Program for Victims of Sexual Abuse

Purpose of the Support Program for Women who are victims of sexual abuse:

(Services for male victims - Information below)

The overall goal of the Program is to serve Francophone women who have experienced sexual abuse, regardless of their culture or sexual orientation, whether the abuse occurred during childhood or as an adult, and regardless of the context, and this in order to regain control of their lives and to recognize their power as individuals.

Who the program is intended to help:

Women who experienced:

Sexual abuse during childhood or incest
Unwanted sexual touching and/or rape, whether it be from date rape, a partner, an acquaintance, a friend or a stranger
Sexual harassment in the workplace, etc.
War rape and sexual violence in the context of an arm conflict or war
Ritual abuse
Cyberporn.

What benefits will the program bring to participants:

Give the women survivors a chance to speak about their experience; a chance to break the silence, to alleviate feelings of guilt, to free themselves from the power suffering has had on their life and to permit them to move on

Description of the Program:

Individual counselling and support group meetings:

For survivors: counselling has the function of letting survivors express what they feel regarding what they went through, and explore the repercussions of the abuse; determine what resources should be explored; prepare for a group approach, and if possible, accompaniment to court
For partners and friends: to understand the healing process and learn how to be supportive, either through improvised individual meetings or awareness sessions.

Information workshops on specific themes available to the community

The defence of the human rights of women through advocacy, the promotion and improvement of services, with regards to the resources and the services available in the community.

Cost: All services are free.

Financial help is available if needed for transportation and babysitting.

Language interpretation and sign language interpretation available upon request

Contact information:

If you would like more information about the program or to access services for francophone women survivors of sexual abuse, please contact the Counsellor by telephone at 613-233-8478 or by TTY at 613-233-1866.

This program is subsidized by the
Ministry of Health / Local Health Integration Network

Program for Men Who Have Been Sexually Abused

Purpose of the Program for Men Who Have Been Sexually Abused:

The general goal of the program is to help men who have been sexually abused

develop inner strength
improve skills for managing life challenges
learn to manage emotions
know what you can and can’t control

Who the program is intended to help:

Men 18 years and older who are from the Eastern Ontario area

Men who have experienced sexual abuse either as children, adolescents or adults

What benefits will the program bring to participants?

Participants will:

Get the chance to talk in safety about their experience
Have an opportunity to acquire knowledge about the effects of sexual abuse on their lives
Learn new ways to rebuild their lives
Build skills to cope with everyday life

Description of the Program

Participants will:

meet with the Program Coordinator to assess what services are best suited to them
attend a 12 week program (2 hours per week) focused on developing skills to deal with the impact and effects of sexual abuse and learning how to speak of their experience of abuse
complete an exit interview with a counsellor where any additional services needed can be determined and sourced for clients

Cost: Services under this program are provided free of charge

Contact information:

If you would like more information about the program or to access services for men who have been sexually abused, please contact the Program Coordinator at 613-233-8478 or by TTY at 613-233-1866.

24-HOUR HELP LINE: 1-866-887-0015

For services to Aboriginal People in the Ottawa Area

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

http://www.wabano.com/

Regional Contacts (outside of the Ottawa area)

For services in Peterborough

John Howard Society Peterborough

www.jhsptbo.com

For services in Hastings & Prince Edward County

Sexual Assault Centre Quinte & District

http://sacqd.com/

For services in the Prescott-Russell Area