BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs

A project funded by the Health Board (now the Coastal Health Authority) and coordinated by the BC Institute Against Family Violence to assess the need for counselling and other related services for women.

This project developed a series of biographies of trans people and their allies to be used as stand alone information tools and alongside the curricula and the policy manual. Project was funded by the Ministry of Attorney General.

This project was funded by the Human Rights Commissioner and developed a policy manual for women and victim serving agencies so they can understand and more easily put into place inclusive policy.

A committee supported by the Commissioner of Human Rights that brought together transgendered people and women from the feminist community to discuss ways to enhance acceptance and nondiscrimination of trans people within women's services and other communities.

Projects included:

• Developing training modules for the Justice Institute of BC
• Creating a Trans Inclusion Policy Manual for women's services
• The Biography Project: a series of biographies of trans people and their allies
• A Healing Circle in response to the Nixon/Rape Relief Human Rights Tribunal 

A provincial level committee coordinated by the Community Justice branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. This committee has been in place for some time but with no representation from the anti-violence movement. Members of this committee have been more mainstream provincial safe communities organizations such as Crime Stoppers, Block Watch, Neighborhood Watch, Criminal Justice Society of BC, BC Coalition for Safe Communities. The Association requested to be a part of this committee as we saw it imperative that these mainstream organizations work with the anti-violence sector.

An initiative coordinated by the Ministry of Attorney General to conduct broad provincial consultation on Restorative Justice. This committee brought together representatives from various branches of the Attorney General and has consulted with the Association and the John Howard Society of BC to get input on the overall aims, goals and process of the consultations.

A coalition of service providers and others who work together to organize, educate and share information about abuse in same-sex relationships and barriers to service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans survivors of violence. This non-funded coalition operates with the assistance of donations, including in-kind donations from community agencies. The Network meets monthly and is currently involved in a variety of projects including: developing educational materials (pamphlets); organizing community educational forums (for service providers and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities); and exploring ways to create provincial links and increase awareness about same-sex abuse throughout the province of BC.

An initiative coordinated by Community and Social Service Employees Association (CSSEA) with representatives from each social service sector and the colleges and universities to enhance ways to allow for more career laddering and better coordinated curriculum development across sectors. Our Association attended these meetings to bring the voice of those who work in stopping the violence counselling programs, sexual assault centres and specialized victim assistance programs.

A project funded by the Ministry of Attorney General. This advisory committee assisted the Ministry of Attorney General to develop a strategic plan to address the needs of diverse groups of victims of crime. These groups include: Aboriginal people, immigrants and refugees, people of colour, lesbians, gays, transsexual and transgendered people, seniors, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, street-involved people, sex-trade workers and people who live in geographically isolated areas. The advisory committee was comprised of anti-violence advocates and organizations (including BCASVACP) working with marginalized and diverse communities.

A project funded by the Ministry of Attorney General to articulate ways the criminal justice system can better empower women who have been victimized. This committee has broad representation of various players in the anti-violence movement and criminal justice system.