Victim Services Elgin
Victim Services Elgin will assist victims of crime and tragic circumstance cope with the impact of a traumatic event. VSE Staff / Crisis responders will assist victims to regain a sense of personal control, return their lives to a desired degree of stability, provide an opportunity for victims to vent, validate emotions and reactions, assist them until their community or natural support network arrives, disseminate information about available resources/services, appropriate to the situation, reduce possibility of re-victimization, identify options/choices at a time when the victim may need guidance/direction, ensure victims receive and will continue to receive support and assistance, advocate on victim’s behalf, assist police and other emergency service responders, present victimization through education, planning and strategies and provide opportunities for community members to assist others in their own communities.
Service is extended primarily through Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO) and Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP).
VCAO is a community response program that provides immediate, short term crisis intervention services to persons affected by crime, tragedy and disaster. The program offers a variety of crisis intervention services to persons affected by crime and tragedy twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. VCAO teams of trained VSE Staff / Crisis Responders provide emotional support, practical assistance, information and referral on-site or by telephone. VCAO is an integral part of a continuum of programs and services that addresses client needs from the time of victimization to port-sentencing. VCAO is volunteer driven and works in partnership with police and other emergency services.
VQRP offers timely assistance to victims of violent crimes. The program is administered by Victim Services Elgin and provides financial assistance to victims of homicide, attempted murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, physical assault and hate crime. Financial assistance may include: short-term immediate counseling, funding for funeral expenses for victim of homicide, crime scene clean up, emergency home repairs to secure premises for the immediate safety of victims, transportation costs for a family member to identify a victim of homicide or, to support a victim who has suffered serious injury as a result of violent crime, emergency child care and dependent care for elderly or special need dependents to enable a family member to identify a victim of homicide or to support a victim who has suffered serious injury as a result of a violent crime, emergency accommodation and meals when the safety of a victim cannot be assured within their home and there are no other alternatives available.
It is understood that programs and services may be added to or removed. It is the agency’s discretion to implement or phase out programs and this is contingent upon funding and possibly confirmed partnerships with other agencies or institutions.
Agency Service Area
The service area of Victim Services Elgin includes the municipal jurisdiction of St. Thomas and all towns, villages and hamlets encompassed within the County of Elgin. The agency maintains a permanent office in the service area. The agency may establish satellite offices in the service area based on an approved budget.