Victim Quick Response Program Counselling (VQRP+)

June 15, 2024

Similarly to the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), Ontario’s VQRP+ was established to aid people affected by crimes. Being the victim, family member of a victim, or witness to a violent crime can be a traumatic experience. It may be difficult to feel safe and find a sense of normalcy after the incident. Unexpected financial burdens related to the event may make it even more difficult to recover. The VQRP+ program extends financial assistance, specifically in the form of counselling, to those in need so they can spend more time focusing on healing and recovering from their experience.

What Is It?

The VQRP+ was established in Ontario by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.  The program is administered by Victim Services providers to provide rapid financial assistance to victims, witnesses, and victim’s family-members after experiencing violent crimes. The VQRP+ is considered a program of “last resort” and only provides funding to eligible victims who cannot obtain the funding through other means (ie. other government funding, employment, savings, etc.) At a glance, the VQRP+ assists victims immediately after a violent crime by providing short-term financial support with essential expenses, including counselling, to lessen the impact of the crime, enhance safety, and meet practical needs.

How Can it Help?

Being the victim of a violent crime, witnessing violence, or grieving the loss of a loved one can be a traumatic experience. This trauma can have lasting physical and psychological implications. Crime survivors may experience fear, anxiety, guilt, or depression following the incident. It may be difficult for people who have been affected by violent crimes to recover and regain a sense of control within their lives. Experiencing trauma can even lead to certain mental health disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder (ASD), and various other disorders related to things like anxiety and substance-use (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , 2014).  These concerns may be further exacerbated by financial stress after the crime. The VQRP+ seeks to alleviate the financial burden on victims so that they can focus on recovery through services like counselling.

Counselling can be an effective way to help heal from exposure to a traumatic event. A 2017 study saw a significant reduction in trauma related symptoms like anger, depression, guilt, and difficulty sleeping after participating in trauma management therapy (Beidel et al., 2017), and many studies present similar findings. The VQRP+ helps provide financial support to people who have been affected by violent crimes to help cover the costs associated with receiving care.  This program helps cover costs for things like counselling, crime scene clean-up, emergency accommodation, and child and dependent care.  Counselling services made accessible by VQRP+ can help an individual to develop coping skills, reduce negative symptoms, and regain their functioning.

Who Qualifies?

VQRP+ is available to people affected by violent crime in Ontario. VQRP+ benefits cover victims of crime, immediate family members, and in some cases witnesses of crimes. 

Some examples of violent crimes covered under VQRP+ include:

• serious assaults
• sexual abuse
• criminal harassment
• intimate partner violence

To qualify for VQRP+ benefits the crime must be reported to police or to a child protection agency.

For more information on whether or not you qualify for VQRP+, please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/victimwitness-assistance-program

Or call your local Victim Services office.  To find the office nearest you, you can call the Victim Support Line at 416-314-2447 (Toll-free: 1-888-579-2888) or the visit the Victim Services Directory.

Additional Information

The best way to gather more information about the VQRP+ program is to contact your local victim services detachment.  You can use the link above to access the Victim Services Directory and find the office nearest to you. 

A brief summary of the VQRP+ eligibility requirements, expense coverage, and deadlines can be found at: https://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/the-victim-quick-response-program/all

Virtual Connect

Virtual counselling meets VQRP+ eligibility requirements and our clinicians can support individuals dealing with trauma.  At Virtual Connect, we have several counsellors registered with the VQRP+ who specialize in trauma informed counselling approaches.  We strive to provide an open and safe environment for victims to help facilitate the healing process. We also have counsellors who specialize in grief management for family members or witnesses affected by a crime who are part of the team here at Virtual Connect. We are here to support individuals in their healing process and aim to match individuals with a counsellor who best suits their needs. Please reach out today to book a free consultation.

References

Beidel, Deborah C., et al. “The efficacy of trauma management therapy: A controlled pilot investigation of a three-week intensive outpatient program for combat-related PTSD.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 50, Aug. 2017, pp. 23–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.05.001.

Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2014.