About Us
What is Chinook Arch Victim's Services Society?
Victim's Services Units, including Chinook Arch Victim's Services Society (CAVSS), provides immediate crisis intervention, support, information and referrals to victims of crime and trauma. We are an RCMP based non-profit organization, which means most of our referrals for service come from the RCMP but we also get referrals from Fire Departments, Mental Health, Hospitals, Crown Prosecutor, and self-referrals.
CAVSS services are performed by a team of 12 to 15 highly trained Volunteer Advocates as well as 1 paid full-time Program Manager and 2 paid part-time Program Coordinators. Each paid staff member works in an office located in each of the three RCMP detachments in our service areas. These service areas include Olds, Didsbury, Sundre, Mountain View County, Bowden, Carstairs, Torrington, Cremona, and Water Valley.
Our funding comes from many sources. The bulk (70%) comes from the Solicitor General of Alberta. The other 30% must come from personal and corporate donations, solicitations to other community organizations (including FCSS), matching grants, and fundraising initiatives.
If you would like more information regarding our program, how you can donate, or how you can become a volunteer Victims Advocate (all training is provided), please do not hesitate to call. We would love to hear from you.
Fundraiser For Chinook Arch Victims Services Society
Service Dog Will Help Victims
2016 Community Sprit
Donate
How Can I Give?
CAVSS relies on the financial support of provincial and municipal grants, fundraising, in-kind donations and generous donations from community organizations and individuals. You can help us continue our work in your community by: .....
Volunteer
Victim Services Advocate
Provide non-judgemental practical assistance, support, information and referral to victims of crime or tragedy in the Olds, Didsbury and Sundre RCMP Detachment areas. This assistance can be provided through follow up ......
Resources
Links and More.
There are many different resources available for every situation. We have compiled a list of ones that we think may be helpful. Please feel free to send us any information you think we may have missed.
Services
Some examples of the services we provide include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Domestic Violence - We provide immediate crisis intervention with victims and children, location and transportation to emergency shelters, provide information and referrals for counseling and financial aid, court preparation, attendance and follow up support.
- Sexual Assaults - Provide immediate crisis intervention for victims, transport and accompany victims to hospital for examinations, provide information and referrals for counselling and financial aid, court preparation and attendance, and follow up support.
- Child Sexual Assaults and Abuse - Provide immediate crisis intervention for victims, transport and accompany victims to the hospital for examinations, provide case information to Children Services, court preparation, and attendance.
- Elder Abuse - provide information and referrals for counseling, legal aid, financial aid, court preparation, attendance, and follow up support.
- Sudden Deaths, Suicides, and Notifications - we accompany the RCMP to homes to notify next of kin of family deaths. We also attend homes when a family member has died in the home and wait with the family members until the Medical Examiner’s office come to take the deceased away. In both of these cases, we provide support, information, referrals, and follow up support.
- Common Assaults, Break and Enters, Thefts, Fraud, Home Invasions, Property Crimes, Fire, Auto Collisions, Homelessness ... - where needed we provide information and referrals for legal aid, financial aid, court preparation, attendance, and follow up support.
- Community Disasters – assist set up and operation of emergency management centres. Provide support, information, and referrals.
Resources
Volunteer
Victim Services Advocate – Chinook Arch Victim’s Services Society
Provide non-judgemental practical assistance, support, information and referral to victims of crime or tragedy in the Olds, Didsbury and Sundre RCMP Detachment areas. This assistance can be provided through follow up or immediate crisis intervention. To assist in the delivery, explanation and follow up of victim impact statements, applications for financial benefits and claims for restitution, keep victims informed of proceedings with the criminal justice system, provide victim/witnesses with formalized court preparation sessions and accompaniment to court as required, to provide information on, and referrals to, other community agencies who act as additional resources for victims.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 18 years old
- Complete application and undergo interview
- Undergo criminal record check
- Reference checks
- Must pass RCMP Reliability Status Security Clearance
- Valid driver’s licence
- Commit to the program for at least two years
Training:
- Training is paid for by Chinook Arch Victim’s Services Society
- 70 hours Solicitor General Alberta Victim Advocate training (certificate) e-learning
- CISM – Critical Incident Stress Management
- ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Support Training
- Conferences and workshops
- On-going training
Benefits:
If you are a compassionate person looking for a rewarding position that will truly make a difference in people’s lives, volunteering with Chinook Arch Victim’s Services Society might be for you. The role of Victim Services Advocate is to stand beside victims and help them get through the aftermath of a crime or tragedy.
Hours of work:
- Scheduled on call – at least four 24 hour shifts per month (schedule can be flexible)
- Required to attend the monthly Victim Advocate meetings
If interested, contact:
Chinook Arch Victim’s Services Society
5110 – 65th Avenue
Olds, Alberta T4H 1L8
Office: 1-844-828-4133
Donate
How Can I Give?
CAVSS relies on the financial support of provincial and municipal grants, fundraising, in-kind donations and generous donations from community organizations and individuals.
You can help us continue our work in your community by:
- Making a financial donation
- Becoming a corporate sponsor
- Donating goods & services
To make a contribution, please call 1-844-828-4133 or click on the donate button below. Tax-deductible receipts are available.