Section 1: Business or organization and contact information
Section 2: General information
1. Which of the following best describes this victim program or service?
Help text: If the victim program or service is part of a larger organization, please provide information for the victim service component only.
Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information, including definitions of these categories.
- 01: Police-based program (including police-based victim/witness assistance)
- 02: Court-based victim/witness assistance program
- 03: Community-based victim/witness assistance program (including CAVAC's in Quebec) or other community-based program
- 04: Sexual assault/rape crisis centre or hospital-based sexual assault treatment centre
- 05: System-based program (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba only)
- 06: Ontario Victim Crisis Assistance Program or Victim Quick Response Program
- 07: Specify other
- Label: Other type of victim program or service
Section 3: Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
The following questions ask about the experiences of this victim program or service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, that is, from March 15, 2020 to the present.
2. Based on a best estimate, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has the number of new clients served by this victim program or service increased, decreased or remained about the same?
- 01: Increased significantly
- 02: Increased somewhat
- 03: Remained about the same
- 04: Decreased somewhat
- 05: Decreased significantly
- 07: Don't know
3. If possible, please provide an explanation of why the number of new clients served by this victim program or service may have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:
4. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has the number of victims of any type of crime served by this victim program or service increased, decreased or remained about the same?
Help text: Include new referrals as well as ongoing and returning clients.
- 01: Increased significantly
- 02: Increased somewhat
- 03: Remained about the same
- 04: Decreased somewhat
- 05: Decreased significantly
- 07: Don't know
5. If possible, please provide an explanation of why the number of victims of any type of crime served by this victim program or service may have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:
6. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has the number of victims of domestic violence served by this victim program or service increased, decreased or remained about the same?
Help text: Include new referrals as well as ongoing and returning clients.
- 01: Increased significantly
- 02: Increased somewhat
- 03: Remained about the same
- 04: Decreased somewhat
- 05: Decreased significantly
- 07: Don't know
7. If possible, please provide an explanation of why the number of victims of domestic violence served by this victim program or service may have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:
8. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has the use of the following methods for communicating with clients for service delivery increased, decreased, or remained about the same?
Help text: If you introduced this method of communication for service delivery since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was not previously offered, please select "Increased".
| Increased (1) | Remained about the same (2) | Decreased (3) | Not Applicable (4) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Face-to-face or in person | ||||
| B: Phone | ||||
| C: Email | ||||
| D. Text message | ||||
| E. Online live chat | ||||
| F. Telephone conference | ||||
| G. Video conference | ||||
| H. Written letter or form |
9. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has this victim program or service introduced any new methods of communicating with clients for service delivery?
Help text: Include any method of communicating that was not listed in question 8.
- 01: Yes
- 02: No
If yes:
Please list the new methods of communication for service delivery:
10. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to what extent have the following factors impacted the ability of this victim program or service to provide services to clients?
| To a great extent (1) | To a moderate extent (2) | To a minor extent (3) | Not at all (4) | Not Applicable (5) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Staff availability due to illness or need to self-isolate | |||||
| B. Staff reluctance to work due to health concerns | |||||
| C. Staff availability due to childcare or caring responsibilities | |||||
| D. Shifting of staff to working from home | |||||
| E. Availability of volunteers | |||||
| F: Accessing resources for clients Help text: e.g. food, legal aid, housing, medical care, mental health supports |
|||||
| G. Accessing personal protective equipment (PPE) | |||||
| H. Accessing cleaning products such as sanitizer or disinfectant | |||||
| I. Lack of technology or difficulties communicating with clients using available technology | |||||
| J. Difficulties communicating or working with police | |||||
| K. Difficulties communicating or working with prosecution services | |||||
| L. Difficulties communicating or working with the courts | |||||
| M. Difficulties communicating or working with other agencies (including other victim services or shelters) |
11. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, have any other factors had a significant impact on the ability of this victim program or service to serve clients?
Help text: Include any factors that were not listed in question 10.
- 01: Yes
- 02: No
If yes:
Please list the other factors:
12. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, how has this victim program or service adapted its services to continue serving clients?
Help text: Select all that apply.
- 01: Using new technologies to communicate with clients
- 02: New forms of community outreach
- 03: Staff working from home
- 04: Enhanced health protection or cleaning practices
- 05: No changes in services
- 06: Specify other
- Label: Other change
(Text for help button for Q1)
Police-based program: Victim services that are offered through a federal, provincial or municipal police service.
Court-based victim/witness assistance program: These programs are specifically mandated to provide support services to individuals who have become involved in the court process as either victims or witnesses of crimes. They generally provide information, assistance and referrals with the goal of making the court process less intimidating. Types of services can include court orientation, preparation and accompaniment, updates on progress of the case, coordination of meetings with the Crown, assessment of children's ability to testify, etc. Programs can be geared toward specific clienteles such as children or victims of domestic violence.
Community-based victim/witness assistance program: Community-based, not for profit organizations that participate in the implementation of a victim and/or witness assistance program. Crime victims assistance centres, commonly referred to as CAVACs, would be classified as this type of victim service. CAVACs are non-profit organizations made up mainly of professionals working in the area of social intervention, such as social workers, psychologists and criminologists.
Sexual assault/rape crisis centre or hospital-based sexual assault treatment centre: Victim programs or services whose mandate is to exclusively serve victims of recent or historical sexual assault or rape. Sexual assault/rape crisis centres will often have 24-hour crisis telephone lines and are community-based, not-for-profit agencies. Hospital-based sexual assault centres consist of a team of nurses and physicians that are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week through the emergency department so that victims of a sexual assault can receive specialized medical and emotional care.
System-based program: Service delivery models for victims of crime that are independent from police, courts and Crown Attorneys and assist victims throughout their contact with the criminal justice system. System-based agencies may also serve clients who choose not to involve the criminal justice system.
Ontario Victim Crisis Assistance Program or Victim Quick Response Program: Specific to Ontario, these programs/victim services work closely with the police but are a community-based, non-government service. The Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO) Program provides crisis intervention services to victims of crime and tragic circumstances after an incident and makes referrals to community services for longer-term assistance. The Victim Quick Response Program + (VQRP+) provides short-term financial support toward essential expenses for victims, their immediate family members and witnesses.