Programs We Serve
Community-Based Victim Assistance Programs (CBVAPs)
There are 62 Community-Based Victim Assistance Programs in BC funded by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. These community-based programs, established in the late 1980s, provide crucial emotional support, information, referrals, justice system support and liaison services for survivors of sexual assault, violence in relationships and violence against children and youth. Programs also work to ensure that a coordinated response is in place in their community. Some specialized programs provide support to survivors of violence who have specific needs, such as adult male survivors and survivors from Aboriginal and multicultural communities.
Stopping the Violence (STV) Counselling Programs
There are 100 Stopping the Violence Counselling programs in BC, funded by the Ministry of Community Services. These programs provide essential counselling and support (including information, referrals and in some cases, system liaison services) for women who have experienced sexual assault, violence in relationships, and/or childhood abuse.
List of STV Counselling programs
STV Outreach Programs
These 50 programs respond to the needs of adult women and their dependent children who have experienced or are at risk of violence. Programs support women to identify and access the services they need. They provide counselling, referral to other community services and assistance with systems such as child protection and family court. They also work to ensure that a coordinated response is in place in the community. Programs provide community education to raise awareness about the effect of violence against women and the services needed to address it. As needed, they provide local transportation, accompaniment and advocacy.
Sexual Assault/Woman Assault Centres
Sexual Assault Centres were established in BC throughout the 1970s to provide crisis intervention, hospital and police accompaniment, counselling and advocacy for women and girls dealing with sexual assault and historical child sexual abuse. While funding was cut to the 23 centres in 2003, many of these programs still exist through Community-Based Victim Assistance program funding and other fundraised resources.