Violence and Justice Services for Women

• Counselling Programs
• Emergency Numbers
• Family Law
• Safe Places
• Other Programs and /Services / Initiatives

Counselling Programs

• Stopping the Violence Counselling Programs
  Community-based "Stopping The Violence" counselling programs for women who have experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, or childhood abuse.
  
• Children Who Witness Abuse Programs
  Community-based programs which provide individual and group counselling services for children who witness abuse of a parent. Support is also available to the parent.
  
• Violence Against Women and Children Initiative
  Policies on the criminal justice system's response to violence against women and children.

Emergency Numbers

• Crisis Lines and Transition Houses
  Getting help when violence happens. For your community, see the listings on the inside front cover of the TELUS (BCTel) phone book. Toll-free 1-800-563-0808 for information on victim services. Hearing impaired access 604 875-0885.

Family Law

• Child Support
  The legal responsibilities of parents to financially support their children.
   
• Child Support Orders
  Effective date of the Child Support Guidelines in relation to the Divorce Act and the Family Relations Act.
   
• Court Services Locations
  Address, telephone and fax listings of over 70 court services locations in B.C.
   
• Custody, Guardianship, and Access
  Information on what these legal terms mean and how they describe different parenting arrangements.
   
• Dispute Resolution
  Non-adversarial dispute resolution options within the justice system.
   
• Do it Yourself Divorce
  Do-It-Yourself Divorce requirements and proceedings.
   
• Family Justice Centres
  Counsellors are available in many areas to help families needing assistance with separation and divorce issues like child custody, access and guardianship, or child and spousal support.
   
• Family Maintenance Enforcement Program
  Monitors and enforces spousal and child support orders and agreements that are filed with the program.
   
• Justice Services
  Keep your family safe while sorting out separation and custody issues. Information about Protection Orders and the Protection Order Registry.
   
• Separation and Divorce
  Information and resources regarding decisions that have to be made when a couple separates or divorces including: child custody and access, guardianship, financial, and property division issues.
   
• Spousal Support
  Information about financial support from one spouse to another. Also referred to as alimony or spousal maintenance.

Safe Places

• Transition Houses
  Provides temporary housing for women and their children leaving abusive relationships.
  
• Safe Homes
  Safe homes provide short-term accommodation in communities where transition houses do not exist. The safe home may be a rental apartment, private home or hotel unit. Women and their children stay in a safe home for less than 7 days. If necessary, transportation is provided to the nearest transition house.
  
• Second Stage Housing
  Second Stage houses help women who need time beyond their stay in transition houses to make next-step plans for independent living. Women and their children usually stay in a second-stage house for 9 - 18 months.

Other Programs/Services/Initiatives

• Employment Preparation
  Programs available to women leaving abusive relationships.
   
• Keeping Safe: Women At Work
  Provides safety and crime prevention tips for women working alone, going to and from work and traveling.
   
• Outreach and Multicultural Outreach Services
  Outreach services are community-based services to help women who have experienced violence and their dependent children identify and access the services they need.
   
• Stopping the Violence
  Emergency phone numbers.
   
• Victim Services Programs
  Community-based or Police-based programs which provide emotional support, information, referrals and assistance with the justice system. Community-based victim services specialize in issues of sexual and family violence.
   
• Violence Against Women and Children
  Policy on the Criminal Justice System Response to Violence Against Women and Children.

 updated: March 27, 2007.    E-mail broken link reports and site comments here.