2026-2027 Services delivered: Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO)

Component: Victim Services

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service description

The Province provides funding to the Recipient for the delivery of the Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO) Program.

The Recipient will deliver the VCAO Program using trained staff and volunteers, who will provide victim/survivor-centred support and culturally responsive services, in collaboration with other community service providers, to individuals affected by crime and tragic circumstances.

Upon receiving a request from police or another VCAO service provider, the Recipient will deploy crisis responders to provide immediate, on scene assistance.

Victims/survivors may also access VCAO services via self-referral, or referral from another community service provider.

Once the victims’/survivors’ needs are assessed, VCAO Program staff or volunteers will provide information and referrals to relevant community services. In most cases, the support provided by the VCAO Program is short-term in nature. Vulnerable victims/survivors, as determined by an assessment, are eligible for enhanced support.

People served

The VCAO Program serves victims/survivors affected by crime and tragic circumstances, their immediate family members, and witnesses (hereinafter referred to as "victims/survivors").

Program/service features

The VCAO Program will be delivered in accordance with the most up-to-date version of the VCAO Program Standards and the most up-to-date version of the Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) Standards.

Specific service provided

The Recipient is responsible for the delivery of services/activities to victims/survivors living in the catchment area. The menu of services offered by the VCAO Program includes:

• 24/7 assistance when requested by police or an agency with which the VCAO Program has a protocol
• practical assistance needs assessment
• referrals to relevant community and government support services
• support to assess victim/survivor eligibility and assist them to collect documentation to apply to the VQRP+
• safety planning provision of information
• enhanced support, particularly for victims/survivors of human trafficking and other vulnerable populations
• community support sessions
• client follow-up

The Recipient(s) may also provide counselling to victims/survivors of sexual assault, over the age of 16, who identify as women, non-binary, Two Spirit, genderqueer and intersex, and who are not eligible for emergency counselling through VQRP+. Survivors of sexual abuse who identify as men will be referred to the Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Program.

Program goals

The goals of the VCAO Program are to:

• provide early assistance and support, information and referrals to victims/survivors affected by crime and tragic circumstances, both in-person or remotely
• reduce the likelihood of further harm by helping victims/survivors identify and address safety issues and
• help victims/survivors identify their needs and concerns and develop strategies to address them

VQRP+ Data and portal

• The ministry owns the VQRP+ portal and the program data that is submitted by the Recipient into the portal.
• The ministry provides the Recipient with access to the portal to facilitate the collection, use and modification of personal information for the delivery of VQRP+ services/activities.
• The Recipient is responsible for safeguarding against any unauthorized access to or disclosure of program data, and for ensuring that portal access is limited to authorized and trained persons.
• The Recipient must ensure that data it collects and provides for program purposes is provided in a timely manner and is accurate and complete.

Ministry expectations

Community liaison/development

The Recipient will work with local police services and community service providers to develop a process for referrals of victims/survivors of crime to the VCAO Program.

The Recipient will implement protocols with local organizations and communities serving children and youth, racialized individuals, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and Indigenous people to ensure that victims/survivors receive wraparound supports and are able to access supports from their service provider of choice.

Reporting requirements

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

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service description

The Victim Quick Response Program+ supports direct victims/survivors, their immediate family members, and witnesses in the immediate aftermath of violent crimes by providing short-term support with essential expenses in order to lessen the impact of the crime, enhance safety, and meet immediate practical needs arising from the commission of the crime.

People served

VQRP+ funding is available to assist victims/survivors, their immediate family members and witnesses (hereinafter "victims/survivors") of eligible crimes.

Applicants to the Program are required to meet the eligibility requirements as set out in the VQRP+ Standards ("Standards").

VQRP+ is a program of last resort for victims/survivors who lack access to personal resources for the requested VQRP+ support or expense and who do not have any available private or public sources of assistance. Before a victim/survivor is eligible to apply for VQRP+, the Recipient is required to exhaust referrals to available community resources.

Program/service features

VQRP+ is a program of last resort. Support is available for:

• Safety expenses
• Practical assistance expenses
• Travel and associated expenses
• Crime scene clean-up
• Counselling services, traditional Indigenous health services and associated transportation expenses
• Expanded supports for victims/survivors of human trafficking
• Supports for victims/survivors with serious injuries and for families of homicide victims

Program goals

The goals of VQRP+ are to:

• Provide short-term assistance to victims/survivors in the immediate aftermath of violent crime
• Lessen the impact of violent crime through immediate support services to victims/survivors of violent crime
• Increase the immediate safety of victims/survivors of violent crime and help to prevent re- victimization

Ministry expectations

The Recipient is responsible for the delivery of VQRP+ services/activities to Participants in the catchment area.

All VQRP+ services will be provided in accordance with the Standards.

Eligibility assessment

The Recipient will assess the eligibility of a victim/survivor to receive VQRP+ assistance in accordance with the Standards.

VQRP+ application, assistance and follow-up

The Recipient will assist eligible victims/survivors to submit a VQRP+ application. The Recipient is responsible for submitting a full and complete application on behalf of the victim/survivor. The Recipient is further responsible for following up with victims/survivors regarding approvals, denials, exceptional circumstance requests, tracking of transportation expenses and change of counsellor requests. In addition, the Recipient will assist eligible victims/survivors to obtain the required documentation to apply for serious injury supports, residential treatment for victims/survivors of human trafficking and the homicide victim/survivor support. The Recipient is also responsible for obtaining or verifying application information requested by the VQRP+ analysts with the victim/survivor, police and/or other service providers in order to assist the analysts to make an eligibility determination.

Submission of receipts

For approved applications, the Recipient will submit all invoices for the requested expense(s) to VQRP+ for processing. In order to receive reimbursement by the Province, where the expense has already been incurred, the Recipient will submit proof of payment within the required timelines.

Maintenance of service providers lists

The Recipient will maintain an up-to-date list of available service providers in its community. This includes a list of community service providers, such as publicly funded counselling services (e.g., Sexual Assault Centre Program, Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, etc.), where victims/survivors can be referred.

The Recipient will also maintain an up-to-date list of private counsellors, who meet the requirements set out in the Standards, for victims/survivors who are eligible to receive counselling services through VQRP+. In addition, at least once per year, the Recipient will obtain a minimum of three quotes, where possible, from service providers who provide emergency services in order to ensure that VQRP+ is receiving good value for money.

Outreach and public education

The Recipient will engage in activities directed at promoting and raising awareness of VQRP+.

Community liaison/development

The Recipient will work with local police services and community service providers to develop a process for referrals of victims/survivors of crime to VQRP+.

The Recipient will implement protocols with local organizations and communities serving children and youth, racialized individuals, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and Indigenous people to ensure that victims/survivors receive wraparound supports and are able to access supports from their service provider of choice. The Recipient will work collaboratively with the service provider of choice and the VQRP+ applicant to determine eligibility.

Recruitment & training

The Recipient will ensure that staff and volunteers who provide direct services are appropriately trained and supervised, attend all training sessions held by the Province and have the requisite skills and expertise to respond to the needs of victims/survivors of crime.

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 in the Recipient’s agreement with the ministry.

All service and financial data will be collected through the VQRP+ Customer Relationship Management system.