Searching for Counselling For Abused People

Operates a short-term emergency shelter for abused women and their children

• Provides a 24-hour crisis line
• Accommodates a maximum of 10 individuals

Coordinates the following support services for residents:

• Helps women understand options to assist in making life choices
• Offers assistance in accessing housing, legal and other community services
• Offers individual counselling

• Offers a variety of programming to support expecting parents and families with young children
• Programs support healthy pregnancies, parenting skills, child development, mental health, injury prevention and family living

Program participants are provided access to:

• Emergency food, if required
• Facilitated parenting groups
• Free clothing exchange
• Home visits post birth to offer support to new mothers
• Home visits pre birth to prepare family for new arrival
• Indoor playground
• Prenatal food supplements
• Prenatal nutrition groups

Note: Transportation and child care is available to all participants

Provides legal assistance for low-income people

Services include:

• Legal representation for eligible clients who appear in court without a lawyer
• Legal aid applications and information over the phone
• Legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies
• A certificate program for complex and serious cases

Areas of law served include:

• Criminal
• Domestic violence
• Family
• Immigration and refugee

Does NOT cover applications for:

• Wrongful dismissal
• Change of name
• Personal bankruptcy
• Power of attorney
• Money lent to others or money owed to others
• Sponsorship of relatives
• Commercial litigation
• Real estate matters and libel
• Defamation and slander

Provides legal 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)

Works to eradicate the social conditions that contribute to violence against women and children, through public education, lobbying and political action

• Provides a confidential 24-hour Crisis Line
• Offers individual and/or group counselling
• Offers information on police investigation, medical and legal procedures
• Provides individuals advocacy and accompaniment through any procedures they choose
• Offers referrals when requested
• Provides information and support for families and friends of the victim or survivor
• Offers education and prevention through public awareness
• Provides resource materials, books, films, videos and reports, all available to the public

Human Trafficking is a criminal offence and involves recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving, holding, concealing or harbouring a person, or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation

Offers the following services to victims/survivors of human trafficking:

• Provides a confidential 24-hour Crisis Line
• Offers trauma counselling
• Provides outreach to individuals at risk of being victimized
• Offers education, prevention and community supports that will increase awareness and understanding of the causes of human trafficking
• Offers information on police investigation, medical and legal procedures
• Provides individuals advocacy and accompaniment through any procedures they choose
• Offers referrals when requested
• Provides information and support for families and friends of the victim or survivor of human trafficking

Provides support to Indigenous people in conflict with the Criminal Justice System

• Assists the accused to better understand their rights, options and responsibilities under the law
• Provides clarification of the charge and the court procedure
• Assists with understanding the fulfillment requirements of the sentence including bail documents and probation orders
• Provides advocacy on behalf of the accused to the court
• Offers the services of a Native Inmate Liaison worker
• Gives referrals to legal resources and appropriate social, education, employment and medical resources to address the problems contributing to the charges
• Provides education and promotes understanding of the Criminal Justice System and alternative justice processes to the Aboriginal community

Provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Provides immediate on site intervention or telephone assistance
• Contacts police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to ensure safety
• Coordinates a safe neutral environment for families to meet and discuss resolutions
• Advocates on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services

Provides a culturally based program to support and address concerns of Indigenous youth who are at risk of negative behaviors

Addressing Violence

• Provides education on how to end violence in Indigenous communities
• Teaches about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse

Education

• Encourages youth to remain in school and provides support for obtaining high school diploma
• Offers homework assistance and time at the Centre to complete homework with access to computers and Internet

General Social Supports

• Provides individual counselling for areas that youth may be struggling with such as socialization and peer pressure
• Offers Native craft classes and regalia making sessions
• Teaches Native dancing, singing and drumming
• Allows the youth to participate in Elder's Circles

Healthy Living and Physical Development

• Holds individual and group educational sessions on healthy lifestyle choices including good nutrition and traditional food preparation
• Supervises non competitive recreational activities

Justice Intervention

• Accompanies any youth registered in agency programs to court proceedings if requested

Youth in Care

• Provides cultural education and support for youth living in foster homes within community

Supports reduction or prevention of family and community violence

• Provides victim service referrals and emergency support for family violence
• Works one-on-one with families experiencing family violence to develop a plan of action for identified concerns
• Provides referrals to counselling, legal services, and treatment centres
• Offers Indigenous culture-based healing, self-help processes for anger management, and positive self-image development; alternative discipline methods and positive relationships
• Organizes and facilitates community events in schools, powwows, and health fairs to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevention of family violence
• Develops programs, workshops, promotions, and prevention education campaigns dealing with family-based violence awareness

Provides services and programs to enhance the lives of pregnant women and families with infants and young children

• Provides screening of new mothers
• Offers individual counselling services for pregnancy, child development concerns and related issues
• Promotes breast feeding
• Offers welcome home bags with baby supplies to all new mothers
• Provides baby supplies to low-income families

Offers education and information on various topics including:

• Early childhood development
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness
• Child nutrition issues
• Healthy cooking and shopping for families
• Prenatal nutrition

• Promotes the development of good mental health and provides services for individuals with mental health and addictions issues
• Provides the services of a youth support worker and an elder support worker

Provides information, services and activities including the following areas but not limited to:

• Addictions
• Depression
• Family violence
• Health promotion
• Stress management

Services include:

• Counselling services
• Cultural activities, feasts and ceremonies
• Group workshops
• Educational sessions that promote wellness
• Fitness activities
• Coordination and referrals to psychologist, psychiatrist, other counselling services and treatment centres
• Coordination of aftercare services

Functions under the Community Care Program

• Offers community based family counselling for children, teens, men, women and families as a group
• Provides assessments and case management services
• Provides services of traditional healers
• Offers community workshops to raise awareness of issues affecting families including substance abuse and family violence
• Supports community initiatives that promote family healing such as traditional gatherings

Also offers the following family support services including but not limited to:

• Advocacy and referral to external agencies
• Assistance in the planning of child's and family's needs
• Emergency financial assistance for basic needs only in cases where the welfare of child/children is at-risk
• Home visitation arrangements and supervison to enable parents to visit with their children living in alternative care

• Focus is on improving the overall health and well-being of communities and to empower families to build healthy relationships
• Works to eliminate family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care

Activities and programs provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• Activities that revitalize Native language
• Alcohol and drug abuse prevention and intervention
• Community events such as feasts
• Family circles, counselling and child/youth support groups
• Referrals to other programs and services
• School programs
• Traditional land-based healing events

• Promotes healthy individuals, families and communities with regard to family violence
• Provides culturally appropriate support services, resources, educational materials, and workshops to address community wellness needs
• Provides cultural teachings and direct traditional activities such as sweat-lodges, medicine picking and drumming

Offers workshops including but not limited to the following topics:

• Alcohol, street drug and solvent abuse
• Bullying and cyberspace
• Family violence
• Grief and loss
• Healthy relationships
• Healthy families and surviving responsibilities
• Prescription drug abuse
• Self esteem

• Offers community based family counselling for children, teens, men, women and families as a group
• Provides assessments and case management services
• Provides services of traditional healers
• Offers community workshops to raise awareness of issues affecting families including substance abuse and family violence
• Supports community initiatives that promote family healing such as traditional gatherings

Also offers the following family support services including but not limited to:

• Advocacy and referral to external agencies
• Assistance in the planning of child's and family's needs
• Emergency financial assistance for basic needs only in cases where the welfare of child/children is at-risk
• Home visitation arrangements and supervision to enable parents to visit with their children living in alternative care

• Offers community based family counselling for children, teens, men, women and families as a group
• Provides assessments and case management services
• Provides services of traditional healers
• Offers community workshops to raise awareness of issues affecting families including substance abuse and family violence
• Supports community initiatives that promote family healing such as traditional gatherings

Also offers the following family support services including but not limited to:

• Advocacy and referral to external agencies
• Assistance in the planning of child's and family's needs
• Emergency financial assistance for basic needs only in cases where the welfare of child/children is at-risk
• Home visitation arrangements and supervision to enable parents to visit with their children living in alternative care

Promotes the development of good mental health and provides services for individuals with mental health issues

Provides information and awareness activities including but not limited to:

• Depression
• Family violence
• Stress management

Services include:

• Counselling services for children, youth and families
• Cultural activities and crafts
• Recreational activities
• Wellness activities

Promotes healthy individuals, families and communities with regard to family violence

• Provides culturally appropriate support services, resources, educational materials, and workshops to address community wellness needs
• Provides cultural teachings and direct traditional activities such as sweat-lodges, medicine picking and drumming
• Provides referrals to counselling, legal services, and treatment centres
• Organizes and facilitates community events in school, powwows, and health fairs to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevention of family violence

Offers workshops/education including but not limited to the following topics:

• Alcohol, street drug and solvent abuse
• Bullying and cyberspace
• Family violence
• Healthy relationships
• Healthy families and surviving responsibilities
• Prescription drug abuse
• Self esteem

• Offers a variety of programming to support expecting parents and families with young children
• Programs support healthy pregnancies, child development and family living

Program participants are provided access to:

• Emergency food, if required
• Facilitated parenting groups
• Group recreational activities
• Free clothing exchange
• Home visits post birth to offer support to new mothers
• Home visits pre birth to prepare family for new arrival
• Prenatal food supplements
• Prenatal nutrition groups

Note: Transportation and child care is available to all participants

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

Supports reduction or prevention of family and community violence

• Provides victim service referrals and emergency support for family violence
• Works one-on-one with families experiencing family violence to develop a plan of action for identified concerns
• Provides referrals to counselling, legal services, and treatment centres
• Offers Aboriginal culture-based healing, illness prevention, and crisis intervention workshops
• Organizes and facilitates community events in schools, powwows, and health fairs to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevention of family violence
• Develops programs, workshops, promotions, and prevention education campaigns dealing with family-based violence awareness

Provides long term mental health services and supports to adults

• Offers case management services including individual assessment and treatment planning
• Provides supportive mental health counselling
• Offers accompaniment to community activities and appointments

General Counselling

• Provides individual mental health counselling
• Offers bereavement counselling
• Offers services to male survivors of sexual abuse

LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone 

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM -  Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.