Victim Services needs helping hands

As their fall training approaches, the Rainy River District Victim Services Program (RRDVSP) is in need of volunteers to help reach out to people affected by crime and traumatic situations.
“We really need volunteers in order to meet the needs of the area,” said RRDVSP executive director Monika Huminuk.
Since the program started in May of last year, 21 volunteers had been trained to help respond to situations where victims may need support, but over time the numbers have dropped down to 14, she said.
Created to be a partner with emergency services, the RRDVSP provides support by training volunteers to provide support to victims of crime and crises through helping them get access to services that are available, such as counselling and support groups, or just by providing a helping hand to help them get through the situation.
The purpose, said Huminuk, is to help victims get back into the swing of life and take control.
“Because when you’re in crisis, when you’re distraught, sometimes you just don’t know what to do and you’re just lost,” she said. Often just having someone there to guide a person along, even if it’s as something simple as making a cup of coffee, can help, she said.
“So we try to give [volunteers] the tools so they can be very understanding, supportive and work with the people as much as possible,” she said. Volunteers are also provided cultural sensitivity training, and are trained so that they can help people without imposing their own viewpoint on what the victim needs to do, she said.
Those interested in volunteering can apply either online or by filling out a form in person. A half hour interview process is required, as well as require a police record check covered by RRDVSP. After that, there is 40 hours of Ministry standard training and training applicable to meet the needs of the local community. Volunteers are also required to be over the age of 18, and preferably have access to a vehicle.
They would also have to dedicate a minimum of two, 12 hour on-call shifts per month, either from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but aren’t required to stay at the Victim Services’ office or at their home, said Huminuk.
“They’re provided with a cell phone so they can do their day to day activities, so that’s a real important part,” said Huminuk.
“As long as they’re in phone range, so that when a call comes in we can reach them during their shift. So they can go out and do shopping, they can go to restaurants.” People who live farther out of the usual cell phone service area are provided with boosters for the phones.
The list of things that volunteers are trained to respond to is extensive: elder abuse, domestic abuse, developing safety plans for domestic cases, child abuse, sexual assault, housing and access to housing, social assistance, addiction services, legal aid, harassment and stalking, insurances companies after a fire, safety plans for people who have had their property damaged or a break and enter. Volunteers are also paired up, so they are not alone when responding to any of these situations.
“[First responders] can call us and our volunteers will transport the people to the hospital, or hotel or different things like that. Because [victims] are not thinking at that point in time, especially if it’s a loved one that they’ve lost or is in trouble,” she said.
In some situations, the volunteers can just be there so someone isn’t alone, she said. With the large amount of traffic coming through the area from the USA, if there is an accident or crisis, a person could end up alone in a hospital, but still in need of support,
she said.
“The hospital can call our program as well and we’ll send a team of volunteers over to sit with that individual at the hospital so they’re not alone,” she said. “It’s very important that they feel that there’s people around them for support. We’ll bring coffee, we’ll just talk to them about various things that they want to talk to.”
Volunteers are provided with a blanket and kit containing information and supplies that could be useful to those affected by a crisis. During the gas leak last February, Victim Services helped to assist 26 people to make sure they were safe and had a place to stay, including providing toiletries.
“We do have now clothing available for victims of sexual assault so that if they did have to get an exam the hospital will call us and we will bring some clean clothing for the victim because a lot of stuff will be taken into evidence,” said Huminuk.
“Sometimes police are so busy with the perpetrator and getting the detail of the crime that sometimes victims go unnoticed or unrecognized,” she said, “and [police] don’t have the time either. The ambulance is there, they’re trying to load the guy up, take off on the road, the other officers are stopping traffic and what have you. So who’s looking after the victims? … So we’re there to assist.”
For more information about the program, including signing up to become a volunteer, RRDSVP can be reached by phone at 274 5687, mail at P.O. Box 683, 334 Scott Street Fort Frances ON, or visit their website at
www.rrdsvp.ca