Searching for Victims Of Abuse Support Programs

Provides legal advice and assistance to individuals who do not have the means to assert or defend their legal rights through the following services:

• Client representation in clinic areas of practice
• Free summary legal advice
• Information and referral
• Law reform advocacy
• Public education
• Specialized legal services

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Birth certificates
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability or Pension benefits
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Disability Tax benefits
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• Native Status applications
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)

Provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Provides immediate on site intervention or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions
• Provides advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services

Update on services during COVID-19 outbreak
Interim direction for Youth Justice Open and Secure Facilities
Ontario continues to take decisive action to protect the health and safety of all people and families during the COVID-19 outbreak. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been put into place in provincially-operated youth justice centres and in probation offices:

• Enhanced screening processes have been implemented in all Directly Operated Youth Justice Facilities.
• All personal visits and volunteer activities are cancelled. Approved personal visitors may maintain contact with youth by phone. Enhanced technology, such as video calling, where operationally available and operationally feasible, can be used for virtual visits with family.
• Professional visits including legal counsel will continue although consideration should be given to alternative options such as the use of teleconferences.
• All non-essential reintegration leaves are restricted until further notice.
• Walk-in service is cancelled at all probation offices until further notice. Services will continue to be provided through the use of technology including telephone and email contact. Staff continue to have clients report by telephone and maintain case management supervision.
• The Ministry has recommended similar measures be implemented by all service partners providing programming in communities throughout the province.

Acts as an alternative justice program in place of the regular court system

• Meets with those alleged to have committed non violent offences and victims to negotiate an appropriate way to make amends for their actions
• Provides an increased role for victims and communities in dealing with minor offenses committed by persons who are prepared to be accountable

NOTE: Offenders who plead innocent must remain in the regular court system

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• 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
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Volunteers

• Recruits individuals to provide support to victims
• Provides individuals with specialized training at no cost

Volunteers will:

• Assist in developing a personalized safety plan for the victim
• Provide information about legal assistance and programs
• Offer referrals to long-term service providers within the community
• Provide temporary practical and emotional support

• Provides immediate legal assistance to individuals appearing in court without a lawyer
• Informs individuals about legal rights, obligations and the court process
• Provides assistance in the courtroom for bail hearings and sentencing
• Assists with diversions, guilty pleas and adjournments
• Helps determine if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

May provide assistance in specialized courts including:

• Aboriginal persons (Gladue) court
• Domestic violence
• Drug treatment
• Mental health

Note: Criminal Duty Counsel cannot assist with trials

Provides information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process

• services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies
• crisis intervention, emotional support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund

Provides financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court, including:

• Travel arrangements and expenses
• Language interpretation
• Real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Provides individual and group counseling for those who are experiencing problems in various areas of living

Addictions Counseling

• Provides assessments for various addictions for individuals
• Conducts case management studies
• Offers referrals to appropriate helps
• Provides therapeutic intervention and aftercare
• Provides public education to raise awareness of addictions

Family Violence

• Addresses and provides counseling for all forms of family violence including elder abuse, child and spousal abuse and sexual assault
• Provides referrals to other community services

Individual Counseling

• Provides counseling for many life issues including bereavement, mental illness, disability and traumatic childhood issues

Marital and Family Counseling

• Provides counseling for conflicts in family relationships, sexual issues, separation and divorce matters and communication skills

Partner Assault Response

• Offers a 12 week group education and counseling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict
• Offers victims/partners of the offender support including safety planning, referrals to community resources and information on offender's progress

Problem Gambling

• Provides individual and family counseling to deal with the harmful effects of problem gambling

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region)

Provides individual and group counseling for those who are experiencing problems in various areas of living

Addictions Counseling

• Provides assessments for various addictions for individuals
• Conducts case management studies
• Offers referrals to appropriate helps
• Provides therapeutic intervention and aftercare
• Provides public education to raise awareness of addictions

Family Violence

• Addresses and provides counseling for all forms of family violence including elder abuse, child and spousal abuse and sexual assault
• Provides referrals to other community services

Individual Counseling

• Provides counseling for many life issues including bereavement, mental illness, disability and traumatic childhood issues

Marital and Family Counseling

• Provides counseling for conflicts in family relationships, sexual issues, separation and divorce matters and communication skills

Partner Assault Response

• Offers a 12 week group education and counseling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict
• Offers victims/partners of the offender support including safety planning, referrals to community resources and information on offender's progress

Problem Gambling

• Provides individual and family counseling to deal with the harmful effects of problem gambling

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region)

Provides individual and group counseling for those who are experiencing problems in various areas of living

Addictions Counseling

• Provides assessments for various addictions for individuals
• Conducts case management studies
• Offers referrals to appropriate helps
• Provides therapeutic intervention and aftercare
• Provides public education to raise awareness of addictions

Family Violence

• Addresses and provides counseling for all forms of family violence including elder abuse, child and spousal abuse and sexual assault
• Provides referrals to other community services

Individual Counseling

• Provides counseling for many life issues including bereavement, mental illness, disability and traumatic childhood issues

Marital and Family Counseling

• Provides counseling for conflicts in family relationships, sexual issues, separation and divorce matters and communication skills

Partner Assault Response

• Offers a 12 week group education and counseling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict
• Offers victims/partners of the offender support including safety planning, referrals to community resources and information on offender's progress

Problem Gambling

• Provides individual and family counseling to deal with the harmful effects of problem gambling

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region)

Provides crisis intervention services to community in crisis situations and to individuals affected by family violence and suicide

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions

Also coordinates:

• Crisis plan to follow in response to suicide intervention, domestic violence intervention and any other form of crisis situations that may arise in community
• Information sessions and workshops on techniques for healing strategies

Support Services

Supports can include but are not limited to:

• Debriefing and stabilization following crisis situation
• Advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Meal preparation, transportation, homemaking and other areas requiring support for families in crisis situations such as the suicide of a youth
• Information about/referrals to appropriate resources and services