Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre Awarded Funding from The Province of British Columbia to Launch Vancouver’s First Integrated Sexual Assault Medical Clinic

For Immediate Release: October 18th, 2023

(Coast Salish Territories ~ Vancouver B.C.) – The Government of British Columbia announced that Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre is one of five organizations across the province chosen to receive funding to support survivors of sexual assault. Through this funding, Salal will open Vancouver’s first, Integrated Sexual Assault Clinic.

“This momentous occasion marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to support survivors of sexual assault and address the pressing issue of gender-based violence in our community,” says Salal’s Executive Director, Dalya Israel. “While I want to recognize the Province of British Columbia for their leadership on this funding, I also want to express my gratitude towards the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre for their vision of an integrated clinic, as well as the survivors of sexualized violence and the social justice activists who have advocated for better, more inclusive care for survivors in our community, for decades. This incredible win is yours to celebrate, and Salal’s upcoming Integrated Sexual Assault Medical Clinic will be a space created for, and designed in collaboration with you.”

On October 18th 2023, The Honourable Mike Farnworth announced funding for five sexual assault centres to deliver support services to survivors of sexualized violence across the Province of British Columbia. Via a procurement process overseen by B.C.’s Ministry for Public Safety and the Solicitor General, Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre was awarded funding for the Vancouver Coastal region in the amount of $300,000 to open a gender and culturally-affirming Integrated Sexual Assault Clinic, to operate alongside our existing free-of-charge support services. The clinic will offer survivors a trauma-informed, health-focused alternative to post-sexual assault medical care outside of the hospital; connecting survivors with a full range of post-assault care including: full medical exams, emotional support, assessment for drug- or alcohol-facilitated sexual violence, STI screenings, emergency IUD insertions, morning after pill and other reproductive justice options, the option for forensic examinations and evidence storage, community referrals, and more. 

“While we remain committed to advocating for changes within existing systems, such as those within the medical,criminal legal, and quasi-judicial systems, it is imperative that we also provide viable alternatives for survivors for whom systems of oppression such as racism, transphobia, colonization, and misogyny, make these spaces, inaccessible” continues Dalya Israel.“ Salal’s integrated sexual assault clinic represents a crucial alternative, offering a comprehensive range of services and support, and ensuring that the needs of survivors are met in a compassionate and holistic manner.”

The establishment of the Salal Integrated Sexual Assault Clinic not only answers calls for more holistic support from the survivors we serve, but comes at a time when rates of sexualized violence are staggering. One-in-three women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime (Statistics Canada, 2019), with that number rising to one-in-two for trans individuals (Rainbow Youth Ontario, 2019). Sexualized violence is the only violent crime in Canada that is not decreasing, and 2021 saw rates of sexualized violence that were the highest in nearly three decades (Statistics Canada, 2022). Salal is also aware of the instances of racism encountered in our hospitals, and how an institution rooted in colonialism cannot possibly attend to the needs of all survivors. This clinic, slated to open in late 2025, offers post-assault clinic services within our wrap-around care ecosystem, administering healthcare services that are built on trauma-informed care practices, and referrals to our in-house services. We will also be able to streamline survivor care through delivering immediate emotional support, on location.

Studies have shown that when survivors are able to seek post-assault medical care at community clinics, alongside hospitals, the percentage of survivors who seek medical care increases by a staggering 400%. This statistic alone underscores the vital role that our new clinic will play in bridging the gap between survivors and the holistic medical and emotional support they require. It also acts as the cornerstone of our commitment to not just supporting survivors in those first days after their experience of violence, but every step of the way on their life-long journey of healing. 

“In our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, we recognize the importance of engaging in community consultation, and we remain committed to ensuring that all survivors, especially those whose identities have been marginalized, will have their voices heard in the development of our clinic,” concludes Dalya. “In the first year of our project, we will actively seek input from our community to ensure that our clinic’s services and offerings are tailored to meet your specific needs. We also look forward to connecting with the other organizations who were successful in this call for proposals, to share our learnings and weave a stronger provincial network of care for survivors.”

Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre is deeply grateful to Minister Mike Farnworth and Parliamentary Secretary Paddon for their leadership and for this investment in supporting survivors of sexualized violence. This funding is a testament to the undeniable fact that survivors deserve policy makers who are invested in their healing, and we are hopeful to be able to foster a long-term commitment from the Province. We are immensely grateful for their partnership and look forward to working together to make a lasting impact on the lives of survivors.

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Media Contact:
Emily Oswald
Manager of Fund Development & Communications, Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre
604-255-6228 x 240
emily@salalsvsc.ca
Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre

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