McGuinty Government Continues to Deliver in Its Fight Against Domestic Violence
New
Investment Means Better Services for Women From Diverse Backgrounds
LONDON, ON, Aug. 25 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government's latest Domestic
Violence
Action Plan investment will mean better access to critical counselling
services for hundreds of women and children who are victims of abuse,
Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced
today.
"The
effects of abuse are devastating and far-reaching. Counselling services
are critical to assisting women and their children to deal with the
effects of abuse and regain control over their lives," said Pupatello.
"With this investment, we're not just providing more services, but
services that meet the distinct needs of women from a broad range of
backgrounds, because
domestic
violence speaks many languages, has many colours and lives in many
different communities."
The
government is boosting its investment in community counselling
programs
by 10 per cent specifically to address waiting lists and gaps in
service
for francophone women, rural and aboriginal women, women with
disabilities
and those from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as for
children
who have been exposed to violence at home.
This
$2.5 million investment will allow women's agencies to strengthen
their
counselling support services to help their clients break the cycle of
violence
and rebuild their lives. Funding for this initiative is ongoing and
is
provided through the Victims' Justice Fund.
"Domestic
violence will not be tolerated in Ontario," said Attorney
General
Michael Bryant. "This investment from the Victims' Justice Fund
strengthens
our commitment to help women and children live free from fear and
help
them rebuild their lives."
This
year in southwestern Ontario, 11 agencies will receive a total of
$170,840,
increasing to $250,000 in 2006.
"With
both our shelters full this summer, we are absolutely appreciative
of
the government's efforts to continue to get additional resources out to us
because
without this we certainly wouldn't be able to accomplish what we need
to,"
said Kate Wiggins, Executive Director, Women's Community House.
This
funding builds on an existing $22 million investment in counselling
programs
and is earmarked for shelters, second stage housing providers,
transitional
housing support program providers and women's counselling
agencies.
"Helping
women and children overcome the harmful effects of abuse is a
key
part of our Domestic Violence Action Plan," said Pupatello.
"It's a plan
that's
helping us build stronger, safer communities for us all."
The
Domestic Violence Action Plan is a balanced approach that strengthens
the
justice system, enhances community supports, and uses early intervention,
prevention
and public education strategies to help reduce domestic violence.
Disponible en français
www.mcss.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION PLAN
FOR ONTARIO
Violence against women is a serious, pervasive
problem that crosses every
social
boundary. The McGuinty government is delivering on its commitment to
protect
women and their children through a long-term action plan to address
domestic
violence in a coordinated and comprehensive way.
Ontario's Domestic Violence Action Plan provides
a balanced approach
that:
-
Strengthens community supports to better protect victims
-
Focuses on public education, early intervention and prevention
strategies
to help reduce domestic violence
-
Strengthens the justice system response
-
Offers better access to French-language services for the
Francophone
community.
The $66 million action plan involves a broad
range of partners, both
traditional
and non-traditional, to more effectively address domestic
violence.
Key to this partnership approach is government leadership at the
highest
levels with a ministerial steering committee that is creating an
ongoing,
integrated approach across 13 provincial ministries. The plan
provides
a comprehensive response by:
-
Preventing violence from happening in the first place by changing
attitudes
and behaviours
-
Using broad based interventions through a wide range of sectors
(health
care, education, justice, business, unions, faith groups,
etc.)
-
Taking a more balanced approach with investments and improvements
in
community
services, as well as in the justice sector
-
Targeted approaches to meet diverse needs.
Increased Counselling Services To Meet Specific
Needs
The government's $2.5 million investment in
community-based counselling
directly
targets increased service to women who are victims of abuse and their
children.
Funding will support shelters, second-stage housing providers,
transitional
and housing support program providers and counselling agencies
who
work with women in situations of crisis and on longer-term issues that
result
from abuse. Counselling and support services assist victims of violence
to
increase safety for themselves and their children, prevent
re-victimization
and
rebuild their lives.
The
funds are earmarked to increase services to francophone women,
aboriginal
and rural women, women with disabilities and those from various
cultural
backgrounds. This funding builds on an existing $22 million
investment
in counselling and support programs.
