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growing

The police-based Terrace and
District Victims Assistance Pro-

“ gram is entering its second year

of operation. Increased aware-
ness about the occurrence and
effects of violent crimes in-
cluding assault, sexual assault
and family violence — in. addi-
tion to the trauma often ex-
perienced by victims of property
offences such as breaking and

entering, theft and vandalism — ©

has created a growing demand
for victim support services.

by Betty Barton

The Victims Assistance Pro-
gram was launchéd by the
Ministry of Attorney General in
November 1987 to deal with this
demand. Its goal is to ensure vic-
tims of crime throughout the
province are given the informa-
tion and help they need to deal
with the justice system and cope
with the personal impact of the
crimes.

Co-ordinator of the Terrace
police-based service, Karen

Walker, arrived from Montreal. .

in October of 1988. She brought
to the program a social services
background — pediatric nursing
and specialized services for
abused children. The Terrace
police-based Victims Assistance
Program office officially opened
its doors in December 1988.
Since that time, just over a year
ago, 170 files have been opened.

Walker explains that the most -
Walker -feels comfortable with

common route of contact with
the victims is through the
RCMP. When the police are in-
volved in a break and enter,
direct robbery or assault case,
they give the names of the vic-
tims to the Victims Assistance
Program (VAP). The victims are
contacted directly by VAP and
then it is up to them whether or
not they wish to continue con-
tact.

Walker says very few victims
refuse the offer of emotional or
informational support. Often
victims aren’t emotionally stable
enough to call the Victims
Assistance Program, but are
most appreciative when they are
called.

The police-based Victims

- Assistance Program offers im-

mediate emotional support,
court orientation and prep-
aration, accompaniment to
court (if requested), or referral
to another agency. The police-
based Terrace and District Vic-
tims Assistance Program refers
clients to the Ksan House Socie-
ty, Mental Health, Northwest
Counselling, Northwest Drug
and Alcohol Counselling, Pro-
bation, Crown Council, Mills
Memorial Hospital and even
provides home support. Walker
feels the different agencies com-

plement each other and provide —

comprehensive service to their
clients. The agencies’ -do

whatever needs to be done to’

assist the victim the best way
possible.

“It’s demanding on

volunteers, their
spouses and families.
They’re a_ great |
group!”’ |

Walker and her staff of nine
trained volunteers work out of

the local RCMP detachment.

The staff is trained in the Impact
of. Victimization and has on-
going training in court pro-
cedures, new counselling tech-

niques and other related sub- —
jects, Twelve volunteers were

trained originally. Since then,
two have moved away and one
has gone to full-time work.
Volunteers work four to 20
hours per week, depending on
their schedules. Walker says,
“It’s demanding on volunteers,

‘their spouses and families.

They’re a great group!”’
Of the $2.32 million dollars
budgeted for the police-based

Victims Assistance Program to - |:

84 agencies, the police-based

program in Terrace is allocated .

$10,000 ‘annually from the pro-
vincial government. The RCMP
covers in-kind support and the
City of Terrace has budgeted
$29,330 for 1990. Because this is
a program for the benefit of the
residents of Terrace and area,

that apportionment of funds.
The police-based Victims
Assistance Program is presently
developing a plan to solicit
funds from industry for special
projects. It would like to provide
a “soft interview room for chil-
dren’’ (a safe and comfortable
environment in which to
counsel/interview children), to
establish a-resource library and
to provide training by an expert

-in The Dynamics of Child Sex-

ual Abuse to organizations and
individuals facilitating this pre-
ventative education process in -
Terrace.

At present, Promo Xtra, a
company from down south, is
doing telephone soliciting for
coupon books that promote

_ businesses and services available

in both Terrace and Kitimat.
The value of each book is
reported to be $1,200, and
they’re being sold for $39.95,
The police-based Victims
Assistance Program gets $3.00
for each book of coupons sold.
The Victims Assistance Pro-
gram has received $1,500 for the
promotion, up front. At the end
of the campaign, they will
receive additional funds if more
than the estimated 500 books are
sold. They will keep the $1,500
even if the projected sales aren’t
met. ,
_For further information on
the police-based. Victims
Assistance Program,. contact

Karen Walker at 638-0333, .... .

KAREN WALKER: Very few victims refuse the offer of emotional or informa-
tional support.

I
3
OF CANADIANS
CAN’T SWIM

BE A SWIMMER
NOTA
STATISTIC

Play it Safe and calt the
Red Cross about the »

Water Safety programme

now.

The Canacian

Red Cross Society.

Terrace and District
Victims Assistance Program

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

TVAP is presently accepting applications from
people interested in becoming VICTIMS SERVICE
WORKERS.

Successful applicants will receive 30-40 hours of
training and must be R.C.M.P. Security Screened.

VICTIMS SERVICE WORKERS will deal directly
with Victims of Crime

® acting as a liaison person between the Courts,
Police, Social Agencies and the Victim.

@ Candidates must be mature, responsible in-
dividuals who possess strong inter-personal skills.
@ be 19 years of age or older

@ be willing to make a committment to work 16
hours per month.

- People of any and all ethnic backgrounds are

welcome to apply.

Interested persons should contact the TVAP Co-
ordinator, Karen Walker at 638-0333 or can pick

up: an information package from the. Terrace
| R.C.M.P. |