Domestic violence programs, services and supports in B.C.

Press Release

July 19, 2016

Government commits more than $70 million per year in prevention and intervention services and programs that benefit victims of domestic violence and other crimes. This includes support to more than 160 police-based and community-based victim services programs ($12.4 million), and about 250 programs that provide counselling and outreach services to women fleeing violence in their relationships and children who witness abuse ($16.5 million). Examples include:

• 95 Stopping the Violence counselling programs
• 55 outreach services
• 86 Children Who Witness Abuse programs
• 11 Multicultural Outreach programs
• Transition house services that support more than 830 spaces and 250 short-term shelter spaces in transition houses and safe homes for women and children affected by violence ($34.6 million)
• A provincewide, toll-free Domestic Violence HelpLine/ VictimLinkBC information line is available in 110 languages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year ($515,000 annually). The information line helped almost 14,000 people in 2015-16
• The B.C. Victim Safety Unit for notification on the custody status of an offender, for example when an offender is scheduled to be released, or their sentence length changes
• A Crime Victim Assistance Program ($12.3 million) that helps victims, immediate family members and witnesses cope with the effects of violent crime and recovering through counselling and protective measures

Since 2014, the Province has provided more than $1.7 million in civil forfeiture funding to support existing and new domestic violence units (DVUs) in British Columbia. This includes nearly $145,000 to enhance the Vancouver Police Department DVU, the purchase of a vehicle to provide safe and reliable transportation for victims of domestic violence, and providing front-line victim services, clinical case supervision, and training for all DVU staff. Currently, government supports eight fully-operational DVUs in B.C. in Abbotsford, the Capital Regional District, Kelowna, Nanaimo, New Westminster, the North Shore, Surrey and Vancouver.

The Province also funds prevention and public awareness initiatives, such as Be More Than a Bystander and the social media and radio campaign #SaySomething, which consists of videos and information on programs, services and supports for those who need help or want to help.

Vision for a Violence Free B.C.:

A Vision for a Violence Free BC is government’s strategy to create a province where women have the supports they need to help prevent violence, escape from violent situations, and recover if they have been victims of violence.

In March 2016, the B.C. government provided $3.7 million in funding to support community-led projects that align with key priorities in the Vision for a Violence Free BC strategy. B.C.’s focus over the next decade will be on:

• Priorities that prevent violence by challenging beliefs and behaviours.
• Ensuring that services are responsive, innovative and co-ordinated.
• Supporting women to rebuild their lives.
• Addressing violence against Aboriginal women.
• Fostering strong relationships and new partnerships.

Provincial Office of Domestic Violence (PODV):

The Provincial Office of Domestic Violence was established under the Ministry of Children and Family Development in March 2012 and co-ordinates and strengthens policies, practices and services across government that support children and families dealing with domestic violence.

Since the establishment of PODV, government has:

• Developed new courses and provided training on recognizing and responding to domestic violence to more than 13,000 school personnel and community partners, as well as support workers in victim services, violence against women and transition house programs.
• Established domestic violence leads in all Ministry of Children and Family Development regions to provide consultation, training and coordination support to front-line and management staff.
• Launched the first two phases of the Safe Relationships, Safe Children project, which helps front-line staff in a variety of health and community settings consistently manage situations where mental illness, substance use and domestic violence may put children’s safety at risk.
• Introduced an enhanced flagging system in the integrated justice information database (JUSTIN) to improve the identification of files involving child victims.
• Amended the Child, Family and Community Service Act to clarify that domestic violence is a relevant factor when child protection workers assess when a child is in need of protection.
• Changed policy within the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation in order to fast-track support for women who self-identify as fleeing domestic violence.
• Supported the development of more than 40 Integrated Case Assessment Teams, which share information among agencies that respond to high-risk domestic violence cases through coordinated risk identification, management and safety planning.
• Reached out to 647 service providers in the Downtown Eastside – doctors, police, youth outreach workers – to clarify the duty to report to government when they believe a child or teen may be in need of protection. Government has provided more than 375 interactive orientation sessions attended by more than 7,500 service providers throughout the province to educate them about the legislated duty to report.
• Amended B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Act to empower and support victims of domestic violence by removing some of the barriers to leaving an unsafe home environment.

Provincial Domestic Violence Plan:

The three-year, $5.5-million Provincial Domestic Violence Plan, released in February 2014, includes an Aboriginal-specific response, and unique approaches to address the needs of immigrant and refugee women and women with disabilities.

Highlights include:

• $1 million to implement additional, specialized, domestic violence units, which will provide direct services to high-risk families.
• $2 million for the development and delivery of programs for Aboriginal women, men and children affected by domestic violence.
• An additional $1 million, which provides support and preventative intervention programs for perpetrators prior to potential involvement in the criminal justice system.
• $1.5 million toward social housing, transportation and direct services for women, children and families in rural and remote communities.
• A month-long elder abuse awareness social media campaign in June 2014.
• The Ministry Responsible for Housing launched the Homeless Prevention Program in October 2014 to make rent supplements and support services available to at-risk groups, including women who have experienced violence or are at risk of violence.
• The Criminal Justice Branch has produced a series of training materials, including a manual, FAQ information sheet and video to help police better understand their roles and responsibilities regarding disclosure obligations.

In its first year, the plan accommodated government’s fiscal challenges and allowed for successful implementation of several actions using existing resources. Detailed descriptions of these actions are captured in the First Annual Report, released Aug. 5, 2015. PODV is drafting the Second Annual Report, which will provide updates on work completed between March 31, 2015 and April 1, 2016.

Some highlights include:

• A partnership between government, non-government organizations and Aboriginal representatives distributed $1.5 million for culture-based Aboriginal programs.
• As well, $500,000 was provided to increase access to transition house and safe-home services for Aboriginal women and children affected by domestic violence.
• In November 2015, three existing men’s programs serving Aboriginal communities were supported to enhance programs addressing the issue of domestic violence in a manner that reflects their respective community needs, as well as their unique culture and traditions.
• In December 2015, close to 900 multi-sector professionals from across B.C. gathered in Vancouver to participate in Together! BC Collaborates to Stop Sexual & Domestic Violence, a joint training forum and the first of its kind in B.C.’s history.

Justice System – Domestic Violence Courts:

The primary objective of domestic violence courts is to stop violence in relationships and to keep families safe. Coordination of information and services allow the judge, lawyers and others to have a better understanding about the victim and accused person, which results in more informed decision making.

Domestic violence courts are located in Duncan, Nanaimo, Penticton and Kelowna.

The domestic violence courts in Duncan and Nanaimo have therapeutic goals that require community and ministry resources, while Penticton and Kelowna are judicial initiatives to address case management and have limited community engagement. In addition, some Crown counsel offices have specialized prosecution teams and processes specific to domestic violence cases in Surrey, Abbotsford, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Duncan and Nanaimo.

Learn More:

B.C.’s Provincial Domestic Violence Plan Annual Report:www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/podv/pdf/dv_pp_far.pdf

Provincial Office of Domestic Violence: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/podv/

#SaySomething Domestic Violence campaign: http://saysomethingbc.ca/domestic-violence/index.html

Be More Than a Bystander initiative: http://ow.ly/zZyX302mAsv

Public Safety: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/domestic-violence

Family Violence in Canada infographic: www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2016001-eng.htm

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1553

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 213-3602

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