Resource.Full project awarded to Victim Services

Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services is one of 55 provincial Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services sites operating under the auspices of the Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario Victim Services Secretariat.

For years, the local agency has been a leader in the victim services field and is well regarded provincially and nationally. Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services has been selected to carry out numerous special projects and assignments over the years.

The agency received international attention when the U.S. Attorney General invited Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services staff to provide crisis counselling services in Ocean Spring, Mississippi following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. In 2006, the agency received national recognition when Pricewaterhouse Cooper LLP provided leadership funding enabling the agency's executive director, Doreen Young, to pursue professional development opportunities with the U.S.-based National Organization of Victims Assistance. She was one of 100 leaders across Canada to be selected.

Resource.Full will be a lending library of written, visual and auditory materials inclusive of all age groups. Educational materials will be developed, taking into consideration the special needs population; those with physical, developmental and intellectual challenges. Materials will be age appropriate and inclusive of primary, junior, intermediate, secondary and adult populations.

"The impetus for this project is the significant increase in incidents involving bullying, harassment, prejudice and discriminatory behaviour of special needs populations including individuals who are visually and/or hearing impaired, wheelchair-confined or autistic," Young said. "By providing a range of written, visual and auditory mediums, the agency will address significant barriers and challenges. It is important to the agency that this library of materials be all inclusive, and sensitive to the needs of victims of crime who have special needs. Should the victim be sight impaired, the agency would provide educational materials in an auditory medium. If the victim were hearing impaired, they could benefit from written or visual aids."

The minister announced recently that Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services will soon receive $75,000 for their Resource.Full project. The focus is on community education and the collaborative partners include Caledon and Dufferin detachments of the OPP, Shelburne and Orangeville Police Services, Family Transition Place, Caledon Community Services, Brampton/Caledon Community Living and Dufferin Parent Support Network.

"The materials that will be developed over the next year will be particularly useful when educating/training the agency's large crisis support volunteer corps," Young added. "Our goals are to prevent victimization through planning, awareness, education, and accessibility strategies; educate the public that certain acts and behaviours are code offences; and implement a community project that enhances inter-agency collaboration to collectively improve service to victims of crime."