Victim Services Service Providers Training
This page provides training resources for service providers working with victims of crime and women and children impacted by violence. Topics include:
- Webinars for Service Providers
- Victim Services: Supporting Victims Through the Justice System E-learning
- Canadian Victims Bill of Rights Information Materials
- Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-Book and Video
- Domestic Violence Safety Planning Online Training
- Safety Planning Resources
- Child and Youth Safety Planning Toolkit
- Child and Youth Safety Planning Videos
- Victim Service Worker Handbooks
- Online Training Initiative to Address Human Trafficking
Webinars for Service Providers
The Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch provides free webinars for service providers on a variety of topics. For more information about upcoming webinars, please contact victimservices@gov.bc.ca.
Victim Services: Supporting Victims Through the Justice System E-learning
This online training provides victim service workers with the knowledge and skills to deliver court support within the justice system in B.C. The eight module online course with interactive activities, comprehensive resources, and video clips will provide workers with an orientation to victim services in B.C., a basic understanding of the justice system, and how to provide court support to victims through the justice process.
New victim service workers employed by community-based victim service programs or police-based victim service programs are the primary target audience for this training. Others may also take this course to refresh their knowledge of the topics covered in the training.
The 10 to 15 hour online course covers a range of areas including orientation to victim services, financial benefits and assistance, impact of victimization, communication skills for working with victims, introduction to the justice system, court support, court support and violence against women in relationships, and assisting victims after the trial.
The training is available to support workers that meet the following requirements:
- Work for a branch-funded violence against women program, victim services program or provincial association
- Have consent to take the training from their employer
For more information, please contact victimservices@gov.bc.ca.
Canadian Victims Bill of Rights Information Materials
On July 23, 2015 the new Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR) and related legislative amendments came into force. The CVBR standardizes rights for victims to information, protection, participation, restitution, and ensures a complaint process is in place for breaches of these rights. The provincial Victims of Crime Act, established in 1996, will continue to apply and provides victims with similar rights to information as the CVBR.
CVBR Information Materials for Victim Service Workers
- The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights - Highlights and Summary for Victim Services
- Know Your Rights
- Complaints Fact Sheet
- CVBR Victim Services Webinar Power Point Presentation
- CVBR Information for Victim Services Chart
Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-Book and Video
The Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-Book is designed for workers in B.C. who work with older adults who have been abused and neglected. The E-Book covers types of elder abuse and risk factors, B.C. government programs and community services available for older adults who are abused and neglected, and practice tips on how to work with older adults who have been abused. The E-Book also includes resources, information, links, video interviews with local stakeholders, and role play video scenarios on how to address different types of elder abuse.
The video on Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse covers the concepts of capacity, consent, and mental confusion, with specific focus on the issue of financial abuse. The video was developed by the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support in 2013.
- Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-Book
- Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse Video
Domestic Violence Safety Planning Online Training
This training was developed through a partnership between the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch and BC Housing, in collaboration with the Ending Violence Association of BC, BC Society of Transition Houses, and Police Victim Services of B.C. The training is a practical resource to assist front-line service providers working with women, children, and families impacted by domestic violence. The training includes core elements and tools of safety planning that can be adapted to different circumstances.
The 8-10 hour domestic violence safety planning training builds on the work of the province’s Domestic Violence Action Plan and consists of seven modules covering a range of topics including:
- Working with women who have experienced domestic violence
- Cross-sector coordination
- Risk identification and safety planning
- Safety planning with children and youth
The training is available to support workers who meet the following requirements:
- Employed by a branch-funded violence against women program (e.g., Stopping the Violence Counselling Program, Children Who Witness Abuse Counselling Program, Outreach Services Program, and Multicultural Outreach Services Program), victim service program or provincial association.
- Have consent to take the training from employer.
- Confirm that you are aware you have 30 days to complete the training from the first time you login to the online training.
If you have questions, please contact victimservices@gov.bc.ca
Safety Planning Resources
- Factors to Consider when Domestic Violence Safety Planning
- Creating a Safety Plan Booklet
- Personalized Safety Planning Template
Child and Youth Safety Planning Toolkit
Safety Planning with Children and Youth: A Toolkit for Working with Children and Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence is a resource to assist support workers in developing safety plans for children and youth. It provides information for those working with mothers, caregivers, and children and youth who have been exposed to domestic violence. The toolkit is intended for use by both new and experienced service providers.
The toolkit offers steps to follow when safety-planning with children and youth, as well as specific information for safety planning with children and youth at each developmental level (i.e., ages 3-5, 6-11, 12-14, and 15-18). It also includes practice tips, sample templates, suggested methods, and resources.
Child and Youth Safety Planning Videos
Module 7 of the Domestic Violence and Safety Planning Training has five instructional videos on how to safety plan with children and youth at each developmental level. These instructional videos can be viewed below.
VIDEO, Scene 1 : Safety Planning with Children Developmental Level Years 3 to 5
VIDEO, Scene 2 : Safety Planning with Children Developmental Level Years 6 to 11
VIDEO, Scene 3 : Safety Planning with Youth Developmental Level Years 12 to 14
VIDEO, Scene 4 : Planning with Youth Developmental Level Years 15 to 18
VIDEO, Scene 5 : Safety Planning Considerations for a Child/Youth Testifying in Court
Victim Service Worker Handbooks
These handbooks were developed to assist and support those working with victims of crime:
- Victim Service Worker Handbook – Victims of Crime
- Victim Service Worker Handbook – Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR)
- Victim Service Worker Handbook – Victims of Sexual Assault
Online Training Initiative to Address Human Trafficking
The Online Training Initiative to Address Human Trafficking is a free and comprehensive online training program that will help you recognize fundamental concepts related to human trafficking, including definitions, risk factors and victims’ needs, as well as best practice responses to support trafficking victims.
