Trauma, Violence & Abuse
Midwives are primary care providers who are committed to supporting and helping their clients when a crisis arises that involves their client’s safety. “Over 1 in 10 women report experiencing spousal violence while pregnant. Abuse during pregnancy can negatively impact both maternal health and birth outcome” 1. Violence and abuse can take many forms such as emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, spiritual and sexual abuse. It also can be someone whose actions are to gain or maintain power over another person and often involve isolating them from supports. Our regular 30-45 minutes appointments will give our clients and their midwives an opportunity to check in about on-going and/or newly developing intimate partner harassment and/or violence. Our goal is to create an environment of trust where clients can express any worries, or concerns, and if necessary, connect with community resources that best meets their needs. If an abusive partner comes to your visit and you would like to speak to your midwife alone you can ask your midwife or the administrator to facilitate some private time. You can also call ahead of your visit and request you be taken into your visit alone or to end with some alone time. This will help you to speak to your midwife privately and to safely problem solve any urgent issues and/or guide you to resources that could be helpful. We are also on call for you 24 hours a day, and your small team of 2 or 3 midwives can help create a safe space where you can feel comfortable to reach out in an urgent or non-urgent situation.
If we receive information that causes us to reasonably believe that a child may be in need of protection, as defined by the Child and Family Services Act. s. 72, we have a duty to report to a Children’s Aid Society.
Statistics on Domestic Violence in Ontario – You aren’t alone.
http://www.women.gov.on.ca/owd/english/ending-violence/domestic_violence.shtml
Women’s College Hospital
“The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC) is a comprehensive service that assists women, men, and trans people who are victims / survivors of sexual assault and domestic / intimate partner violence. Our team of RN’s are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. WCH walk in hours are between 7:30 a.m. on Monday to 11 p.m. on Friday. Our team is also mobile to different Toronto ER’s at any time – View are “mobile locations” for more information.”
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC)
Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville St.
Ground floor (in the AACU), Room 1305
Toronto, ON M5S 1B2
Phone: 416-323-6040
Fax: 416-323-6489
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/programs-and-services/sexual-assault-domestic-violence-care-centre/
Mobile Team Location
The Michael Garron Hospital (Formerly TEGH)
825 Coxwell Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 3E7
416-461-8272
211 Central is an online resource hub.
https://www.211toronto.ca
TorontoCentralHealthline.ca
Online resource hub specifically for East York
https://www.torontocentralhealthline.ca/listServices.aspx?id=10669®ion=EastYork
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
416-863-0511 (TTY 416-364-8762).
If you are outside the 416 area code, call 1-866-863-0511 (TTY 1-866-863-7868).
Central Intake for Shelters for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) 416-397-5637
Kids Help Phone toll free 1-800-668-6868
Barbra Schlifer Clinic
“This clinic provides counselling, legal representation and language interpretation for women experiencing violence. This includes;
Legal help in family, immigration, criminal and sexual assault law;
Therapeutic counselling, information and support through group-based and individual counselling programs from compassionate and skilled counselors, employing diverse and culturally appropriate methodologies; and
Multi-lingual interpretation and translation including over-the-phone interpretation (access to an interpreter in less than 60-seconds) and video remote interpreting through a Deaf interpreter.
We advocate for law reform and social changes that benefit women. We also provide professional development opportunities for service providers.
1. Statistics Canada. (2013). Measuring violence against women: Statistical trends. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Industry. Pg. 28.