Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) counselling program
Learn how the program helps child victims of internet exploitation and where to find services.
Overview
The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) counselling program provides referrals to short-term counselling for children and youth victims of internet sexual exploitation and their impacted family members. If you are eligible for the program, your maximum counselling coverage is based on if you are the victim or an immediate family member. The goal of the program is to quickly provide support to victims by helping them find a counsellor in their area and directly covering those counselling sessions. The counselling is meant to help with recovery from the victimization that has been experienced and improve coping skills.
Eligibility
You are eligible to use the program if:
- you live in Ontario and the services are provided in Ontario
- you have not received comparable funding from another government program for the same occurrence, such as Victim Quick Response Program+
- there are no other resources available (for example, private insurance plan or other publicly funded services)
You must also be either:
- a survivor who was under the age of 18 when the crime took place
- a member of the survivor’s immediate family
- an impacted family member, and have not been charged regarding the same occurrence or charged and convicted for an offence against a child
Immediate family members include:
- birth parent, step parent or adoptive parent
- custodial guardian
- birth sibling or step sibling
- grandparent
Where to find services
The counselling services are available across Ontario and administered through Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne.
If you are eligible for the program you can contact Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne:
A person from Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne will help you find a counselor in your community and start your immediate counselling sessions.
Coverage
Eligible applicants can apply to receive one-time counselling coverage up to a maximum of:
- $1,500 coverage for each eligible child or youth
- $1,000 coverage for impacted immediate family members
You will not receive this money directly; Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne is responsible for all payments to the counsellor you choose once your appointments start. You must use the allowable coverage for counselling within six months of your first session.