$2.7 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN VICTIM SERVICES ACROSS B.C.

SURREY – Front-line services to crime victims across B.C. will receive an average funding increase of 22 per cent this year, as the Province injects $2.7 million more into victim services programs, Solicitor General John van Dongen announced today.

“These vital programs can now offer more service to victims of crime and trauma in their communities,” said van Dongen. “The new funding will mean extra hours of front-line service every week, plus the ability to provide more support to victims at court, safety planning, referrals to counselling and other support services, and outreach to people in communities of all sizes.”

Overall provincial funding for B.C.’s 156 police- and community-based victim service programs will rise to $12.6 million. All existing programs will share in the extra funding to address their service pressures and to enhance their services.

“This funding acknowledges the need for services to people who have been victimized in communities throughout B.C.,” said Tracy Porteous, executive director of the BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs. “Those in the largest and fastest-growing municipalities in B.C., as well as those in smaller communities, need access to these critical services. The Province is to be applauded for moving in this direction.”

“On behalf of Police Victim Service Programs in B.C., we are grateful to the ministry for acknowledging and supporting the complex and growing needs of victims of crime and trauma,” said Carolyn Sinclair, executive director of Police Victim Services of British Columbia. “These additional funds will help to enhance client-centred victim services across the province.”

Highlights of the new funding:

· It will be balanced between police- and community-based victim service programs ($1.4 million and $1.3 million).

· In recognition of growth in service-delivery costs since 2002, funding per full-time-equivalent position (FTE) will rise to $70,000 from $60,000 for all programs.

· Police-based services in three of B.C.’s largest urban centres will receive the full benefit of the funding formula based on their populations.

· Funds are now available for community-based victim service pilot programs in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Delta and Richmond.

· For the smallest programs, the minimum funding level will rise to half an FTE, to recognize complexities in delivering services across vast geographic service areas with few local resources.

· Each FTE will receive a worker care supplement of up to $750 to help address vicarious trauma endured in the course of their work.

The $2.7 million for victim service programs announced today is the latest of many investments the Province is making to enhance public safety by supporting both crime prevention and strategies to deal with the impacts of crime and trauma on victims and communities.

In April, the Province announced $1.5 million for programs to prevent domestic violence and assist its victims, plus $500,000 for crime-prevention and victim services from assets recovered under civil forfeiture legislation. This is over and above the additional $17 million over three years that February’s provincial budget added to enhance victim service programs.

The funding formula for victim service programs is based on the number of police officers in a community and its population. For 2008/09, the existing funding formula has been updated using the latest available police and population data for B.C. communities, from 2006. Following completion of the ministry’s review of victim service programs, a new formula for 2009/10 will reflect more comprehensively the needs of victims and communities.

A list of total funding allocations for individual victim service programs across B.C. this year is available online at www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/DisplayEventDetails.aspx?eventId=413.

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Media contact:	Cindy Rose Public Affairs Bureau 250 356-6961

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