Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre to facilitate service hub with provincial funding

KAMLOOPS — Survivors of sexual assault will soon have access to a new support hub through the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre (KSACC).

The centre was recently announced as one of five locations around B.C. that will receive annual funding from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

KSACC Agency Coordinator Alix Dolson says they’re going to use the money to create more of a hub model of care.

“This helps to create a little bit more gentleness. Additional support for survivors in a way that focuses on their needs — in a trauma-informed and culturally safe way.”

The centre currently offers crisis response services, counselling and victim services, but will now be able to provide a place for other services involved in survivor support. Instead of going to multiple locations for reporting or healthcare needs — survivors will have the option to access forensic medical exams and police interviews in one spot.

“It really reduces barriers,” explains Dolson. “The goal isn’t to convince survivors to respond in any one kind of way. If people want to report, that’s great. If people want to have a medical exam, that’s great. This just gives them the choice to do it in a way that is going to feel safer, in a way that feels more trauma-informed.”

The provincial funding works out to $300,000 annually to facilitate the broader spectrum of care. For Dolson and the team operating KSACC, it’s an exciting improvement.

“It’s really validating for the work that feminist service providers have been doing. KSACC has been operating for over 40 years in Kamloops and we’ve been calling on our government and our partners to do better for survivors.”

Dolson adds the hub model is currently used in Victoria and the Kamloops centre plans to learn what it can from that existing operation — but ultimately wants to tailor it to fit the unique needs of this region.

“Kamloops is a hub community. Our hospital services folks from smaller surrounding communities. We have people coming from Merritt, coming from Ashcroft to access forensic medical exams, and now they’re able to do it here.”

KSACC is in the process of consulting with service providers to get the wraparound services in place, with the new BC government contract taking effect in November of this year.

People in need of immediate support can also utilize the centre’s 24/7 Anti-violence Crisis Line at 1 (888) 974-7278.