of the process which is quicker and usually less expensive than litigation

Family mediation:

• Parenting agreements, custody, access, support and property division, family disputes, prenuptial agreements, parent-child, elder-care, etc.

Civil and work related mediation:

• Voluntary process where the parties involved in a matter currently before the courts agree to meet together with a mediator to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution to their dispute. Civil court disputes, corporate, landlord/tenant, small claims, harassment.

Family and parenting assessments:

• Process for separated couples unable to agree on custody and access for their children to have a neutral professional specializing in the welfare of children, assess and make recommendations to help resolve the issues.

COVID-19 (November 17, 2021): Entrance to the Centre is restricted to people with confirmed appointments and to those in need of emergency support from Intake. Upon arrival, clients are required to clean their hands and put on surgical mask and are then screened by staff.

Health and social services focused on family and community health

Medical Clinic Services:

• comprehensive health care
• immunization programs
• family planning
• management of chronic and short-term health problems
• health information and advice by telephone from registered nurses
• 24-hour on-call service

Health Promotion:

• special focus on seniors, youth, newcomers
• physical activity
• prevention and management of chronic diseases
• stress management
• smoking cessation programs
• food security programs
• school success programs

Counselling Services:

• crisis support
• mental health support
• youth, individual and family counselling
• housing and jobs searching
• stress reduction programs
• counselling and groups for women who have experienced abuse
• counselling and groups for youth who need support to express anger in healthy ways

Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT): - see separate record for details

Referral Services:

• nutrition counselling by a registered dietitian (groups and individual)
• home, hospital and palliative visits
• high school health clinics led by a nurse practitioner
• foot care and chiropody
• anonymous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing
• lung health programs
• seasonal influenza and other immunization clinics

Social Services

• home support services
• community development
• youth programs
• collective kitchen
• Contact Ottawa: voice mail box service for those who are unable to maintain a home phone line, available for a nominal fee
• resources for job-seekers
• Students Will All Graduate Program (SWAG): delivers social, recreation, mentoring, and life skills for 9th and 10th grade students identified as most at risk of failing without intervention

Parent/Child Programs

• EarlyON
• drop-in playgroups
• parent support program
• baby cupboard
• prenatal care
• breastfeeding support
• Headstart Nursery School

Services to people who have suffered sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence or intimate partner violence within the past six months

Program based on privacy, confidentiality and consent based in a hospital setting

• medical examination
• collection of forensic evidence
• initial and serial documentation of injuries, photography and body mapping
• crisis intervention
• sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
• pregnancy testing
• HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
• preventative vaccinations and prescriptions
• short-term follow-up
• community based or professional referrals for ongoing and/or collaborative care

Individual counselling offered in-person, or by video or phone


Services for women who are experiencing or have experienced various forms of abuse:

Support Groups:

• provides information and education around abuse, safety planning, sharing resources, and support
• offered virtually, in-person groups coming this year
• groups offered 2-3 times a year

Individual Counselling:

• provides women a safe space to share their experiences, to develop an individualized plan to assist in dealing with legal, police and other systems, to review ongoing safety planning needs, and to assist in creating a healing plan and to develop strategies in moving forward

Transitional Support Program:

• practical supports assistance such as safety planning, referral to shelters, lawyers and other support services
• assistance with housing applications and accessing eligibility for financial assistance
• court support
• accompaniment to legal, medical and other appointments

Programs for Child Witnesses Woman Abuse:

The Children's Groups:

• children aged 6-12 who have been exposed to their mothers' abuse
• 6-8 children per group
• in-person in the evening
• individual counselling can be provided as needed for children or mothers
• hosts a group for mothers whose children are in the program, it runs at the same time as the Children's Group

Individual and group counselling, education, support for children who have witnessed woman abuse

• children's group: provides a safe place where children can heal from their experience and have the opportunity to connect with other children who
• experienced facilitators
• concurrent group for moms: provides education, support, problem solving and sharing of information and resources
• subsidies may be available for travel and child care services

COVID-19: In order to respond to the COVID-19 substantial changes were made to the services offered. In-person contact is now limited and offers telephone and virtual support as an alternative. All groups, classes and events are cancelled until further notice.

The health walk-in clinics are closed. Primary health care operates by appointment at the 30 Rosemount Branch. Mental Health, harm reduction and social services walk-in operate at the 55 Eccles St location only.

Health centre focused on family and community health, including:

• advocacy
• primary health care
• outreach
• counselling
• life skills education
• group support
• practical assistance
• crisis intervention
• health promotion
• community development

Services include:

• services from Children's Aid Society workers
• self-help groups
• prenatal programs
• counselling for abused women
• help with accessing social assistance, food, clothing and housing in times of crisis
• services for children, youth and seniors
• services for low-income families
• pre and post natal support
• parenting support programs
• playgroups
• smoking cessation program
• youth leadership programs
• family emergency shelter support
• mental health services

Centre for victims of sexual abuse

• evaluation and treatment for all individuals who have experienced sexual abuse, abuse as a child or all other trauma
• provides services to clients who have other concerns including job dissatisfaction, relationship difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), dissociation

Services:

• individual therapy
• couples therapy
• therapy for children
• training and supervision of therapists
• family counselling
• group therapy (women's group, men's group, 2SLGBTQIA+ group, cognitive processing, and more)

COVID-19 (22 March 2022): In-person services have been suspended or are limited. All other services provided remotely.

On-site early intervention and crisis intervention

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+
• bereavement support

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+): assistance with emergency expenses related to the incident

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses
• additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal, and treatment at a recovery facility
• no direct reimbursement to victims for support listed above
• financial support also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of child homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

Small list of the qualifications for a 911 cell phone:

• the individual does not already own a cell phone
• the individual is not living with the accused
• the individual is willing to have ongoing contact with the Supportlink Coordinator
• all individuals qualify for safety planning, regardless of their ability to meet the criteria for a 911 cell phone

Promotes a coordinated response and effective services to women and their children who have experienced abuse

• leadership
• education
• advocacy
• political action
• shares information
• networking
• supports the development of resources
• improves the organizational response to women and children survivors of violence
• engages in public education

Temporary emergency shelter for abused women and their children

• reasonable, flexible limit on length of stay
• counselling
• referrals
• advocacy
• telephone crisis line
• accepts pets on site
• Unsafe at Home text and chat line: open to anyone experiencing gender-based violence (GBV)

Transitional Housing and Peer Support Programs

• community based programs for all gender-based violence (GBV) survivors
• includes a peer pupport group, system navigation, risk assessments, safety plans, and housing support

Interval House of Ottawa works from an intersectional, feminist, and anti-oppressive approach.

COVID-19 (November 10, 2021): Provincial and legal aid offices closed to the public. Services still offered by phone. Visit the website for latest service updates.

Provides eligible clients with a certificate that covers the cost of hiring a lawyer to deal with serious types of civil or criminal cases

• helps with separation and child custody, but not divorce
• lawyers may or may not accept Legal Aid certificates

Services

• criminal legal issues
• domestic violence
• family legal issues
• mental health issues
• refugee and immigration legal issues
• legal clinics