Yes, there is a waiting list, and wait times vary according to demand.
CAVAS may prioritize certain requests in some circumstances.
Yes, you are eligible for services.
At CAVAS, there is no time limit for requesting assistance, regardless of when the sexual violence occurred.
No, there are no costs associated with our services.
All our services are free. However, we do offer you the opportunity to become a member of CAVAS, at an annual cost of $15. Depending on the type of membership you choose, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of current and future services, to be kept informed of events organized by the organization, and to speak out on behalf of the organization at appropriate times (annual general meeting, etc.). You can also make a donation to support CAVAS’s mission and services. However, you don’t need to have applied to IVAC to access our services.
If you are under 14 years of age, you must notify one of your parents or guardians, as it is only at the age of 14 that you can consent to health care without your parent’s consent.
However, please be advised that confidentiality will be respected and that, if necessary, another counsellor will meet with your parents. This joint intervention aims to support the victim and his or her loved ones so that they can contribute to improving the situation. If the family of a victim under the age of 14 refuses to get involved, CAVAS will take the necessary steps to ensure access to services.
You are no longer required to have the authorization of a parent or guardian from the age of 14. Nevertheless, we strongly suggest that your parents be involved in the process, regardless of age. Even though CAVAS does encourage the involvement of loved ones, we would not be able to offer our services to a loved one that is the perpetrator of sexual violence.
Yes, you are eligible for assistance. CAVAS offers services to the loved ones of victims of sexual violence. Confidentiality will be respected. There will be two separate individual sessions, each with a different counsellor.
When you first contact CAVAS, you will be asked to provide some general information about your situation.
The counsellor who responds to your request will inform you of the next steps according to the services you need. Please note that our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency, you can also call the Sexual Violence Helpline at 1-888-933-9007.
It is possible to request assistance from CAVAS to receive services again.
Your situation and needs will be discussed at the time of the request.
Due to legislation and multi-sectoral agreements, the situation must have been reported to the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) before receiving our services for people under the age of 18.
You will be able to receive services after that, even if there was no follow-up and there is no police report. Victims over the age of 18 can receive services regardless of whether or not a police report has been made.
CAVAS does not have a mandate to provide psychological, psychiatric or medical expertise.
As such, services may be terminated for certain reasons, for example, if there is a contraindication from the psychiatrist or a health professional, if there is an active substance abuse or dependency disorder, or if physical health is an obstacle to the person’s involvement with CAVAS. Moreover, repeated cancellations without a valid reason may also result in the termination of care. No form of physical or verbal violence or aggression is accepted at CAVAS.