Specialized Victim Assistance Program
Provides emotional support, justice-related information referrals & practical assistance to victimsSpecialized Victim Assistance Program
(Community Based Victim Assistance)
The Specialized Victim Assistance program provides victims of crime and trauma as well as their families with emotional support, justice-related information referrals, and practical assistance.
We Help Victims of:
- Relationship violence, including; child and youth physical abuse
- Partner assault
- Family violence and elder abuse
- Sexual assault, including child and youth sexual assault, adult sexual assault, and adult survivors of sexual assault
- Criminal harassment
How We Help
The program gathers relevant information from Crown Counsel and the Police to facilitate a coordinated approach as well as to provide clear and accurate information to clients.
Clients are taught about the court process in order to reduce the anxiety that they may feel about the Justice System. They are given information about the legal process on a one-to-one basis through the use of relevant written material, visits to Crown Counsel, and court tours prior to their court appearance. Staff may accompany victims to preliminary hearings and trials and may provide transportation to hospital, court, and Crown Counsel and police appointments.
We provide assistance with various forms such as Crime Victim Assistance applications and Victim Impact Statements. We also refer clients to relevant support groups, private counselling, Victim Safety Unit, and various community agencies.
Services are provided in Abbotsford and Mission in English as well as Hindi and Punjabi through our Multi-Cultural Specialized Victim Assistance Program.
Additional Services
We respond to all inquires for public awareness and education in the local community on victimization and victim services.
In addition, we may assist in the first stage of the application process for the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
Third-Party Reporting
Third-Party Reporting is an option in which a victim (19 or older) may anonymously report to the police through a community program like ours.
TPR connects survivors to specialized supports and gives survivors time to decide if and when they are ready to engage in the Criminal Justice System.
Eligibility Criteria
- Live in Abbotsford or Mission
- Be the victim or family member of a crime or trauma
To Access Specialized Victims Assistance
- You may be referred to us or you may refer yourself
- Please call or come to our reception desk to book an appointment
Ending Violence Association of BC Resources
“The children and I both greatly appreciate all the time and effort your program makes in a very traumatizing and stressful atmosphere during our separation from violence.”
Did You Know?
Archway has been providing assistance for victims since the 1980’s.
“I felt there was someone there for my whole family. We didn’t feel alone and we know what we could do”.
Abbotsford Location
Contact Info
Hours of operation
8:30am – 4:30pm
Monday – Friday
Address
Archway Community Services
2420 Montrose Avenue
Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9
Mission Location
Contact Info
Hours of operation
8:30am – 4:30pm
Monday – Friday
Address
Archway Community Services
#105-33070 5th Avenue
Mission, BC V2V 1V5
In Partnership With:
Stories & News from Legal Advocacy
Responding to the BC Floods
Thank you to everyone who donated food, money and time to help out those affected by the floods. We are also grateful for the leadership of our city, local First Nations, police and departments as well as search and rescue and during this province-wide emergency. So...
Legal Advocacy: No Adjournment of Services During COVID-19
Over the last five decades Archway has provided a significant number of legal aid and legal advocacy services, and these community supports didn’t stop during COVID-19. When lockdown guidelines were implemented by the Province of BC, many legal services were put on...
Abbotsford Community Services Changes Name to Archway Community Services
Abbotsford Community Services Changes Name to Archway Community Services We're excited to announce that Abbotsford Community Services will now be known as Archway Community Services! This change will be more inclusive for the clients we serve beyond Abbotsford and...