Community-Based Victim Services (CBVS) programs
There are 76 Community-Based Victim Services (CBVS) programs in BC funded by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (MPSSG). These community-based programs were established in the late 1980s and provide crucial emotional support, information, referrals, justice system support, and liaison services for survivors of sexual assault, violence in relationships, and violence against children and youth. These programs also work to ensure a coordinated community response. Some specialized programs provide support to survivors of violence with specific needs, such as adult male survivors and survivors from Indigenous and multicultural communities.
Stopping the Violence Counselling (STV) programs
There are 91 Stopping the Violence (STV) counselling programs in BC, funded by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (MPSSG). These programs provide essential counselling and support including information, referrals, and in some cases, system liaison services for women who have experienced sexual assault, violence in relationships, and/or childhood abuse.
Stopping the Violence (STV) Outreach and Multicultural Outreach programs
Sexual Violence programs
Sexual assault centres were established in BC throughout the 1970s to provide crisis intervention, hospital and police accompaniment, counselling, and advocacy for women and girls dealing with sexual assault and historical child sexual abuse. While funding was cut to 23 centres in 2003, many of these programs continued through CBVS funding and other fund-raised resources.