Searching for Victims Of Abuse Support Programs

Services

• support, information, and long-term counselling services to survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse
• information and short-term counselling for supporters of survivors
• support groups and workshops
• accompaniment to court, hospital or police
• community education
• volunteer training program
• public education

Support organization

• support groups
• individual support including advocacy
• peer support model
• short and long-term support
• information
• support line
• Young Women At Risk (YWAR) Program
• Women & War Program
• Ritual Abuse Support
• public education
• speakers
• volunteer opportunities
• information on violence against women issues
• accompaniment and support to court, hospital and police (as resources allow)

General support groups:

• four general support groups per year (daytime and evening)
• generally 8-10 women per group
• lasts 15-20 weeks, meeting once per week for 3 hours
• specialized support groups as needed

Training program for prospective volunteers twice per year (Fall and Spring)

Information sessions for women healing from sexual violence, subjects include:

• dealing with memories and flashbacks
• understanding and releasing anger
• self-esteem and self-care

Free, confidential 24-hour support and crisis line for French-speaking women in Ontario

• supports and connects survivors of violence to community services
• victims and survivors of violence of any form
• security plan
• information and referral support to local, regional and provincial service providers

Second-stage women's shelter

• safe, affordable transitional housing for women and children who are survivors of violence

Volunteers fostering companion animals of survivors leaving domestic violence and/or sex trafficking

• provides veterinary intake and long- or short-term fostering
• reunites owners with their pets when the survivor exits the shelter
• volunteers provide pets with food, shelter, and appropriate exercise

Support program for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse * help to understand impact of trauma and provide tools and opportunities for growth

* workshops
* 1:1 peer support
* 15-week healing program
* social activities

A survivor-led charitable organization with a mission to prevent child sexual abuse and human trafficking.

• support the healing and recovery of individuals and communities from the health, financial and emotional impacts of these crimes through specialized, trauma-informed programs and services.

Services along continuum of www.voicefound.ca/the-clinic

Primary and preventative health care

• for persons at risk of, are being, or who have been trafficked www.voicefound.ca/education
• Knowledge transfer and training on the topics of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Human Trafficking, Health Care and Best Practices.

Provides victims with the information they need to have an effective voice in the federal correctional system.

Visit the website for services and information, including:

Register as a Victim

• Registration is not automatic. Victims wishing to receive information must first register with either the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) or the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). This is to respect those victims who do not wish to receive information about the offender who harmed them.
• To register, complete a Request for Victim Registration form. Because the PBC and CSC jointly coordinate their victim services, victims can submit their completed form to either organization.
• You can also name a representative or agent to act on your behalf by sending a written notice authorizing the representative or agent.

Provide a Victim Statement

• Victims are encouraged to provide a Victim Statement to express the continuing impact of the crime on their lives. The Statement is considered in decision-making throughout the course of the offender's sentence. Note, Victim Statements are different from Victim Impact Statements that you may have submitted as part of sentencing.
• You can submit a statement at any time, which may include:
  • The impact that the crime continues to have on you
  • Your views about the possible conditional release of this offender
  • Asking the Correctional Service of Canada to consider your area of residence when making release plans
  • Requesting that the offender be prevented from communicating with you or your family (known as a no-contact condition) or from going to any specified place (known as a geographic condition).

Victim's Portal

• A simple, secure way to send and receive information online. It allows victims and/or their named representatives to access information they are entitled to, as defined by law, at their convenience.

Making a Complaint

• If you believe your rights under the Canadian Victim Bill of Rights have been infringed, violated or denied, you can make a complaint. Victims also have the right to make a complaint if they believe that their rights have not been respected.

Victim Resources

• A collection of resources for victims of crime.

Contact Informationfor Victim Services (National and Regional Victim Services offices).

Courthouse chaplaincy program offering support to anyone involved in court proceedings

• court accompaniment
• Positive Lifestyle Program
• spiritual care and emotional support

COVID-19 (22 Nov 2021): Shelter services and crisis helpline remain in full operation.

Francophone shelter for women victims of violence and their children

• two sites can accommodate single women and families
• emergency and temporary housing
• crisis helpline
• services for women and for children
• transitional assistance
• intervention services to counter sexual violence
• support and services for sexual assault victims
• Fem'aide: francophone support helpline

COVID-19 (January 17, 2022): Providing support as usual. Visit their website for additional information.

Confidential call-in support services

• counseling
• information and advice on reporting
• referrals to resources

Confidential text and online chat tool

• connects women and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse to trained counsellors, advice, referrals and support

National network united to end violence against women

• members of the network are Canada's provincial/territorial and regional sheltering organizations

Website offers:

• resources
• fact sheets
• reports
• tool kits
• training, videos and more

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

Community-based initiative dedicated to working towards

• developing awareness
• understanding of the abuse people with disabilities can face
• its prevention
• the committee meets every two months

Independent resource for victims

• facilitates access of victims to existing federal programs and services by providing them with information and referrals
• addresses complaints of victims about compliance with the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act that apply to victims of offenders under federal supervision and providing an independent resource for those victims
• enhances awareness among criminal justice personnel and policy makers of the needs and concerns of victims and the applicable laws that benefit victims of crime, including to promote the principles set out in the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime
• identifies emerging issues and exploring systemic issues that impact negatively on victims of crime

If you are a victim of crime, this organization can:

• answer your questions about your rights as a victim
• give you information about the services and programs available to you through the federal government
• receive and review your complaints about other federal government departments, agencies or policies
  refer you to programs and services in your city or province that may be able to help you
• make recommendations to the federal government on how to change its policies or laws to better suit the needs and concerns of victims, and to report on those recommendations publicly

COVID-19 (February 11, 2021): Are booking virtual appointments and will accommodate in-person appointments if required. All clients will be pre-screened prior to in-person appointments. Contact reception@voicefound.ca or call to make an appointment.

Primary and preventative health care clinic designed to care for and support those at risk, those experiencing or those who have been trafficked

Clinic services:

• checkups
• identification, documentation, and treatment for acute and chronic illnesses/injuries
• vaccinations
• annual health screening (pap testing, referrals for mammograms, colonoscopy)
• contraception counselling and administration of contraception
• emergency contraception (Ella, Plan B, Copper IUD)
• sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment
• medical clearance evaluations
• clinical mental health diagnosis and management from a primary care perspective
• referral and collaborative management for concurrent disorders
• case management

Other services:

• training and education
• case management and peer support

Organization that works towards the elimination of oppression experienced by women

• advocates action through cooperation between networks
• adopts action based on a feminist analysis of the social and community situation
• promotes the development of resources for French-speaking women in Ontario
• develops cooperation and communication between the various networks
• offers legal services for Francophone women dealing with violence
• offers online and in-person training for the general public and interveners
• runs awareness campaigns on violence against women

Public education campaign to raise awareness of the signs of woman abuse so that those close to an at-risk woman can help

• various documentation available on demand

Student Legal Aid Services Society clinic

• staffed by students and supervised by lawyers
• provides legal services to low-income members of the community
• conducts legal education presentations
• participates in a variety of outreach activities for students and many community organizations

Provides legal advice and representation on:

• family law
• tenant law
• criminal charges
• serious matters under the Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act

Online clickable map that connects women with the nearest shelter

• provides the shelter's 24 hour phone number and/or website
• provides information on each shelter's pet policy, wheelchair accessibility, availability of children's programming

Information available on:

• creating a safety plan
• how to offer support
• signs of abuse
• list of things to bring when heading to a shelter
• list of emergency phone crisis lines

Free confidential interpretation service for agencies serving non-English or French-speaking people who are victims or survivors of violence

COVID-19 (26 Mar 2020): Due to COVID19, the centre is physically closed and regular programming is on hold until further notice * staff is still available via email and phone to support clients * free online computer classes available for women: permanent residents, convention refugees, caregivers * to register, contact iskrena@immigrantwomenservices.com or call 613-729-3145

Crisis Intervention and Counselling Service:

• crisis intervention
• short-and long-term counselling
• information, referral and support services
• support to victims of war and trauma
• support and information on various options for pregnant women

Orientation and Adaptation Services:

• needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care community support through volunteer befriending, conversation circles to practice English or French
• help with connecting to language classes
• workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture

Translation and interpretation services:

• professionally trained interpreters with expertise in health, community and social services: in person, by phone and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

Supportive counselling:

• short-term counselling to clients who encounter difficulties in adjusting to life in Canada and assistance in overcoming these challenges

Citizenship Preparation:

• courses, tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test: in class or online.

Employment Counselling and Preparation:

Job search preparation and training:

• developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling:

• resume help, job readiness clinic, employment counselling, skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Job search workshop held monthly:

• free childcare
• referrals
• computer training

Support services for women who are victims or survivors of violence and/or newcomers and their families:

Support Groups:

• 10-week support group for women survivors of violence
• transportation
• child care
• language interpretation

Children Who Witness Violence Program (in partnership with Family Services à la famille Ottawa) offering:

• support and information to children who witness violence in the home
• individual counselling for childre
• family counselling
• art club for children and mother

Transitional and Housing Support Program for Abused Women

Other Settlement Services:

Language Interpreter Training:

• for culturally diverse women and men who fulfill the requirements for training
• for more information on this program, call the Language Interpretation service

Public education

Training and Outreach:

• Information sessions on Ottawa's diverse community

Anti-oppression training for service providers

Public education sessions on domestic violence for newcomers

Workshops for newcomer immigrant women on parenting in a new culture, legal information, social assistance etc.

Works with service providers and community partners to reach isolated newcomer immigrants and refugee women

University residence-style affordable housing rented on monthly basis:

• access to 24-hour on-site crisis support and referral services
• individual bar-size refrigerator and access to shared kitchen
• shared washrroms limited private bathrooms available