Crime Victim Assistance Program in BC (CVAP)

April 21, 2024

Witnessing or surviving an incident of crime can be extremely traumatic and can also negatively affect family members and loved ones. Healing and recovering from trauma can be an overwhelming process, which can be negatively impacted by unexpected financial burdens like medical bills and loss of income stemming from the traumatic event. The Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) intends to provide benefits for those impacted by crimes to help victims focus on healing.

What is it?

In 2002 the government of British Columbia established the Crime Victim Assistance Act to help support people affected by violent crimes.  Under this act, the Community Safety Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General established the CVAP. This program was established to provide financial benefits to help offset financial losses as a result of the crime and assist in victim recovery. As an overview, CVAP provides benefits to individuals affected by violent crimes, including medical services, financial assistance, relocation assistance, childcare support, and counselling services.    

How can we help?

Being exposed to trauma can cause adverse physical and psychological reactions such as: flashbacks of the incident, anxiety, fear, avoidance, lack of sleep, fatigue, nausea, and restlessness (CRCVC, 2022). This trauma can also contribute to mental health implications like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and acute stress disorder. 

Counselling can be an effective measure to help treat mental health conditions like PTSD. A 2018 study found that trauma-focused therapies like cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and other therapeutic interventions are effective methods for treating PTSD and other trauma-related concerns (Watkins et al., 2018).  Additionally, 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).

In short, trauma-informed counselling can help to support victims of crime on their road to recovery.  CVAP helps to provide counselling to victims that will assist them in developing coping skills, restoring functioning, and reducing the negative symptoms caused by the crime.

Who Qualifies?

CVAP is available to people affected by a crime in B.C., you do not need to be a B.C. resident to be covered by CVAP. CVAP benefits cover victims of crime, immediate family members, and in some cases witnesses of crimes that took place in B.C.. 

Victim: someone who is injured either directly or indirectly as the result of a crime.

Immediate family members: someone who experiences economic loss or psychological harm as a result of the death or injury of a victim.

Witnesses: someone who saw the violent offences first-hand, or the aftermath of crimes, and the circumstances of the crime are shocking, alarming, or frightening.

These three groups are entitled to different forms and amounts of benefits as set out in the Crime Victim Assistance Act – Part 2. For a summary of benefits available to victims please visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/bc-criminal-justice-system/if-victim/publications/cvap-victim.pdf

This list is not all-inclusive and counselling benefits may be offered to affected persons outside of these groups. For example, counselling support sessions may be provided to individuals who are an integral part of a support system for the victim.  These sessions are often intended to help the individual attending develop strategies for supporting the victim’s recovery after the crime.  Additional benefits may also be awarded to people who experience psychological effects as a result of legal proceedings conducted with respect to the crime.

What steps should I take?

Following the crime, if you want to determine whether you are eligible for CVAP or if you are seeking more information please contact Victim Services. To find services in your community call VictimLink BC toll free at 1-800-563- 0808 (available 24 hours a day, and multilingual).

For more information on CVAP and eligibility requirements please visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits

An FAQ for CVAP can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/bc-criminal-justice-system/if-victim/publications/hsh-english-cvap.pdf

Separate application forms are required for victims, family members, and witnesses. Application forms are available online at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/financial, from the CVAP office, or from local victim services.

Across Canada

Although the CVAP only covers individuals who have been affected by crimes that took place in British Columbia, there are similar programs throughout Canada, for example the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP) in Ontario.  For a list of all provinces and territories that offer victim compensation programs please visit: https://www.ncjrs.gov/ovc_archives/reports/intdir2005/canada.html

Virtual Connect

Virtual counselling meets CVAP eligibility requirements and is proven to be effective in helping individuals deal with trauma.  At Virtual Connect, we have several counsellors registered with the CVAP who specialize in trauma-informed counselling approaches. We also strive to provide an open and safe environment for victims to help facilitate the healing process. We also offer counsellors who specialize in grief management for family members or witnesses affected by a crime. We are here to support individuals in their healing process and aim to match individuals with a counsellor who best suits their needs.

If you are interested in starting your counselling process fill out the contact form here.

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.

RECOVERING FROM VIOLENT CRIME, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, Aug. 2022, crcvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Recovering-from-Violent-Crime_DISCLAIMER_Revised-May2022_final.pdf.

Watkins, Laura E., et al. “Treating PTSD: A review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 12, 2 Nov. 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258.