Searching for Counselling For Abused People

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

Operates as a program under the Healing and Wellness Branch

• 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

Services provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• 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

All in-person services have been suspended; services are being provided remotely -- as at March 17, 2020 and until further notice

Provides wrap-around, culturally appropriate supports for victims and survivors of human trafficking including:

• One-on-one support
• Counselling
• Outreach
• Referrals

Operates a women's shelter

All in-person services have been suspended; services are being provided remotely -- as at March 17, 2020 and until further notice

Provides a variety of services to women in crisis, including:

• Sexual Assault Centre
  • Provides individual and group counselling and support to women 16 years of age and older who have or are experiencing any form of sexual violence
• A Family Court Support Worker
• A clothing exchange program
• Transitional Housing Support Program
• A 24 hour crisis line
• Crisis counselling for survivors of abuse
• Advocacy and accompaniment services, information on legal and medical procedures and options
• Help with Criminal Injuries Compensation, victim impact statements and court preparation
• Risk Assessment and Safety Planning
• Assistance with immigration services and with getting financial support

All in-person services have been suspended; services are being provided remotely -- as at March 17, 2020 and until further notice

• Operates an emergency shelter for women and their children
• Manages a 24-hour crisis support line

Women are provided with:

• Advocacy and referrals to other agencies
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Assistance with custody and child support issues
• Assistance with finding housing
• Assistance with financial support

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

• Provides support services to Indigenous women and their families who are experiencing violence and are involved in the child welfare system
• Works to meet the needs of women involved with both the Child Welfare Systems (CAS) and Violence Against Women Sectors (VAW)

Aims to create a safe and supportive means of living through collaboration with other community services and the provision of culturally based services including:

• Advocacy support
• Crisis management
• Cultural and traditional supports such as holistic teachings, sharing circles, ceremonies and guidance from Elders
• Information and education provision for mothers on their rights and responsibilities
• Systems navigation
• Work with families and Children's Aid Society (CAS) to resolve conflict

Ensures that Indigenous people who come into conflict with the law understand the process, and their legal rights

• Acts as a liaison between the individual/family and the court
• Ensures that the individual/family understands their legal rights and/or obligations pertaining to the law and the legal process with both the Criminal Court and Family Court
• Provides information about preventative measures imposed by the court such as bail, detention or conditional release
• Offers individual counselling
• Assists with preparing pre-sentence reports
• Explains conditions of probation to individual
• Works with community agencies on behalf of individual to ensure sentencing conditions are met
• Visits incarcerated individuals to provide support and maintains contact with Native Inmate Liaison worker
• Provides education and information about the legal system

Provides mental health, individual, couples and family counselling for a variety of issues including but not limited to:

• Abuse
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Conflict
• Depression
• Family problems
• Grief and loss
• Life crisis
• Marital issues and relationships
• Sexual orientation
• Sexual Violence
• Trauma
• Workplace struggles

Offers several Ministry funded programs including:

• Direct Accountability Program
• Partner Assault Response Program (PAR)
• Partner Intervention Program
• Sexual Violence
• Support Services for Male Survivors
• Violence Against Women

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

Temporarily closed due to COVID - call Toll Free 1-800-518-0000 or email info@chs.ca for more information on virtual services

• Provides confidential counselling, education and advocacy
• Offers family, relationship, and individual counselling

Offers counselling in the following areas:

• Deaf identity
• Depression, anxiety or bipolar issues
• Domestic violence
• Grief and loss
• Life transitions
• Parenting and family challenges
• Personal development
• Relationship difficulties
• Sexuality
• Substance use
• Trauma (present or past)

• Operates a sexual assault centre and a shelter for women and their children who have been victims of violence
• Provides advocacy and follow-up services where possible

Services offered under the program include the following:

• Crisis intervention
• Emergency Shelter
• Human Trafficking Program
• Individual and group counselling
• Security planning
• Support groups
• Transitional housing and support services
• Child Witness Program

• 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

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

• Provides free legal advice and assistance to low income earners
• Offers representation in a court or at a tribunal, such as the Social Benefits Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Assists with preparing documents, such as an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board

Helps with the following areas:

• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan Disability and Old Age Security
• Housing law for tenants
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Debt and consumer rights

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, or Refugee Law