What services or supports are available to Francophone women who have experienced sexual assault?
FAQs
Are there other Francophones services that I can access in Simcoe County?
Colibri has a library of Francophone services available in Simcoe County on their website. La Maison Rosewood in Midland is the designated Francophone shelter in Simcoe County, and the Francophone staff can provide appropriate referrals and support as necessary.
Are there other supports that I can access, perhaps the don't involve calling anyone yet?
Making that first call for support or guidance can be really intimidating, no matter how understanding and knowledgeable the person on the other end of the phone is. If you are looking for support and resources that you can work through at your own pace for the time being, these might be helpful to you:
Chayn is a global non-profit, run by survivors and allies from around the world, creating resources to help the healing of survivors of gender-based violence. Resources and services are open and online, and are trauma-informed, intersectional, multi-lingual, and feminist.
Jeunesse, J’écoute has plenty of interactive games and resources to learn about mental health and about how to support loved ones with their mental health. These are beneficial to kids, youth, and adults!
Espace mieux-être Canada provides free resources for mental health and substance use support, including self-guided programs, articles, and peer support groups.
Fem'aide provides French-speaking women experiencing gender-based violence with support, information and referrals to appropriate services in their community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fem'aide can also respond to requests for information made by relatives of women who are victims of violence.
Fem'aide focuses its intervention on women who have experienced violence in an intimate relationship or sexual assault.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line is available to all Aboriginal people in Canada. Experienced and culturally sensitive counsellors can be reached by phone and online chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The mission of SOS violence conjugale is to contribute to the safety of victims of domestic violence and the reduction of domestic violence and its consequences by offering services to victims, the population and all those affected by domestic violence.
At Kids Help Phone, 2SLGBTQ+ youth and their allies can access a non-judgmental space to release their emotions and get support.
Parlons suicide (1-833-456-4566)
Let's Talk Suicide Canada provides bilingual support to anyone facing suicide, 24 hours a day, across the country.
What are some other legal support available to me as a Francophone person?
Le conseil canadien des femmes musulmanes (CCFM) has various legal resources available on their website, including information packets on custody and child support, divorce, and inheritance, to name a few.
Femmes ontariennes et droit de la famille (fodf) provides plain language information about family law in Ontario. The website contains legal information on several family law topics…You will find workshops, audio capsules, webinars, and various other resources as well. The material is available for everyone, but with a particular focus on Francophone women in Ontario who are experiencing domestic violence.
Barreau de l’Ontario can help you find a lawyer or paralegal, and also contains a variety of publicly available resources on their website.
What if I am Francophone, but do not speak French, or am not confident in my French speaking skills yet?
You can still access Colibri services!
What is transitional housing?
Transitional housing is like a step between an emergency shelter and permanent housing. It is longer term and offers more intensive services, however is usually limited from 3 months to 3 year stays.