Resources
Government Services
“The Attorney General is responsible for legal services including sheriff and court administration services, legal aid, prosecution services, administrative tribunals, civil and family justice services, protection and promotion of human rights, and providing legal advice to Government.”
Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD)
Child and Youth Mental Health Services
- Youth and Family Services
- Support Needs for Families
- Help for Youth & Their Families
- Reporting Child Abuse in BC
- Foster Caring and Kinship Care
- If You’re A Teen In Foster Care
- Indigenous Child and Family Development
CYMH Saanich
201, 4478 W. Saanich Rd.
250.952.5073
CYMH Victoria
302, 2955 Jutland Rd.
250.356.1123
CYMH West Shore
2nd Floor, 345 Wale Rd.
250.391.2223
CYMH Aboriginal Team
2nd Floor, 1195 Esquimalt Rd.
250.952.4073
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Body Image and Eating Disorders
302, 2955 Jutland Rd.
250.387.0000
VIHA Discovery Youth and Family Addiction Services
“Free community-based counselling services, access to residential care and treatment for youth struggling with substance use. We assist youth and/or their families to reduce the harms associated with substance use and related issues.”
- Counselling for Youth (12- 19) & Family Caregivers
- Ask about SMART parent groups
Victoria/South Island
Esquimalt Health Unit
530 Fraser St, 2nd Floor
Victoria, B.C. V9A 6H7
Phone: 250‐519‐5313
Fax: 250‐519‐5314
Hours: 8:30 a.m. ‐ 4:30 p.m.
High Risk Team
- Teens (up to 19 ) struggling with suicidal thoughts … 250.952.5073
Justice & Legal Aid Supports
“We provide legal aid in BC. The law is complicated, but not everyone can afford a lawyer. We can help you with your legal issue.”
- Legal Services Society specialized services for Indigenous people on and off reserve, for both family and criminal matters. Includes information on First Nations courts
Government of Canada Family Law Information and Resources
- Information on divorce and separation, custody and parenting, child support and spousal support, enforcing support and resolving enforcement issues.
- Tools to help you locate family services near you, calculate child support amounts and developing parenting plans
Human Trafficking Hotline
833.900.1010
- Hotline for assistance to victims/survivors of forced prostitution or if you believe someone else might be.
Legal Services Society
www.lss.bc.ca
1.866.577.2525
- Provides legal aid services
Peoples Law School
www.peopleslawschool.ca/
250.331.5400
- Provides free legal education and information to help people in BC resolve everyday legal matters. Online service available 331.5400
Restorative Justice Victoria
www.rjvictoria.com
250.383.5801
1929Lee Ave., Victoria
- Receives referrals from local police, BC Crown Counsel, judges, probation, ICBC, schools and members of the community to address the harms resulting from crime and violence. Restorative justice can be used as a diversion from, or in conjunction with, the traditional justice system
Saanich Peninsula Restorative Justice
saanichpeninsularj.ca
250.652.5274
- Receives referrals from local police, RCMP, schools and other community organizations to provide a restorative process as an alternative to the traditional justice system
TAPS (Together Against Poverty Society)
www.tapsbc.ca
250.361.3521
828 View St., Victoria
- Provides face-to-face legal advocacy for people with income assistance, disability benefits, employment standards and tenancy issues
The Law Centre, University of Victoria
www.uvic.ca/law/about/centre/
250.385.1221
- Provides advice, assistance and representation to clients who cannot afford a lawyer
Victoria Justice Access Centre
www2.gov.bc.ca
250.356.7012
850 Burdett Ave., Victoria
- Provides services to British Columbians going through separation or divorce
Crisis, Suicide and Information Lines
BC211 (Resources for all needs, all ages)
www.bc211.ca (or ph: 211)
Kids Help Phone
“Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French.”
Get support in multiple languages over the phone 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868 + What happens when you call
- Need Help Now? Text assistance – text CONNECT to 686868
- Peer-to-Peer Community
- Quizzes and Games
- Resources for supporting a young person in your life
- Activities for kids aged 5 to 12
Need2 (Suicide Prevention Information and Support)
“We work every day to prevent deaths by suicide through our community programs and our online presence. We provide accessible emotional and crisis support by engaging the community and advancing the dialogue.”
Email admin@need2.ca
Address 2390 Arbutus Road, Victoria BC, V8N 1V7
“If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the 24 hr Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888. Or the province-wide BC line: 1-800-SUICIDE”
- Youth Crisis Chat with YouthSpace.ca
- General suicide information
- Unicide: Online Suicide Help
- Mindfulness for Middles Schools program
- Classroom suicide awareness program
Trans Lifeline
1.877.330.6366
Alcohol & Drug Information & Referral Service
www.healthlinkbc.ca
1-800-663-1441
Lower Mainland: 604-660-9382
“This service is available to people across B.C. needing help with any kind of substance abuse issues 24 hours a day. It provides information and referral to education, prevention and treatment services and regulatory agencies.
Crisis Line Association of BC
www.crisislines.bc.ca
- “In Crisis? Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) to speak with crisis line workers anytime of the day or night.
- Looking for information and support? Call 310-6789 to reach the Mental Health and Information and Support Line, from anywhere in the province. You will receive emotional support, and information on appropriate referral options and a wide range of support relating to mental health concerns.”
HealthLinkBC
www.healthlinkbc.ca
Anywhere in BC: 8-1-1
TTY (Deaf and hearing-impaired): 7-1-1
Human Trafficking Hotline
833.900.1010
“Hotline for assistance to victims/survivors of forced prostitution or if you believe someone else might be.”
Emergency, Information & Referrals
Anxiety BC
www.anxietybc.com
BC211 (Resources for all needs, all ages)
www.bc211.ca (or ph: 211)
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
www.bcmhsus.ca
Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance
www.caddra.ca
Chatterblock (Parenting Resources)
www.chatterblock.com
Dr. Ross Greene, Collaborative Communication
www.drrossgreene.com
Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
Foundry (Health & Wellness Resources for Youth)
foundrybc.ca
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
www.keltymentalhealth.ca
Kids Help Phone
www.kidshelpphone.ca
Ku’uus Aboriginal Crisis Services
1.800.588.8717
Need2 (Suicide Prevention Information and Support)
https://need2.ca
Trans Lifeline
1.877.330.6366
Two-Spirit, Trans, Queer & Allied Youth Drop-in and Family Support
250.475.7624
Vancouver Island Crisis Line
www.vicrisis.ca
Youth in BC (Crisis Intervention Services)
www.youthinbc.com
Youthspace
- Online chat for youth/young adults to age 30, 6 – 11 p.m. daily
- Texting support #:778.783.8565
Island Sexual Health
250.812.9374
- Text line for youth with sexual health questions and concerns
Wellness - Websites & Apps
Wellbeing – Comprehensive BC Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions website launched in 2021
“The site has over 2500 service listings related to mental health and substance use supports, an intuitive guided search, and many articles featuring easy to understand language and curated information about commonly searched topics.”
Here to Help – A project of BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information designed for those seeking help for themselves or others.
Self-administered tests, info sheets, workbooks,
Downloadable Apps
Booster Buddy (Island Health) FREE (system upgrades have ceased and the app will eventually stop working, however still operable as of late 2023)
Breathr 3.0 (BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Centre) FREE mindfulness awareness app
MindShift CBT(Anxiety Disorders Association of BC) FREE self-help anxiety relief app that helps reduce worry, stress and panic through evidence-based techniques.
Sexual Assault & Abuse
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
“The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women and all Trans survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.”
Service Access Line: 250-383-3232
Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888
#201-3060 Cedar Hill Rd.
Victoria, BC, V8T 3J5
Business line: 250-383-5545
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm, closed all holidays
Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault
“Helping Survivors’s goal is to help people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse get the resources and assistance they need and deserve. We do this by providing: Educational content reviewed by a diverse group of experts; Legal resources and referrals for survivors; First-hand commentary from survivors and professionals who work with survivors; and Connections to organizations focused on survivor healing.” In partnership with Garbo.
- Contact
- Resource Agencies
- Guides: “How to Report Sexual Assault and Abuse,” “Online Dating App Safety Tips,” “What Consent Looks Like” and more
BC211 (Resources for all needs, all ages)
www.bc211.ca (or ph: 211)
Vancouver Island Crisis Line
www.vicrisis.ca
Youth in BC (Crisis Intervention Services)
www.youthinbc.com
Youthspace
- Online chat for youth/young adults to age 30, 6 – 11 p.m. daily
- Texting support #:778.783.8565
Island Sexual Health
250.812.9374
- Text line for youth with sexual health questions and concerns
Community Services / Counselling
Boys & Girls Club of Victoria
www.bgcvic.org
250.384.9133
- Yates St., Victoria
- Supportive Recover/Turning Point Care Homes for youth (13 – 19)
- Parenting Programs bgcvic.org/youth-family-and-parenting-programs/parenting-programs/parents-together-program
Cascadia Consultation Services
www.cascadiaconsultation.com
250.590.7050
#300, 755 Queens Ave., Victoria
- Child/youth/family counselling, sliding scale
Greater Victoria Citizen’s Counselling Centre
www.citizencounselling.com
250.384.9934
941 Kings Rd., Victoria
- Adult Education Groups & one-on-one sliding-scale counselling (age 18 and up)
Community Options for Children and Families
www.cocf.ca
250.380.6363
1595 Bay Street, Victoria, V8R 2B5
- Family support services – children and youth with developmental challenges
Family Services of Greater Victoria
https://www.fsgv.org
250.386.4331
1004 North Park St., Victoria (in the Social Innovation Centre)
- Non-profit agency helps children, youth and adults manage the challenges of separation, divorce or transition to a new family structure.
Family Smart (formerly the FORCE Society)
www.familysmart.ca
250.818.4810 or 1.855.887.8004
- Family support services – children and youth with mental health challenges
Foundry Victoria
www.victoriayouthclinic.ca
www.foundrybc.ca
250.383.3552
818 Douglas Street (beside Noodle Box)
Monday to Thursday: 1 – 5 pm,
Friday: 11 am – 4 pm
- Doctor/Walk-in Counselling (M-F 1100-300)/Psychiatrist/Youth Outreach Worker /Discovery Substance Use Counsellor/Transcare BC Peer Support/ Counselling/STI Testing/Umbrella Peer Counsellor
Hulitan Family & Community Services Society
www.hulitan.ca
250.384.9466
902A Caledonia Ave., Victoria
- Counseling for children ages 6 – 12, Parent supports/programs
Human Nature Counselling
https://humannaturecounselling.ca
250.885.0275
- Child/youth/adult/family counseling and groups for Indigenous families
VictoriaChild Abuse Prevention & Counselling Society (formerly Mary Manning Centre)
250.385.6111
101-1208 Wharf Street, Victoria BC V8W 3B9
- Child abuse prevention and counseling
Thrive
www.thrivevictoria.org
250.383.4821
1095 McKenzie Avenue, 4th Floor, Victoria, V8P 2L5
- Children and youth mental health outreach
Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health
www.viha.ca
250.519.5390
2400 Arbutus Rd., Victoria
- Ledger House – Acute in-patient psychiatric services (6 – 16), urgent or planned, professional referrals
- www.viha.ca
- 250-519-6756
- Anscomb Outreach Services – Evaluation/planning/treatment for significant emotional, behavioural, psychological, psychiatric symptoms; professional referrals required
- www.viha.ca
- 250-519-6720
Saanich Peninsula Youth Health Clinic
www.shorelinemedical.ca
250.656.4143
2A- 2379 Bevan Ave., Sidney, BC
Thursdays 5:30 – 7:30 pm
- Walk in for youth ages 12 – 24
- Child and youth mental health counsellor also available
Single Parent Resource Centre
www.singleparentvictoria.ca
250.385.1114
602 Gorge Rd., Victoria
- Counselling and practical support for single parents
Umbrella Society for Addictions and Mental Health
www.umbrellasociety.ca
250.380-0595
- Provides support to individuals and their loved ones struggling with substance use issues
USTAT (Urgent Short Term Assessment and Treatment
250.213.4400
- Adult mental health (19+); referral from physician
Victoria Native Friendship Centre
www.vnfc.ca
250.384.3211
231 Regina Ave., Victoria
VIRCS (Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society)
www.vircs.bc.ca
250.361.9433
1004 North Park St., Victoria
(Victoria) Youth Empowerment Society
www.vyes.ca
533 Yates St., Victoria (hours vary depending on program; email addresses below)
- Kiwanis Emergency Youth Shelter – keys@vyes.ca
- Family Support Services – keys@vyes.ca
- Mental Health Liaison – mentalhealthliaison@vyes.ca
- Life Skills Day Program – lifeskills@vyes.ca
- Supported Independent Living – sil@vyes.ca
- Specialized Youth Detox – syd@vyes.ca
- Youth Services Outreach Program – outreach@vyes.ca
- Alliance Club/Summer Opportunities – allianceclub@vyes.ca
Emergency – if a child’s safety is imminently at risk (suicide, life-threatening injury or mental health). If you need help getting the child to the hospital, call 911 or call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1.888.494.3888 (www.vicrisis.ca)
Based on age, these are the hospital options:
- Between 12 and 24 years old and live in Saanich, go to Saanich Peninsula Hospital, 2166 Mt Newton X Road
- Under 17 years old, go to Victoria General Hospital, 1 Hospital Way
- 17 or older, go to Royal Jubilee Hospital, 1295 Bay Street
- Walk-in clinics offering in-house, confidential medical services to youth up to age 25 whether in school or not.
Restorative Justice
“Restorative Justice Victoria is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides restorative justice services in the Greater Victoria Area (British Columbia, Canada). Established in 2002, Restorative Justice Victoria (RJV) is nationally recognized leader in the field of restorative justice. We work with youth (12+) and adults. We receive 75-150 referrals annually from local police, British Columbia Crown Counsel, judges, probation, schools, community organizations, and members of the community. The goal of our work is to address the harms resulting from crime and violence. Our methodologies can be used as a diversion from, or in conjunction with, the traditional justice system, or outside of the traditional justice system entirely.”
- Services and FAQ
- Resources for Victims
- Legal Rights
- What Is Restorative Justice?
- Subscribe to the Restorative Justice Victoria monthly newsletter by request to office@rjvictoria.com
- 2020 Restorative Justice Basic Resource Kit
Restorative Justice: An Overview (Province of BC)
Crime Reduction Through Restorative Justice (Province of BC)
Restorative Justice Association of BC
“In 2018 the Restorative Justice Association of British Columbia (RJABC) was officially registered as a non-profit association dedicated to strengthening and advocating for the expansion of restorative justice in B.C”
Advocacy
All Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery
- The End Modern Slavery Group is dedicated to ending modern slavery through the Government of Canada. Members seek to improve policy and legislation, increase information on modern slavery to Parliamentarians, promote long-term approaches to the prevention of slavery, and engage with like-minded bodies to eradicate slavery.
BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition
- Exists to advance the concept of “school connectedness” and the body of research and strategies that support the concept
- Works closely with people who have a disability and with other community organizations to find and remove barriers that prevent full participation in life
First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
- Advance the interests of children and youth through public education, community mobilization and public policy advocacy
Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault
- Helping Survivors’s goal is to help people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse get the resources and assistance they need and deserve. We do this by providing: Educational content reviewed by a diverse group of experts; Legal resources and referrals for survivors; First-hand commentary from survivors and professionals who work with survivors; and Connections to organizations focused on survivor healing. Contact.
Office of the Representative for Children and Youth
- Serves children, youth and families who need help dealing with the child-serving system
Housing
Threshold Housing
www.thresholdhousing.ca
250.383.8830
- Serves at-risk youth experiencing homelessness, aging out of care or fleeing violence
Youthspace
www.youthspace.ca
- Provides assistance to youth under 25 experiencing homelessness
Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness
www.victoriahomelessness.ca
- Provides up-to-date information home on the various homeless-serving resources available in the CRD. Includes resource materials to assist teachers, counsellors and other youth services workers to help identify youth at risk of homelessness
Education
Children of the Street Society
www.childrenofthestreet.com
- Offers TCO2 (Taking Care of Ourselves, Taking Care of Others), a unique and empowering workshop designed and delivered by youth, for youth about preventing sexual exploitation. VFCYJC partners in the delivery of these workshops to schools in the Greater Victoria area.
Student, Adult Public and Professional Workshops and Training
Children of the Street Society
www.childrenofthestreet.com
- TCO2 Program (Taking Care of Ourselves, Taking Care of Others), a unique and empowering workshop designed and delivered by youth, for youth about preventing sexual exploitation. VFCYJC partners in the delivery of these workshops to schools in the Greater Victoria area.
Indigenous Perspectives Society
ipsociety.ca
- Offerings include Cultural Perspectives Training and Gladue Report Writing
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.
www.ictinc.ca
- Offerings include Indigenous Awareness, Indigenous Relations and Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®
Crisis and Trauma Resources Institute – Canada
ca.ctrinstitute.com
- Training and resources for mental health, counselling skills and violence prevention
External Reports
Human Rights
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/what-is-the-convention
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)
https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html
BC Children and Youth
Representative for Children and Youth: Annual Report 2020/21 and Service Plan 2021/22 to 2023/24
Justice Reform in BC
Justice Reform Initiatives (Province of British Columbia)
Roads to Revival: An External Review of Legal Aid Service Delivery in British Columbia (2019)
White Paper on Justice Reform: Part One
A Modern, Transparent Justice System (2012)
White Paper on Justice Reform: Part Two
A Timely, Balanced Justice System (2013)
A Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century: Fourth Anniversary Update to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General (2016)
Indigenous Justice
Legal Aid BC: What Are First Nations/Indigenous Courts?
Indigenous Justice Program (Government of Canada)
- Evaluation of the Aboriginal Justice System (Justice Canada, Ottawa, 2016)
- Indigenous Courtwork Program
Aboriginal Legal Aid in British Columbia
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice – An Overview (Province of BC)
Restorative Justice (Government of Canada)
Restorative Justice – Research in Brief (Department of Justice, Canada)
Restorative Justice Association of British Columbia
Directory of Restorative Justice Programs in British Columbia (Province of BC)
Youth Court Statistics, Canada
Court Statistics (home page for Statistics Canada data on youth courts, adult criminal courts, legal aid, civil courts and related information)
Youth Courts, Numbers of Cases & Charges By Type of Decision (Statistics Canada, Sept. 2022)
Adult and youth court statistics in Canada, 2016/2017 (Statistics Canada)
Domestic Violence
Family Violence: Relevance in family law
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/rg-rco/2018/sept01.html
Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault: Just Facts
Department of Justice, Canada
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/jf-pf/2019/apr01.html
Importance of Effective Investigation of Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Crimes at the International Criminal Court https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/jgspl/vol17/iss2/3/
Public Health Issues
Report on the Public Health Effects of the Ease of Access and Viewing of Online Violent and Degrading Sexually Explicit Material on Children, Women and Men
https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/HESA/Reports/RP9027245/hesarp11/hesarp11-e.pdf
Note:
This list is a living document. The volunteers at VFCYJC will continue to update and refine it along with the companion resources list. For errors and additions, please contact vfamcourt@gmail.com.
Territorial Acknowledgement
The Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee meets on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen-speaking and WSÁNEĆ nations. We acknowledge and thank the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, also known as the Songhees, Esquimalt and Beecher Bay First Nations communities for allowing us to live on their lands.
The VFCYJC further acknowledges that the capital region spans the Traditional Territories of Coast and Straits Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples and that, by virtue of being represented by all 13 municipalities, our committee is responsible to help build respectful and enduring relationships with our First Nations neighbours.
Important Links
From Facebook
www.songheesnation.ca
Songhees Nation Council Website. This website is for the Songhees Nation and the Songhees Wellness Center including programming and events in Victoria, BC.2 weeks ago
From Twitter
Congratulations to these Belmont students for their leadership in #youtharmreduction - we love youth support youth!
988 hotline for suicide prevention set to become active in Canada this November. This in the wake of last year's implementation of the 988 hotline in the US ...
Just announced: Stable annual funding to 68 sexual assault programs across B.C. "$10 million annually across BC to support the delivery of sexual assault programs that are victim-centred, trauma-informed, and co-ordinated, depending on client needs."
Follow Us