Halton Violence Prevention Council

📢 HVPC is hiring!

Let us know if you are interested in working part-time as the Halton Violence Prevention Council's coordinator!

Check out the job application below:

Did you know that on any given night in Canada, a staggering 3,491 women and their 2,724 children sleep in shelters? Even more heartbreaking is that hundreds are turned away due to lack of space. 💔

Together, we can make a difference. Join us for Hope in Every Step, a walk to end violence against women and show support for those affected by gender-based violence within our community.

By participating in Hope in Every Step, you’ll directly support critical and life-saving programs that assist women and children fleeing abuse in Halton. Every STEP we take brings us closer to building safer communities.

🔗REGISTER today: haltonwomensplace.com/hope-in-every-step
📍 September 23rd: Milton
📍 September 24th: Burlington

Spread the word, gather your friends and family, and let's walk to end violence against women and send a powerful message of solidarity, reminding survivors that they are not alone and that their voices matter.

As the coordinating committee addressing gender-based violence in the Halton Region, HVPC is committed to unifying agencies, organizations and institutions to work together, alleviate the effects of violence, and support survivors in our community.

HVPC collaborators include:
ADAPT
Children's Aid Society of Halton
CMHA Halton Region Branch
Crown's Office
EFry Hope and Help for Women
Grandmother's Voice
Halton Regional Police Service
Halton Women's Place
Hope Place Centres
John Howard Society
Joseph Brant Hospital - Nina's Place
Mawazo
PV&V Insurance Centre
Radius Child and Youth Services
Restorations Second Stage Homes
Safe Halton
Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS)
Summit Housing & Outreach Programs
Thrive Counselling
Victim Services
Victim Witness Assistance Program
The Women's Centre of Halton
and many more in the community committed to collaborating on ending violence in Halton.

*xualviolence

Join the movement for change! Halton Region has declared intimate partner violence (IPR) and violence against women as an epidemic. This is a crucial step towards creating a safer community for everyone. Together, we can break the cycle of abuse and empower survivors.

Mawazo Marketing is a proud member of Halton Violence Prevention Council (HVPC). We recently participated in a powerful photoshoot, together with other HVPC agencies and members, to show our unwavering support for victims and survivors of domestic violence. We are dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and advocating for the rights and safety of those affected by IPV.

Stand with us, support Halton Violence Prevention Council. Let's break the silence and create a future free from violence. 💜🤝

[If you need support or know someone who does, you can find support here: https://hvpc.ca/get-support/]

Halton Women's Place Halton Violence Prevention Council

This is Not okay.

Ontario rejects requests including to establish an intimate partner violence commission and create the role of a survivor advocate.

Ontario won’t declare intimate partner violence an epidemic following inquest TORONTO - Ontario is rejecting calls from a coroner’s inquest into the deaths of three women at the hands of their former partner to formally declare ...

IPV has been declared an epidemic by the Halton Region - read more about this important declaration here:

https://www.insidehalton.com/news/ending-society-s-silence-halton-region-declares-intimate-partner-violence-epidemic-in-oakville-and-burlington/article_be13e8e5-43ef-5f86-90a7-cf6fa0252352.html?

Ending 'society’s silence': Halton Region declares intimate partner violence epidemic in Oakville and Burlington as well as Milton and Halton Hills Some epidemics happen behind closed doors.

🥳 June 13th, the City of Burlington passed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic in our community.

"Burlington City Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Woman as an epidemic.

We heard astonishing and horrifying statistics from Halton Regional Police Service and Halton Women’s Place, and from members of our community who shared stories of individuals facing this epidemic and how the system failed them. These cases are often hidden, occurring behind closed doors, and that makes it all the more horrifying. Halton Police noted they receive about 10 calls a day responding to incidences of intimate partner violence — and that is just what is reported.

We need to do better. The resolution Councillor Rory Nisan and I brought forward at Council is but one step, and I’m grateful to my Council colleagues for their unanimous support of it. I also thank everyone who came to delegate at Council today and shared their personal stories and experiences, as well as the first responders who respond to these calls every day.

We stand with the women and children experiencing this and stand ready to act.

Please see below the full resolution, we unanimously approved at Council. We will also be sending a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford requesting the Province join the countless municipalities who have declared Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Woman as a crisis in our communities.

RESOLUTION:

Whereas the jury that adjudicated the Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam Inquest (The Renfrew Inquest) issued 86 recommendations to the Province of Ontario on Intimate Partner Violence; and

Whereas recommendation #1 of the Inquest is for the Province of Ontario to declare Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic; and

Whereas, every six days in Canada a woman is killed by her intimate partner; and

Whereas, on any given night in Canada, over 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters because it is not safe for them at home; and

Whereas this past year in Ontario, 52 women or one every week, were victims of femicide; and

Whereas in Halton in 2022 there were 3,503 Intimate Partner Violence calls made to Halton Regional Police and there were 2,342 calls to the Women’s Shelter Crisis/Helpline calls; and

Whereas Halton Women’s Place receives 2,500 calls annually to its crisis information and support line, supports 400-600 women through their various outreach services and sees 140 women and children through their safe shelter every year; and

Whereas 93% of the CAS domestic violence-related intake cases involve a girl/woman as the primary participant; and

Whereas the waitlist for counselling can be difficult to access; and Domestic Abuse Crisis in Burlington; and

Whereas violence against women costs the national justice system, health care systems, social service agencies, and municipalities billions of dollars per year; and municipalities are on the front lines in addressing gender-based violence; and

Whereas Burlington City Council recognizes that issues of violence against women in all communities are of local importance to the health and wellness of our residents;

Therefore, be it resolved that Burlington City Council

recognizes the issues of violence against women and girls in Halton as serious to the health and wellness of local families; and
is committed to engaging with community partners to educate and support our residents about the seriousness and long-term danger of violence in our community; and
That Burlington City Council declares, in accordance with Recommendation #1 of the Renfrew Inquest, that Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Women are epidemic; and

Be it further resolved that this resolution be circulated to The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable. Charmaine A. Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, The Honourable Parm Gill Minister of Red Tape Reduction, Natalie Pierre, MPP Burlington, Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP Oakville North-Burlington, Halton Region, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Ontario’s Big City Mayors; and

Request the City Manager’s Office in the City of Burlington review the Renfrew Recommendations and develop a workplan with the Halton Violence Prevention Council (HVPC) on how the City of Burlington can advance the objective of ending intimate partner violence; and

Send a letter to the Office of the Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Doug Ford, requesting the Province of Ontario declare intimate partner violence and violence against women as a crisis."

https://mariannemeedward.ca/burlington-city-council-declares-intimate-partner-violence-violence-against-women-as-an-epidemic/

Today something monumental occurred. The City of Burlington has passed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic within our community.

Laurie Hepburn - our Executive Director - provided a delegation on behalf of Halton Women's Place (HWP) and as a member of The Halton Violence Prevention Council (HVPC).

She has stated, "Today’s resolution serves as a call to action for all residents of Burlington to unite, raise awareness, and actively work towards preventing and addressing intimate partner violence."

On behalf of everyone at Halton Women's Place and all the women and children we support, thank you Marianne Meed Ward (C.Dir.) for your commitment and advocacy in ending gender based violence but also leading this important resolution.

https://lnkd.in/gwVf_EMB

For all to remember,
especially those who experience(d) violence in their lives:

- You are not to blame for the abuse
- You can't control your (ex)partner's violence
- You are not responsible for your (ex)partner's abusive behaviour
- You are not to blame for your children's exposure to the abuse
- Your safety and the safety of your children is the most important thing
- It may be possible to increase your safety

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The following can help with safety planning and accessing the safety planning inserts:

- Halton Women's Place
- Nina's Place
- SAVIS
- Victim Services
- Thrive Counselling
or contact: [email protected]

The Safety Planning Booklet was created and updated by service providers and survivors in Halton to help all survivors of violence in Halton.

Have you heard about Halton's Safety Planning Booklet?

Safety planning can be overwhelming during difficult times. This Safety Planning Booklet was created and updated by service providers and survivors in Halton to help all survivors of violence in Halton.

Who is it for?
- Survivors of IPV, DV, family violence.

How to use it?
- There are inserts for different situations. All tasks in the inserts are options to consider. Begin with tasks that are manageable and most needed, take on others as your situation changes.

Where to get help?
The following can help with safety planning and accessing the safety planning inserts:
- Halton Women's Place
- Nina's Place
- SAVIS
- Victim Services
- Thrive Counselling
or contact: [email protected]

Nina's Place's new video navigating their space at Joseph Brant Hospital and highlighting their supports is now available on the HVPC.CA website.

In this short 5 minute video, you can learn what it would be like to visit Nina's Place and be supported by their caring nurses, doctors and service providers.

Visit: hvpc.ca/get-support/

Original video can be viewed on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bbhfqUNqEU&ab_channel=JosephBrantHospital

*xualviolence *xualassault *xualabuse

Nina's Place Nina's Place is Halton Region's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre.Nina's Place is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Services can be accessed through...

96% of victims of in Canada are women and girls.

91% of victims know their accused trafficker, most often (33%) by an intimate partner.

Canadian Human Trafficking Stats
source: Restorations Second Stage Homes, Stats Canada 2021

*xtrafficking

Human trafficking and s*xual exploitation happens here in Halton. Do you know the signs?

"While s*x trafficking is not the only form of human trafficking in our region and our country, the most common type of trafficking identified by The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking in 2019-20 is s*x trafficking (71%), followed by labour trafficking (at 7%). (Approximately 20% of cases were identified as “not specified,” which indicates situations where someone contacts the Hotline without specifying the nature of the trafficking situation.) The Centre believes that labour trafficking is currently underreported in the dataset." - Restorations Second Stage Home Restorations Second Stage Homes

*xtrafficking

We are working on distributing the booklets to agencies in Halton that support people who are living with abuse or at risk of abuse with strategies to increase their safety. Digital copies will also be available for service providers to access soon.

Stay tuned!

Here are lists of the inserts in the Safety Planning Booklet. The main inserts are included in every booklet, the optional inserts are available to be included in any booklet.

The inserts in the Safety Planning Booklet were designed to provide people living with abuse or at risk of abuse with strategies to increase their safety.

Whether you are living in an abusive relationships, thinking about leaving, or have already left, there are options for you to increase your safety and the safety of your children.

A safety plan can help you protect yourself and your children. It can help you make a plan to keep as safe as possible.

There are organizations and agencies in Halton that can help people who have been abused as well as people who abuse their partners. HVPC partners are equipped with the Safety Planning Booklet and can work with you to develop a safety plan that works best for you and your situation.

HVPC's Safety Planning sub-committee has worked hard over the past year to update Halton's Safety Planning Booklet - and it is now complete!

News about how to access the updated Safety Planning Booklet will be available soon.

HVPC appreciates the Department of Justice Canada's financial support of the Safety Planning Booklet reprint. In support of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week HVPC will be hosting a drop-in virtual 'open house' event to meet with members of the Safety Planning sub-committee, learn more about the safety planning booklet, and ask any questions you may have.

In honour of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, and with recognition of the Department of Justice Canada's financial support of the Safety Planning Booklet reprint, HVPC will be hosting a drop-in virtual 'open house' event.

It will be an opportunity for agencies to meet with members of the Safety Planning sub-committee, learn more about the safety planning booklet, and ask any questions you may have.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 126 women and children in Violence Against Women shelter. (Halton Women's Place)

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 236 clients in the transitional support program through outreach. (Halton Women's Place)

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 969 victims of intimate partner violence provided with outreach by Victim Services after police intervention.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were...
438 referrals to the Partner Assault Response program,
254 group program sessions delivered, and
169 partner victims contacted as outreach.

(Thrive Counselling)

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 204 domestic violence offenders who completed the Partner Assault Response program. (Thrive Counselling)

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there was $603,145 provided to the community through VQRP+ expenses for victims of crime. (Victim Services, HRPS)

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, 93% of the CAS domestic violence related intake cases involved a girl/woman as the primary participant.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 750 CAS intake cases received that were domestic violence related.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 50 survivors on waitlists for s*xual assault support at SAVIS - Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, the waitlist for counselling at Thrive Counselling was 6 months.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 14,063 mental health crisis/helpline calls to CMHA Coast Program and The Women's Centre of Halton.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 491 s*xual assault crisis/helpline calls Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS of Halton).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 2,342 women's shelter crisis/helpline calls to Halton Women's Place and The Women's Centre of Halton.

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 288 s*xual violence incidents reported to the Halton Regional Police Service (IPV Unit).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 951 Intimate Partner Violence arrests by the Halton Regional Police Service (IPV Unit).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 2,328 Intimate Partner Violence charges by the Halton Regional Police Service (IPV Unit).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 3,503 Intimate Partner Violence calls to the Halton Regional Police Service (IPV Unit).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 149 human trafficking charges laid by the Halton Regional Police Service (Drug and Human Trafficking Unit).

*2022 VAW Related Stats in Halton*

🚨From January to December 2022, there were 28 human trafficking victims supported by Victim Services.