Safety Planning
COVID-19 and Safety Planning
VSLG is committed to keeping our clients, our staff and our communities as safe as possible during this difficult time. Staff continue to work 24 hours a day / 7 days a week as per our normal schedule and Safety Planning activities are continuing to run remotely. We will be doing this via telephone, video and email and our staff will continue to offer support through telephone, texting, email and video technologies in keeping with World Health Organization policies. On-scene or in-person responses are at the request of our emergency partners only. We recognize that this is a stressful time and will do our best to ensure all individual's needs are met to the best of our ability and within the mandate of our services.
We would also like to give a small word of caution. Situations where individuals are confined to their homes can sometimes increase safety concerns. Emotional safety planning during times of high stress is incredibly important and should not be forgotten. Please reach out at any time for support via telephone (1-800-939-7682) or email (info@vslg.ca) or self-referral form (Self Referral Form) .
For more resources about Safety Planning, please click on the link below
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General Information about VSLG's safety planning and resources
Safety planning services may be requested from police and / or other community services (such as Victim Witness Assistance Program, Family & Children’s Services, and so on) as well as from individual's seeking assistance. Safety planning may be required as a result of domestic violence / dating violence, an assault, sexual assault, family violence, stalking & harassment, break & enter, home invasion, robbery, elder abuse, human trafficking, hate crime and/or sexual exploitation. Teams of two will provide information and assistance for individuals who are in need of safety planning strategies. This could include safety planning for the home, work, and community or wherever it is needed and can include children if required. We will also work with individuals to provide strategies for emotional safety planning in order to assist in the process of keeping yourself safe from emotional harm. Teams will meet with individuals in agreed upon locations with an emphasis on a safe location being the priority.
We also offer specialized services for seniors who are looking for ways to keep themselves safe from frauds, break and enters and others who may try to take advantage of them financially and/or physically. This may include a home safety audit as well as other elements of safety planning already mentioned. Specialized kits of information specific to older adults will be provided.