Provides a range of programs that address family violence
Adult Counselling Services

• Offers a variety of professional counselling services to adults and their families
• Offers services such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and Fee-for-Service Counselling

Child Witness Services -- Creating Connections group

• Offers a 10-week group program for children who have been exposed to and impacted by domestic violence, provided with a concurrent group for mothers
• Provides an opportunity for children to meet with other children and know that they are not alone
• Provides the Mothers' Group that runs at the same time as the children's group, and designed to help mothers support their children through this group process

Partner Assault Response Program

• Offers a 12 week group education and counselling 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

Violence Against Women and Freedom from Abuse

• Offers professional counselling and therapeutic services to women who have experienced any abuse (physical, verbal, emotional) in either past or present relationships, or who have witnessed abuse as children
• Offers Freedom From Abuse -- a 12-week psycho-educational group on abuse and healthy relationships
• Provides a weekly drop-in support service
• Offers monthly Empowerment Session on a variety of topics

• Operates a 24-bed emergency shelter for women who have been victims of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and their children
• Operates a 24-hour crisis support phone line and walk-in crisis service
• 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

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

COVID19 Update: Court case backlog -- clients may experience difficulties contacting local offices and should leave a message with return phone number; VWAP staff will return voicemail as soon as possible

• Provides information and assistance to support participation in the criminal court process
• Services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over

Offers:

• Case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions)
• Court preparation
• Needs assessment
• Emotional support
• Crisis intervention
• Referrals to community agencies

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 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

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

• 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 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 supportsFinancial 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

• Operates a counselling centre dedicated to providing services to Francophone women who have experienced any type of violence including sexual, physical, psychological, verbal, economical
• Works toward creating a community where women and their children are empowered, respected and valued

Offers an array of services including the following:

• Fem'aide, a 24-hour crisis telephone service
• Individual counselling
• Support groups
• Referrals to other community agencies and services
• Crisis intervention services
• Accompaniment to various appointments and meetings
• Public education and awareness campaigns

Offers injury prevention initiatives throughout the community
Algoma Council on Domestic Violence

• Increases awareness of domestic violence
• Provides guidelines for addressing situations of domestic violence
• Assists victims of domestic violence in finding appropriate services and resources
• Assists perpetrators of domestic violence in finding treatment programs

Elder Abuse Prevention CommitteeCollaborates with local agencies dedicated to increase the awareness and support to a community response and positive change to elder abuse
KidSafe Algoma CoalitionWorks to reduce injuries in children under the age of 15 years through car seat and booster seat checks and clinics, seatbelt safety, helmet safety initiatives and other programs
Risk Watch Coalition Provides elementary school aged children with curriculum based injury prevention skills and knowledge to reduce the incidents of injury
Sault Rising StarsProvides senior citizens with injury prevention information through live performance vignettes
Sault Traffic And Road Safety Committee (STARS)Partners with member groups and individuals to educate the public on road safety issues including speeding, school bus safety campaigns, and drinking and driving to improve road safety and reduce traffic injuries and deaths
Slips, Trips and Falls CommitteePartners with community members and senior volunteers who provide information to reduce the number of fall related injuries among older adults
Standardized Safety Orientation ProgramOffers a common, comprehensive 4 hour safety orientation program for supervisors, contractors and all workers, covering topics ranging from how to safely plan a job through to the legal responsibilities of employees and employers
SMARTRISK No Regrets

• Trains youth leaders through experiential learning, to implement injury prevention activities and events in their high schools, utilizing the power of peers in teens lives
• Influences the attitudes and risk taking behaviour of students in schools related to risk activities, such as driving, biking, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and partying

• Provides public awareness, understanding and the implications of elder abuse
• Educates the community on how to identify and respond to abuse of the older adult
• Informs older adults of their rights and how to protect themselves from abuse
• Advocates for senior rights
• Includes community representatives such as social workers, nurses, lawyers, police officers, seniors and concerned citizens

Operates as a Committee under the Safe Communities Sault Ste Marie, Safe Communities Partnership

• Provides free legal advice and representation to eligible clients in certain areas of law
• Assists individuals representing themselves or in making official complaints
• Speaks to community groups, agencies and educational groups on a wide range of legal topics
• Answers questions on specific points of law and/or refers individuals to other agencies

Areas of focus include:

• Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
• Criminal Injuries Compensation
• Employment Insurance
• Human rights
• Rent increases and rent review
• Tenant rights
• Social assistance, including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program benefits and family benefits

Note: May be able to assist with commissioning affidavits and/or notarizing documents in the areas of laws practiced