Searching for Counselling For Abused People

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. Services include:

• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies, including Indigenous and other culturally specific agencies
• crisis intervention, trauma-informed 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
• arranges for interpreters and accessibility accommodations
• 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 (VVFF) -- Helps support victims of crime, including families of homicide victims and motor vehicle fatalities resulting in criminal charges, participate more fully in the criminal court process by providing financial assistance and court-based supports for:

• travel to attend key court dates
• language interpretation services
• special accommodations for victims with disabilities, such as real-time captioning
• necessities for victims of human trafficking or gun and gang violence while attending court

• 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

• Criminal
• Domestic violence
• Family

• 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

Supports, accompanies and advocates for the autonomy of all Francophone women who have experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing gender-based violence.

Offers a range of services, including:

• Counselling and support groups
• Personalized accompaniment
• Advocacy and representation
• Access to legal support and information
• Referral to community services
• Education and prevention programs
• 24/7 support - Fem'aide

* Services are offered in French only. Referral to English services available *

• Assists family members to cope with the challenges of mental illnesses
• Offers group sessions to share frustrations and concerns
• Offers counselling and support to family members to provide strategies, supports and referrals to community partners as needed
• Offers a Family Education Series twice annually consisting of six 1-hour sessions about a range of mental health issues

• Offers mental health and general adult counselling, psychotherapy and other treatment services related to mental health issues
• Offers identification and assessment of signs and symptoms of mental health problems
• Provides individual, couples, family or group support
• Counselling provided for a variety of issues including strategies to cope with mental illness, relationships, substance use/abuse, managing stress, parenting challenges, grief/loss, self-esteem and coping strategies
• Provides collaboration and consultation with other service providers
• Offers the Back on Track program (Ontario's remedial measures for impaired drivers)

• Offers single-session brief counselling services for children, youth, adults, couples and families
• Addresses a variety of issues including but not limited to mental health, addictions, relationships, and daily living activities
• In-person walk-in available in Sault Ste Marie; virtual walk-in counselling available in Blind River, Elliot Lake and Wawa

• Provides single session walk-in mental health and addictions counselling virtually via telephone or video conference
• Offers confidential sessions that are usually one to one and a half hours in length
• Encourages participants to have personal support individuals attend with them including a friend, family member or support worker

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

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS)
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• ID Bank
• Native Status applications
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)
• Workplace safety and injury

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the electoral district of Sault Ste Marie-Algoma

• Acts as the elected representative to the Federal government
• Assists individuals with applying for federal benefits
• Assists individuals and groups with federal advocacy concerns such as complaints about access to service
• Arranges for congratulatory certificates signed by the Prime Minister, Governor General, or the King for people celebrating birthdays of 65 years and older and anniversaries for 25 years and up

*Sault Ste Marie Office

Offers options and links to information for those in abusive situations

Quick Links:

• https://acdv.ca/i-need-help/
  
• https://acdv.ca/i-want-to-help/
  
• https://acdv.ca/emergency-numbers/

This program is a member of Safe Communities Sault Ste Marie

• 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 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

• Helps reduce the psychological and social problems associated with the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs, and problem gambling
• Provides support and education to family members
• Offers a multi-modal approach that includes harm reduction and 12-step abstinence

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Marital and couples counselling
• Family counselling
• Consultation
• Education and awareness
• Aftercare services
• Relapse prevention
• Family support
• In home counselling
• Presentations on gambling

• Domestic violence
• Relationship issues
• Child abuse
• Suicide prevention
• Drug and alcohol addiction

• Cultural teachings
• Naming ceremonies
• Sweat lodge ceremonies

• Promotes growth and healing for Indigenous people through culturally-specific services
• Reduces family violence and promotes healthy lifestyles

• Applying to healing lodges
• Elder visits
• Supportive peer counselling
• Traditional peer counselling

• Anger solutions
• Weekly sewing circle
• Traditional health program

• Helps individuals to navigate the court system
• Explains legal rights and court procedures
• Facilitates and enhances access to the Canadian Legal System and informs participants of the philosophy of the courts
• Advocates on behalf of participants to law professionals such as Judges, Crown Attorneys, Legal Aid, Probation Officers and Custodial Program Workers
• Ensures Indigenous people involved in the criminal justice system are given due process, understand their rights, responsibilities and options
• Liaises between the court personnel and the participant to address cultural misunderstandings

• Provides community-based culturally appropriate services to Urban Indigenous elderly, frail, physically disabled, or chronically ill individuals
• Provides transportation to medical appointments
• Offers friendly visiting
• Offers advocacy support between individual and other agencies and organizations
• Organizes outings, activities, education, programming and socialization for clients

• Bankruptcy
• Budgeting help
• Debt help options
• Debt settlements using consumer proposals
• Financial literacy education

• information on the family court process
• assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• debriefing with clients following family court appearances
• referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• safety planning
• court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

• Assists abused women in making the transition to an abuse-free life
• Helps secure and maintain housing, and helps develop an individual safety and transitional plan
• Supports women to live free from violence by connecting them with necessary community support such as housing, counselling, parenting support, education upgrading, job training, income support, legal aid and health and wellness service

Operates a 24-bed emergency shelter for women and children who have been affected by abuse and violence

Offers the following services:

• Advocacy
• Assistance in finding housing
• In-House Child Care
• Parenting Skills
• Short and Long-Term Counselling

Sexual Assault Centre

Crisis intervention and culturally sensitive counselling, supports and referrals

• a 24 hour telephone crisis line
• individual counselling and support groups
• legal support, advocacy, information, and referrals
• court support, accompaniment and advocacy program
• information on alternatives to legal justice system
• public education and training to end gender based violence in our community
• all services confidential
• Trans/ gender diverse positive environment

• Operates a 24-bed emergency shelter for women who have been victims of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and their children
• Offers long-term and crisis counselling for women who have been victims of sexual assault or abuse both current and historic
• Offers educational groups on topics such as self-esteem, self worth, exploring the cycle of violence, healthy relationships, safety planning, housing, and advocacy
• Offers client referrals for counselling and to government services
• Provides community education and awareness on the issues of abuse
• Provides on site child care for women who are residents of the shelter for court dates, doctors appointments, group sessions
• Offers on site child care for non-resident women during group sessions, Call for information on programs offering this service
• Offers parenting support and counselling sessions
• Offers a Family Court Support Worker Program
• Offers a Transitional and Housing Support Program

Note: A woman does not have to be a resident of the centre to access these services

• Provides medical care following a sexual assault by a specially trained pediatric doctor and nurse
• Collects forensic evidence upon examination
• Offers information and referrals to other programs and services
• Offers counselling to children over the age of 3 with acute or historical sexual abuse experiences as well
• Offers support and education to parents and guardians

• Provides emotional and medical care/treatment to victims of sexual assault
• Provides counselling after a recent or past sexual assault
• Offers individual, family and group counselling
• Offers information and referrals to other programs and services such as shelters and counselling

• Serves as a membership-based coalition for Indigenous rights and interests
• Functions as an affiliate member of the Indigenous Peoples' Assembly of Canada (IPAC), formerly known as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP)
• Works to implement programs in areas of health care, employment training and post secondary education, affordable housing, legal services, poverty issues, cultural enhancement, and mental health services
• Provides information for accessing provincial and federal government programs and services

• Developed as a new program aimed at supporting healthy and whole Métis families
• Works to reduce family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care
• Focus is on providing direct one-on-one client services and educational resources and family wellness planning

• After school safe places and homework clubs
• Assistance in navigating the community support system
• Assisting children and youth to foster self-identity and to develop life skills
• Court-related supports
• Empowering parents to be their children's best advocates
• Ensuring families have their basic needs met
• Guidance for building healthy relationships and raising awareness of personal safety issues
• Peer support for youth involved in justice and correction issues
• Referrals for employment and training programs
• Supports for children and youth who have experienced or witnessed violence
• Supports for Métis youth to stay in school
• Support in case meetings and conferencing