2026-2027 Services delivered: Sexual Assault Centres (SAC)

Component: Victim Services

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service description

The Province provides funding to the Recipient for the Sexual Assault Centre Program. This community-based program provides crisis support and intervention services to victims/survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking, their families, non-offending partners, and friends.

The Recipient will deliver the SAC Program in a victim/survivor-centred and culturally responsive manner.

People served

The SAC Program provides support and services to victims/survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking who are sixteen (16) years and older, as well as to their family members, non-offending partners and friends.

Program / service features

Sexual Assault Centres are a safe place in the community where those who identify as women, non- binary, Two Spirit, genderqueer and intersex who have experienced sexual violence and human trafficking (hereinafter “survivors”) can get free, confidential and immediate support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The model used by each Recipient to deliver the SAC Program services/activities varies across the province in order to respond to the diverse demographics of each community.

Specific service provided

The Recipient is responsible for the delivery of SAC Program services/activities to victims/survivors living in the catchment area.

Counselling and peer support

The Recipient will provide face-to-face counselling by staff, and peer support by volunteers, to provide guidance and support to victims/survivors and assist them in responding to their needs.

Counselling and support provided by the Recipient may be provided one-on-one or in a group session format.

Outreach and public education

The Recipient will participate in outreach and education activities directed at the general public or specific sectors/audiences. The purpose of public education is to provide information on the SAC Program and sexual violence, including challenging the myths and misconceptions that exist in society with regard to sexual violence.

Outreach and public education activities may include public speaking engagements, provision of training workshops to other professionals, presentations, response to media requests, publications, and participation at events such as Take Back the Night, International Women's Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, etc.

Public education may be accomplished in several ways including:

• The development and dissemination of literature, pamphlets, posters, websites, etc.
• Public accessibility to SAC Program resource libraries
• Awareness campaigns in conjunction with local school boards, universities and colleges
• Presentations to community groups

Advocacy and accompaniment

• Advocacy: The Recipient will assist victims/survivors with matters pertaining to medical, legal, and social services. Advocacy may include writing correspondence, filling out forms and making calls on behalf of victims/survivors, including advocacy for service/programs
• Accompaniment: Upon request, the Recipient's staff/volunteers may accompany a victim/survivor to other places where services are provided. These places may include hospitals, police stations, court services, medical and psychiatric clinics, abortion counselling services, HIV/AIDS clinics, immigration and housing programs or other social services

Information and referral services

The Recipient will maintain up-to-date resource materials and information on issues related to sexual violence and on other community support services. The Recipient will also assist victims/survivors by coordinating referrals to other services.

Practical assistance

The Recipient will provide practical assistance to victims/survivors based on their individual needs. Practical assistance may be provided in a variety of ways, including but not limited to, the provision of clothing, transportation, childcare, food, etc.

Community liaison/development

The Recipient will participate in activities to build cooperative and mutually supportive relationships with other community groups and organizations. Community liaison/development activities may include such things as networking, involvement with local community and provincial coordinating committees, development of local protocols with key services (e.g., V/WAP, VCAO), and identification of gaps in service.

24-hour crisis and support telephone line

The Recipient will be accessible to victims/survivors by telephone and/or TTY, to provide support and/or intervention in response to a caller's immediate needs. Service is to be available on a full-time basis, 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. In some areas, Crisis Line support may be coordinated through a shared regional call centre.

Training

The Recipient will ensure that staff and volunteers who provide direct services are appropriately trained and supervised and have the requisite skills and expertise to respond to the needs of victims/survivors of sexual violence and of human trafficking.

Program goals

The goals of the SAC Program are to

• Enhance victims'/survivors’ safety
• Increase victims'/survivors' level of empowerment

Ministry expectations

Service Evaluation

The Recipient will provide all individuals who have accessed their services an opportunity to complete the Ministry’s Service Experience Survey for victims/survivors and people at risk of violence.

Reporting requirements

Service data on ministry funded expenditures will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Report back due dates and targets are outlined in the Recipients agreement with the ministry.

Service data will be reported through the Transfer Payment Ontario and supplemental reports to the ministry.