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SAVIS
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Who We Are:

 SAVIS (formerly the Halton Rape Crisis Centre) is a non-profit organization, established in 1985, and provincially funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Our mandate is to provide free, confidential and non-judgmental 24-hour support to survivors of sexual violence.

We advocate against violence in the community at large and promote prevention through community education.


SAVIS exists because we understand how common sexual violence towards women and children is. Reactions and ways of coping with sexual violence are as varied as the people who experience it.

We do not make judgments, advise or provide therapy. Our role is to support individuals through recovery from violence through information, objectivity and respect.

Overview

SAVIS provides FREE, immediate and confidential support to anyone living with, leaving or recovering from sexual violence.

  • face-to-face and telephone counselling through a 24-Hr crisis line (905) 875-1555
  • TTY line for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing: (905) 825-3743
    (If you are Deaf or HOH and calling after-hrs, please call our Crisis Line using Bell Relay)
  • Two weekly drop-in sessions
    • Tuesdays in Burlington (conducted in Spanish)
    • Thursdays in Oakville (conducted in English)
  • Group counselling
  • Accompaniment to appointments, hospitals, police stations and court
  • Advocacy
  • Information and support for partners, families and friends of survivors
  • Educational workshops/trainings for youth, professional, community members
  • Social Activism (e.g. Sexual Assault Awareness Month, “Take Back The Night”)
  • An outreach program aimed at reducing isolation and minimizing service barriers for women from diverse communities
Philosophy

SAVIS offers client-directed supportive counselling. We believe that those we serve are the experts of their own situations. Your comfort and privacy is important to us. We record only non-identifying statistical information (e.g. gender, age range etc). We don't keep documentation about your visits. We do not keep client flies or require you to provide us with your real name or address.  We do not use call display or trace crisis line calls. We maintain confidentiality with three exceptions:

  • You are actively attempting suicide
  • You are putting other people's lives at risk
  • There are children in your life who are at risk of harm


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