Orangeville, ON – Dufferin Child and Family Services, Family Transition Place and Headwaters Health Care Centre today kicked off a community awareness campaign for the Sunrise Program offering three doors to access medical and counselling support for men, women, children and youth who are victims of a sexual assault.

The campaign includes brochures and posters which will be distributed throughout Headwaters’ community so survivors know how to get help. “We want victims and survivors of sexual assault to know that they can tell someone. Survivors can receive help through any of the Sunrise Program partners who’ll connect them with the support they need,” said Norah Kennedy, Executive Director of Family Transition Place. “Our campaign message is ‘it’s not your fault; tell someone’.”

"Raising awareness of sexual violence takes many voices and continued effort. To prevent and end sexual violence we need to coordinate support programs within our community. Together DCAF, FTP and Headwaters are working to see this happen,” says Sylvia Jones, MPP, Dufferin-Caledon.

The Sunrise Program is funded in part by the Central West Local Health Integration Network and member agencies. The Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centres’ statistics report that 53% of women and 31% of men have experienced sexual abuse as children (under the age of 21).

In 2006, Police Services in Headwaters investigated 60 cases of sexual assault and laid 42 charges. “These numbers represent only a fraction of the men, women and children who are sexually assaulted or abused,” said Gloria Campbell, Program Manager, Children’s Mental Health, Dufferin Child and Family Services. Family Transition Place and Dufferin Child and Family Services’ counsellors deal with a higher volume of survivors, many of whom do not report to police. 

About one out of four girls and one out of six boys are sexually assaulted before they are 18 years old.  “Children who confide in a trusted adult and who are believed will experience less trauma than children who do not disclose the abuse,” said Campbell. “We don’t want children and youth to keep secrets about sexual abuse or to feel responsible for being abused. We want them to feel supported, to come forward to talk about what happened. We also want to support parents and families in these abuse situations. We know that how we respond as family and community members is key to an individual’s healing.”
 

“The initial response to an assault is a critical time for a victim’s recovery. When the first contact is sensitive and caring, it helps the victim deal with the trauma and sets the tone for recovery,” says Lori Miller, Program Director Emergency Services, Headwaters Health Care Centre.

The Sunrise Centre, adjacent to Headwaters Health Care Centre provides a sensitive place for medical intervention and criminal investigation. Victims are treated and examined by Headwaters’ team of specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, a Social Worker and a Medical Director. If victims wish to provide a video statement to the police the Sunrise Centre provides a quiet, non-threatening environment.

FTP and DCAFS specially trained staff can answer questions about sexual assault or abuse and the law. They provide counselling to talk about what happened and help survivors understand their options and choices regarding medical treatment, contact with police and their legal rights.

Children and youth who have been a victim of a sexual assault or abuse receive individual and family counseling to talk about what happened and to help victims begin the emotional healing process. Abuse or suspected abuse of children and adolescents under age 16 must be reported by health care professionals to child protection services.

“Whether the sexual assault or abuse is recent or historic, survivors are able to rediscover their strengths and regain control over their lives,” added Kennedy.

“Ending sexual violence requires moving past awareness to responsibility, and taking action,” says Miller.

How to contact the Sunrise Program:
Visit http://www.sunriseprogram.ca/ for more information or call to talk to someone if you are being mistreated or abused.

Family Transition Place
24 Hr. Crisis/Info Line: 519-941-HELP (4357)
905-584-HELP (4357)
1-800-265-9178
TTY: 519-942-1651

Dufferin Child and Family Services

519-941-1530

Headwaters Health Care Centre

519-941-2410 ext. 2214

About Dufferin Child and Family Services:

Dufferin Child and Family Services, an integrated children's agency, advocates for and provides coordinated, quality services for children, families and individuals. Our primary service focus is on children most in need of counseling, support and protection from abuse and neglect, while supporting families in their central role of caring for and nurturing children. Visit www.dcafs.on.ca

About Family Transition Place:
Family Transition Place provides emergency shelter, counselling, second stage housing, legal and transitional support to abused women and their children as well as a 24 hr crisis/info line and skill building violence prevention education for Dufferin-Caledon. Visit www.familytransitionplace.ca

About Headwaters Health Care Centre:
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.