Searching for Victims Of Abuse Support Programs

Covid19 Email, phone and online only; client referrals accepted

Programs and supports for individuals and families experiencing violence and abuse, including integrated multi-agency intake procedure, and onsite services through partner agencies

• information, referrals, counselling
• job skills training
• children's services
• women and children's support groups
• financial loans and support
• legal and court support, referrals to shelters, safety planning and risk assessment
• moving services in partnership with Shelter Movers (see separate listing)

Calendar of on-site agencies and programs:

Monday: Yellow Brick House legal support, supportive counselling, outreach; When Love Hurts support group; art therapy

Tuesday: Sandgate Women's Shelter housing transition support and individual counselling

Wednesday: Legal Aid Ontario family law; Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Centre supportive counselling, forensic services, risk assessment; Sandgate Women's Shelter parenting support and Let's Talk Child Witness Program

Thursday: Sandgate Women's Shelter housingtransition support; Womens Centre of York Region Financial Empowerment group

Friday: Community Legal Clinic information and support on landlord/tenant issues, social assistance, EI appeals, CPP, criminal compensation, employment standards, and consumer issues; Sandgate Women's Shelter housing transition support; The Housing Help Centre housing assistance and social assistance

Individual and group counselling for women and their children, parenting support, transitional and housing support, immigration support, and access to family court support worker

Family Court Support Workers
Assist with information on family court process and preparations for proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)

• assistance in finding legal representation if needed
• referral to specialized community services and supports
• safety planning
• court accompaniment as required

Emergency shelters and crisis line, call 1-800-263-3247

Emergency shelter, crisis intervention, outreach, counselling and support services

Emergency Shelters
2 shelters, 24 hour crisis line and crisis intervention

Community supports
Non-shelter resident services include counselling and group supports for women and children, parenting programs, legal support program, and transitional housing support, public education and prevention programs, and volunteer opportunities

COVID-19 -- maintain all essential services including supportive housing, assisted living, home care

• transportation for essential visits
• providing hot meals, frozen meals and food hampers to seniors and people needing isolation
• Transitional Care Centre -- regular service, visits (in person for family and caregiver with appointment)
• also available via phone/virtually telephone reassurance, supportive counselling and service coordination
• Family Health Organization, GAIN Community Team
• Adult Day Program -- in person and virtual care
• Diabetes Education Program -- assessment, consultation, group education
• Wellness and Community Development Program -- in person and virtual platform
• Vocational Training Centre -- in person and virtual platform

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Adult Day Program -- Monday-Friday 9:30 am-3 pm, weekday and weekend extended hours

• for persons 55 years and older with special needs such as physical frailty or mild memory impairment, in need of supervised, structured setting
• social and recreation activities, lunch, snack
• personal care and health related services -- exercise, foot care, physiotherapy, massage therapy
• transportation available
• fee

Overnight Stay Program -- respite care (caregiver relief) program for persons with cognitive impairment or dementia and seniors in need of services, stays up to three months, meals, snacks, showering services *

• laundry -- fee
• personal care and health related services provided by personal support workers including medication reminders, personal hygiene, feeding

Chinese Bereavement Services -- culturally specific bereavement services, individual support and self help group

• public education, seminars, workshops
• information and referral

Chronic Disease Self Management Program -- 6 week workshop for adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis

• individual counselling with nurse, dietitian and social worker
• health and education workshops, seminars, caregiver education and support
• information and referral
• workshop licensed by Stanford University

Community Outreach -- outreach programs for those living in seniors apartments and suburban areas, retirement groups, seniors self help groups

• community, wellness and health education
• caregiver support, volunteer development

Community support services -- escort to medical appointments, telephone security checks, friendly visiting, hospice visiting, grocery shopping, client intervention and assistance -- free

• congregate dining -- fee, subsidies available
• transportation -- fee
• referrals, follow up

Elder Abuse Prevention Program -- Chinese Elder Abuse Helpline 416-502-2321, elder abuse education, supportive counselling

Home care services -- home help, homemaking, respite care, palliative care -- fee

Personal Care Program -- for seniors living in the community requiring higher level of care

• care coordination
• scheduled and unscheduled personal support workers' visit, security check

Integrated Dialysis Care Program -- Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses visit home peritoneal dialysis patients at their home, health maintenance, nutritional counselling

Wellness and Social Program -- social, recreational and educational programs for persons 50 years and older, drop-in centre, friendship groups, interest classes, outings

Men's health promotion and support for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships, separation and divorce, parenting, social isolation and self-esteem, abuse and trauma, and for situations of crises and distress

• individual, couple and group counselling
• peer support group for boys and men includes emotional support, information and resources
• legal assistance clinic and resource centre -- individual and group settings
• Fathering After Separation or Divorce - 8-week parenting program
• support for male victims of domestic abuse and family violence, including counselling, support groups and referrals
• mindfulness meditation workshops
• Survivors of False Allegations - supports for those who have been falsely accused or wrongfully convicted

Initiative of Canadian Association for Equality

COVID19 In-person and virtual services available; phone and virtual counselling to frontline health workers and their families, and others members of the public, in Ontario; also assists permanent residents, convention refugees, student visa and work permit holders with Employment Insurance (EI)and Canada Emergency Resource Benefit (CERB) applications

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Linguistically and culturally sensitive counselling and settlement services for individuals and families

Counselling and Psychotherapy
Individual, group, couple, marital and family counselling and mental health psychotherapy, for issues such as elder abuse, family violence, wife assault, male batterers, incest, sexual assault, offenders, bereavement, problem gambling, substance abuse; crisis intervention; referrals to community partners as necessary

• consultation for human service providers
• satellite offices (limited hours, by appointment only) in Toronto (602 Queen St W), Markham (5665 14th Ave), Mississauga (720 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Unit 2), and Unionville (600 Village Pkwy)

Family programs, including parenting and family life education, and youth counselling and leadership development

Partner Assault Response (PAR)
12 week group education and counselling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict

• victims/partners of the offender provided with support including safety planning, referrals to community resources, and information on offender's progress
• group counselling in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese

Settlement Program
Orientation, needs and eligibility assessments, interpretation and translation; information and referral topics include immigration, issues of concern to refugees and foreign domestic workers, citizenship, social assistance benefits, legal aid, housing, child care, English classes, and education and employment training

• computer access
• job search and employment counselling
• assistance in accessing services

Housing and Transitional Support Program
Counselling, information and referrals, crisis intervention and case management for women who have experienced violence, and their children

• community services information on issues such as housing, legal, financial, health care, immigration, children's services
• settlement support including assistance setting up safety plan, ongoing counselling and support

COVID19

• drop-in and group services have resumed
• appointment preferred
• masking is not mandatory but suggested for all visitors
• people who have symptoms of illness are urged to wear masks or access services online

Family Services

• domestic violence prevention and crisis intervention
• men's mental health program
• parenting groups
• family life education - transitional housing support

Seniors Programs

• application for old age benefits and subsidized housing
• social and recreational activities

Children Programs

• summer, March-break and teacher professional activity day programs

Youth Programs

• children and youth recreation
• leadership training
• newcomer adaptation

COVID-19 -- maintain all essential services including supportive housing, assisted living, home care, transportation for essential visits, providing hot meals, frozen meals and food hampers to seniors and people needing isolation

• Transitional Care Centre -- regular service, visits (in person for family and caregiver with appointment)
• also available via phone/virtually telephone reassurance, supportive counselling and service coordination
• Family Health Organization, GAIN Community Team
• Adult Day Program -- in person and virtual care
• Diabetes Education Program -- assessment, consultation, group education
• Wellness and Community Development Program -- in person and virtual platform
• Vocational Training Centre -- in person and virtual platform

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Adult Day Program -- Monday-Friday 9:30 am-3:30 pm, weekday extended hours, Saturday 10 am-3 pm, available in Scarborough and Richmond Hill

• for persons 55 years and older with special needs, such as physical frailty or mild memory impairment, in need of supervised, structured setting
• social and recreation activities, lunch, snack
• personal care and health related services -- exercise, foot care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy
• transportation available

Chinese Bereavement Services -- culturally specific bereavement services, individual support and self help group

• public education, seminars, workshops, information and referral

Chronic Disease Self Management Program -- 6 week workshop for adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis

• individual counselling with nurse, dietitian and social worker
• health and education workshops, seminars
• caregiver education and support
• information and referral
• workshop licensed by Self-Management Resource Centre

Community Outreach -- outreach programs for those living in seniors apartments and suburban areas, retirement groups,seniors self help groups

• community, wellness and health education
• caregiver support, volunteer development

Community support services -- escort to medical appointments, telephone security checks, friendly visiting, hospice visiting, grocery shopping, client intervention and assistance -- free

• congregate dining -- fee, subsidies available
• transportation -- fee
• referrals, follow up

Elder Abuse Prevention Program -- Chinese Elder Abuse Helpline 416-502-2321, elder abuse education, supportive counselling

Geriatric Assessment & Intervention Network (GAIN) Community Team -- wrap around supported care and services with individualized comprehensive geriatric assessment

• intensive case management, personalized care plan
• service navigation

Home care services -- home help, homemaking, respite care, palliative care -- fee

Personal Care Program -- for seniors living in the community requiring higher level of care, care coordination, scheduled and unscheduled personal support workers' visit, security check

Transitional Care Respite Stay Program -- short stay transitional care for individuals recuperating from illness/hospitalization and respite (caregiver relief) -- fee

Integrated Dialysis Care Program -- Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses visit home peritoneal dialysis patients at their home

• health maintenance, nutritional counselling

Supportive housing services -- for seniors requiring higher level of care, 24 hour on site services at Alexandra Park Apartments and Tam O'Shanter Towers, emergency response services

Wellness and Social Program -- social, recreational and educational programs for persons 50 years and older, drop-in centre, friendship groups, interest classes, outings

24-hour emergency care

• medical assessment and treatment
• crisis intervention, counselling
• forensic documentation and evidence collection
• risk assessment, safety planning
• referral to community resources

Follow up counselling services provided at Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, 416-847-4144, see separate listing

Partners with North York General Hospital, see separate listing

Culturally sensitive counselling and advocacy

Violence Against Women (VAW) Program

• counselling for women in an abusive relationship and for children who witness acts of violence
• safety planning for protection while in transition
• crisis intervention, advocacy, and legal referrals
• interpretation, information and referral
• assistance for stress and depression related to separation from the familial surroundings, lack of adequate finances, physical and mental health issues, and support services and housing assistance within the Greek community
• counselling to develop the life skills of self-confidence and courage, parenting guidance, encouragement for further education
• referral to counselling groups for abusive men
• preventive community education, and public awareness as to the social and criminal consequences of domestic violence

Counselling -- to improve family relationships, parenting or children's education; referrals for anger management

Newcomers -- referrals for housing, employment, language training and settlement

Division of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada

COVID19 All CCSYR locations closed, no walk-in service

• for telephone counselling appointment, call 905-770-7040 ext 241
• Welcome Centres available by phone or email, call 1-877-761-1155 for general inquiries, or to book/reschedule appointment
• call 1-800-263-2075 or visit website for updates and information

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Family counselling to assist with depression, anger, anxiety and stress, relationship issues, self-esteem, confidence, assertiveness and healthy boundaries, work/life balance, family communication and problem-solving, abuse prevention and healing, parenting, and major transitions such as marriage, having a baby, losing a loved one, moving to a new country, divorce, remarriage, changes in health, becoming a young adult, and leaving home

• confidential

Case management for residents experiencing mental health issues, including multilingual psychotherapy and group mental health sessions

COVID19 Limited in-person services, most counselling services by telephone or on-line; for information call 416-222-0048 or email info@cfstoronto.com

Individual, couple and family counselling, and wellness programs

• counselling for incest and assault victims, survivors and partners of survivors
• anger management
• Walk-In Clinic (see separate listing)

Choosing to Change
12 week group program for men who have used abuse in their relationships with female partners and want to end violence in their intimate relationship

Being a Dad Program
8 week group treatment/prevention program for men who have been abusive to their partners, includes focus on effective and caring parenting, and screening and exit interviews

COVID19 Limited in-person services, most counselling services by telephone or on-line; for information call 416-222-0048 or email info@cfstoronto.com

Individual, couple, and family counselling, woman abuse groups, wellness programs, anger management, mentoring program

Here to Help
Group programs for women, and their children 4-16 years

• focus on the impact of abuse, setting boundaries, and non-violent ways of parenting
• in partnership with North York Violence Against Women agencies
• available fall, winter and spring

Housing Transition Support Program
Counselling and assistance to women leaving an abusive relationship, in accessing shelter or housing

• information and referrals to community services such as housing, legal, financial, health, immigration, children's services, education and employment
• safety planning and goal setting

Managing Emotions Thoughtfully
Group support and strategies to manage emotions due to trauma

RISE
Drop-in group includes support, resources and information for women dealing with the impact of intimate partner abuse

Understanding Abuse
8-10 week closed treatment group offered 3 times a year

• focus on self esteem, safety, understanding the impact of abuse, breaking isolation

Women Helping Women Program
Peer support for women in counselling, provided by trained volunteer mentors

• individual support
• community awareness, speakers

Settlement services -- information and referral, orientation, interpretation, counselling, documentation, social assistance applications

Women's Support Services -- counselling and support groups for assaulted women, workshops

LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto, child minding provided -- see separate entry
ESL/introduction to computers

Community Development and Engagement Programs

• conversational English
• computer training for seniors
• recreation and fitness

COVID-19 -- counselling conducted virtually and in-person

• individual counselling, transitional housing and support, violence against women counselling, Together We Can Youth Mentorship sessions run virtually or in-person
• START for Life Skills Training Groups are facilitated in-person, pending public health advisories
• Stop Now And Plan for Black African & Caribbean Kids Groups are facilitated virtually
• all other in-person sessions are suspended

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Counselling

General counselling -- clinical support for individuals and families

Violence Against Women Counselling and Transitional Housing and Support - for women and children who have experienced gender-based violence

• clinical counselling, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy and referral
• supportive counselling to help access housing, safety and transition planning, educational groups, court accompaniment

Youth Counselling -- clinical counselling for at-risk or high risk youth age 12-21 years

• facilitates re-engagement with a caring adult, connects youth with supportive services and enhances their identity, sense of culture and belonging

Intervention Groups

SNAP BACK (Stop Now And Plan for Black, African & Caribbean Kids) -- 13-week cognitive behavioural program for children ages 6-11 years with disruptive behavioural problems and their parents or caregivers

• instruction for children about stopping to think before they act, making better choices
• parents/caregivers learn effective parenting/caregiving skills including how to support children in decision-making
• includes individual and family sessions and in-school support

START For Life (Success Through Aggression Replacement Training) -- life skills development

• 10-weeks, skills training sessions with a cognitive behavioural intervention and prevention group that supports individuals 18 years or older to strengthen positive social skills, anger control and healthy decision-making

Socio-educational Groups

• Women Empowering Women Support Network: life skills educational activities
• Gentlemen's Forum: life skills educational activities for men
• Caribbean Lime: life skills and recreational programs for individuals 50 years or older, including book club, bingo, Lime Time and social check-ins

Youth Support -- social and educational programs for ages 9-24 years

• Together We Can Youth Mentorship Program -- Black, African, Caribbean youth or others develop the social skills to be successful in education, civic engagement and employment through interaction with positive role models

Youth Development & Education

Rise Above Youth -- for youth ages 14-18 years, self-development and self-awareness program

• group activities and discussions, focus on building self-esteem and self-worth
• online platform with games for connecting

Defy Your Label Boys & Girls -- support, inspiration, and guidance for ages 9-13

• promotes cultural experiences
• healthy communication, self-esteem, prosocial skills
• online platform with games for connecting

Education -- some programs have fees

• tutoring for grades 1-12, in math, English, science
• programming in STEM and coding

Social/Recreational

March break and Camp Tropicana for children and youth age 4-13 years

Social services

• settlement services including form filling
• interpretation by volunteers
• resume editing
• support and counselling for abused women
• information and referral
• cultural events

Programs generally take place at Toronto Public Library, Northern District Branch, 40 Orchard View Blvd

Short-term individual trauma based counselling and family support available by appointment

Residence and emergency shelter

• crisis intervention
• counselling for residents

COVID19 Housing and other workers can be reached by telephone, fax or email; group programs, and community support and outreach offices temporarily closed

Assistance for women in accessing and maintaining safe, affordable housing, and in developing community support networks, including support for women with children who have experienced or survived violence, practical support to women who have been homeless or lived in poverty for a long period, assistance for women with mental health or substance abuse issues to live independently in the community, and support for women with disabilities

• information, referrals, community links including immigration and legal information
• family advocacy
• individual and group support
• workshops and seminars
• community development and outreach

Transitional Housing Support Program
Includes assistance with application process for subsidized housing in Toronto, as well as Durham, Peel and York regions

• safety planning, crisis support, advocacy
• connections to community resources
• assistance with finding furniture and household items

Registered Charitable, Non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the abuse and neglect of older adults, under the Ontario Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse

Seniors Safety Line - Free confidential 365/24/7 support line for seniors experiencing or at-risk of abuse including physical, mental, sexual, neglect, and financial * partnered with Assaulted Women's Helpline (AWHL)

Community based supports for children, youth and families

Babies Best Start / Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Home visiting program for parents of children birth-3 years, includes support in areas such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, healthy attachment, healthy eating, safety, child development, positive parenting, parent health and well-being and community resources; home visitors represent a variety of cultures and languages

Community Support
Culturally sensitive early intervention mental health services for children birth-12 years and their families, in various locations such as schools, community agencies, shelters, and EarlyOn programs; areas of service include parenting education and groups, children's groups, brief counselling, anti-bullying and social skills

Gender Based Violence Program
Supports for youth and young adults 12-29 years, who are at risk of or have been involved in human trafficking or sex trade, including trauma therapy, case management and service navigation, peer support, support group, and community outreach and education; contact GBVinfo@stridestoronto.ca or 416-438-3697 ext 13265

Growing Healthy Together Prenatal Program
Information and support for pregnant women with risk factors linked to low birth weight

Youth Outreach Worker Program
Assists at-risk youth 12-21 years and their families in East Toronto connect with mental health and other community services; includes individualized programming and support to overcome language and cultural barriers; also intensive intervention in areas such as mental health, addictions, trauma, relationship or family violence and/or human and sex trafficking

See separate listings for residential treatment programs (intake through CARS, 416-482-7884), and Preschool Speech and Language Program (intake through Surrey Place)

Programs and services may be provided in various locations

COVID19

• services available in-person, online and by phone/email during office hours
• operating on hybrid model, providing all services and programs online and in person
• for more information on programs and services, please check website
• please wear a mask to the office to keep it a safe, healthy environment - thanks for the cooperation

Employment Services

• one on one employment counselling,
• resume clinic, interview skills,
• career training referrals, career networking club
• employment workshops, job fair

Family Services

• counselling for individuals, families, couples
• safety plan development for victims of domestic violence, transition planning and housing support
• referrals to community services
• legal information
• educational workshops
• self-help group

Health Services

• education and information seminars
• mobile health clinic for cervical cancer screening, Pap tests, screening for sexually transmitted infections
• breast cancer support group

Settlement Services

• one-on-one orientation or workshops,
• form filling, interpretation and translation, citizenship preparation, referrals

Social Services

• assistance in accessing social assistance and other services
• recreational and educational programs to reduce social isolation
• translation and interpretation
• seasonal income tax clinic

COVID19 -- services continue by phone and email; no walk-in service


Information and Orientation Services -- settlement services for newcomers who have been in Canada for less than 4 years, including landed immigrants, Convention refugees and foreign-born Canadian citizens

• orientation, information sessions, supportive counselling
• information and referral including housing, access to community resources
• employment assessment and preparation, job fairs, computer with free Internet access
• advocacy, interpretation
• English conversation classes
• participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto -- see separate entry; care for newcomer children -- childminding for parents attending sessions

Newcomer Settlement Program

• volunteer recruitment and training
• outreach, advocacy
• cultural activities

Violence Against Women

• individual and family counselling for assaulted women and children
• support group for abused women, educational workshops
• assists victims of domestic violence who are at risk of abuse
• domestic violence prevention workshops

Men Make a Difference -- culturally appropriate group sessions to learn techniques for developing healthy relationships, resolve conflict, and cope with anger

Seniors Services

• recreational activities
• support groups for isolated Afghan senior women
• assistance accessing community resources