Searching for Child Abuse Services

Private foster care agency. Recruits, trains, and supports foster care providers who care for children placed in their homes.

Toll free phone service provides general information on range of legal aid services ; legal, financial eligibility criteria ; legal aid application information.

Other services include:

• duty counsel (legal aid lawyer in an Ontario courthouse) - criminal, refugee and immigration, family or youth courts, mental health
• summary legal advice for family law (criminal matters referred to local services)
• certificate program for complex cases
• poverty law, civil services - delivered through community legal aid clinics
• referrals to other social assistance agencies

Duty counsel assistance for qualified applicants is available at the Guelph courthouses when court is scheduled:

• Criminal Duty Counsel - 36 Wyndham St S (Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Division)
• Family Duty Counsel - 74 Woolwich St (Ontario Court of Justice, Family and Superior Court of Justice, County of Wellington Courthouse)

Community based mental promotion and education services for individuals and families facing mental illness and developmental challenges. Services include:

• outreach / case management
• specialized psychiatric and mental health assessments and treatment for adults and seniors
• Intensive Geriatric Service Workers (IGSW) - work with frail seniors after release from hospital or who display a complex number of needs
• programs for school-aged children and teens
• specialized programs for eating disorders and 1st Episode Psychosis
• family support options for families caring for children with developmental or physical disabilities - can help families apply for funding to receive one-to-one support; respite services; access to Supporting Kids in Camp program
• infant and pre-school support services - pre-school assessment consultation for child care providers and families of children 2-6 years of age
• court support worker - support to individuals with mental health issues who find themselves in conflict with the law
• employment services and support
• 1st Step Program - Early Psychosis Treatment Team - Interdisciplinary team provides support to individuals in the early stages of psychosis and their families; initial assessment includes medical screening, medical history and psychiatric interviews; treatment may include counselling, medication, individual and group treatment, family education and finding supports for day-to-day living

Intake, assessment, referral, wait list registration and appointment booking for mental health, addictions, and crisis services. Service provided through the phone line and drop-in sites.

Service categories include:

• information, assessment and referral
• crisis assessment
• support coordination
• peer / self help
• short-term crisis support beds
• court support and diversion
• community counselling and treatment
• support within housing
• day / evening treatment
• residential treatment
• Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
• eating disorders
• early psychosis treatment and support services

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
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Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

Project Lifesaver: provides wrist transmitters to individuals who may wander due to cognitive impairment. Suitable for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, autism, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (VSW partners with Wellington County OPP and Guelph Police Service).

Spira Fire Victim Relief Fund: financial aid for those experiencing material loss due to a residential fire and are uninsured.

Crisis line that offers immediate phone support and information to women who are experiencing or have experienced any form of physical, emotional, verbal, financial or sexual abuse, including recent and/or childhood abuse.

• confidential and anonymous
• connection to appropriate services - safe shelter, safety planning, legal / medical / housing assistance, counselling
• referral / liaison with other community supports and resources
• support for family members and concerned friends

Facilitates a victim's understanding of and passage through the family court system. Support provided includes:

• information on the family court process
• assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• debriefing with clients following family court appearances
• referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• safety planning
• court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

Risk assessment, safety planning, one-on-one counselling, group counselling, workshops, emergency shelter, transitional planning, housing and legal support, custody and access support, victim impact statement and court preparation, advocacy and public education.

Programs include Marianne's Place (shelter), Transitional and Housing Support Program, Family Court Support Program, Rural Women's Support Program, Sexual Assault Centre, 24-hour Crisis Line, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Program.

Services include:

• information and assistance to support participation in the criminal court process
• wervices begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions)
• court preparation
• needs assessment
• emotional support
• crisis intervention
• referrals to community agencies

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund -- financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court

• travel arrangements and expenses
• language interpretation
• real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Offers health services and a variety of allied health services available to clinically rostered clients, including counselling and social work, access to registered dietitians and addictions counselling.

Also offers EarlyON Child and Family Centre Programs, various programs open to community members in their priority population, such as: Parent Outreach Programs, Specialized Outreach Services, and a wide variety of healthy living programs:

WE Breastfeed: peer-led support for breastfeeding parents

Chronic Pain Programs: peer-led support groups, and self-management programs for people living with chronic pain

Mindfulness: meet each day more mindfully with greater intention and awareness

Post Partum Mood Disorder Support Group: personalized support and a weekly mother's support group with child care

ID Clinic: assistance with applications for new and replacement Canadian birth certificates, or Ontario Health Card replacement

Groceries from the SEED: nonprofit, online sliding scale grocery store, open to all, visit The Seed Guelph

Garden Fresh Box: nonprofit, fresh produce buying service to help provide affordable access to fresh fruit and vegetables. See Garden Fresh Box

Fitness Programs: various yoga, Zumba and wellness classes offered online and throughout the community

English Conversation Circle: informal groups offering newcomers a chance to practice and gain confidence in speaking English

For a complete listing of programs with locations, dates and times, including EarlyON Child and Family Centre (Stone Road Mall), visit website: Guelph Community Health Centre

Note: Also houses the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy and The Seed Food Access Program

Wyndham House Youth Shelter open 24 hours a day and all meals provided. Call for information.

A 14-bed facility providing temporary shelter for youth. A shelter overflow process exists; no one is turned away. Services include:

• laundry facilities, showers, meals
• referrals to community resources
• life skills training
• supportive guidance
• recreational activities
• assistance in finding permanent housing
• weekly access to Registered Nurse Practitioner

Related and additional services provided at Concurrent Specialized Youth Hub, Youth Resource Centre (133 Woolwich St)

Support services include:

• child protection services: investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect; strengthening of family support networks
• foster care: foster parents work with social workers to develop a plan for each child in their care; agency provides ongoing support and training for foster families
• family support program: immediate, intensive, time limited in-home support to families in crisis
• adoption services: trained staff assist persons / families wishing to adopt and birth parents who wish to make an adoption plan for their child(ren), including an unborn child; places children for adoption; support provided for adopted persons / birth families who request information about the adoption
• pregnancy counselling: helps women examine available options; facilitates decision making

Children First Fund provides financial assistance to programs not currently funded through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Programs supported through the Fund include:

• Education Support Program
• Enrichment Program
• Prevention and Early Help Program
• Permanency Partnerships

Crisis services for all people, all genders, who have experienced sexual violence, Human Trafficking and / or domestic violence. May include physical examination, treatment of injuries, medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, information on pregnancy, choice of completing the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit.

• Emotional support, trauma counselling, safety planning and follow-up care.

Individuals are seen in a private room by specially trained sexual assault / domestic violence nurses to ensure confidential and sensitive treatment. Police are not called unless the patient indicates this choice.

Note: Guelph General Hospital is the designated sexual assault centre for the region

Programs and activities include:

• EarlyON prenatal and infant groups
• EarlyON parent and child drop-in
• EarlyON kindergarten readiness and early literacy groups
• Workshop Wednesdays
• school age - after school programs
• Breakfast Club - Mon-Fri mornings
• day camps - Summer and March Break
• teen drop-in programs
• community model of learning English
• leadership development
• programs provided by partner agencies include job search, health promotion, violence prevention
• community garden, must live within the community

Counselling is offered in person/phone or by video for most programs. Staff continue to be in contact with developmental service clients. Walk-in mental health clinics (Mon in Mount Forest - call for appointment, Tue in Harriston - call for appointment, Wed in Guelph - in-person walk in, and Thu in Fergus - in-person walk in. For appointments, call 519-824-2431.

Distress Line is available 7 days a week, 8 am-10 pm: 519-821-3760 or 1-888-821-3760

Individual, couple, and family counselling:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): confidential counselling and referral services for employees and their families
• Service coordination / case management services for people with a developmental disability and autism spectrum disorder across the age continuum
• Access Information and Referral - AIR- intake for children's developmental services for Guelph and Wellington County

Support Groups

Children:

• Breaking Free - children who have witnessed family violence
• Child and Youth Sexual Assault Team (CYSAT) - children who have been sexually abused, and youth at risk for sexually offending
• High Conflict Communication - separating or divorcing families to foster good communication with children and develop a parenting plan

Men and Women:

• Partner Assault Response Program - for people who perpetrate violence
• men's and women's groups - people surviving childhood sexual abuse
• trauma counselling and support groups
• women who have experienced domestic violence
• member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario

Consultation and Training:
Employers and community groups with respect to interpersonal work-related issues, stress, parenting, problem solving, conflict management and other areas where personal issues impact work and family life. (EAP)

**Satellite offices in Mount Forest, Fergus and Harriston

Free and confidential service designed for anyone in the Guelph-Wellington community who is experiencing any form of distress.

Trained volunteers provide emotional support, goal and safety planning, and assistance to callers in connecting with other community resources. Volunteers provide confidential, solution-focused response and assessment of crisis with intervention when required.

• support for people who are experiencing distress about their circumstances
• referral to community services
• training provided for volunteers on listening and communication skills, solution-focused conversation, and assessing high risk situations

ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with provincial legislation.

Distress Line

• 519-821-3760 ext. 1
• Supports mild to moderate levels of distress through active listening.

TeleConnect

• 519-821-3760 ext. 2
• Outbound call service designed to support community members of Guelph-Wellington who are struggling with independent living.

LGBTQ+ Support Line

• 519-669-3760
• Supports members of the LGBTQ+ Community by providing a safe space to chat and connect with resources. Texting is also an option.

Program offers adult psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation supports

• individually-developed service plans based on client need and comprehensive assessments
• clients are assigned a primary worker

Services include an intensive case management model for adults who have complex and intensive crisis, treatment and support needs

• crisis supports are in collaboration with addiction, mental health and crisis services - Here 24/7
• clients actively in long-term services would not be arbitrarily discharged at age 65 but may benefit from a continuity of support with new linkages related to supports and services for seniors; clients agree to participate in services, as this program is voluntary

Safe steps is a 6- week foundational program for mothers where there has been domestic violence in the home. The focus of the program is to provide a good understanding on the impact of violence on children and youth and, learn strategies and tips to support children impacted by the violence. The 6 -week program consists of learning about stages of child development and brain development of children, exploration of children and youth experience of domestic violence, feelings and emotion regulation, boundaries, sexual abuse prevention, safety plans and safety planning with children and, self-esteem and resilience- building tools. Child- focussed activities are discussed with the mothers to support them with engaging their children in the journey of healing from the violence experienced in the home.

Program is offered virtually to mothers only, once a week for 1.5 hours over a period of 6- weeks. A letter of participation and certificate is provided to mothers who complete the program.

Please email [email protected] for more information or to register for the program.

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
​
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

Specialized assessments and individual, group & family therapy for children/youth who have experienced sexual abuse (including peer sexual assaults) or who have engaged in concerning or sexually harmful behaviours. Counselling is available to families impacted by a recent report. Parent/Caregiver involvement is encouraged throughout therapy. Consultation is also available to clients and professionals regarding sexual abuse treatment and healthy sexuality.

Indigenous and differently-abled foster home placement for children and youth * Consultations and system navigation * Recruit and support foster families to care for amazing children who cannot live in their families.

Group-based day program for people over the age of 18 with a mental health diagnosis. The Day Hospital is an intensive and structured 6-week day program. Patients are to attend 4-5 days per week.

SADVTC is 24/7 on call team of forensic nurses and social workers who respond to the needs of individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. Emergency and short-term follow up care is also offered to those accessing the team.

Confidential single-session counselling and therapeutic conversations available in person, virtually or by phone.