The new providers of victims services in Cochrane want to reassure the community that contrary to rumours that may be circulating around the province, recent organizational changes will not diminish levels of service.
Earlier this year a transition from 62 victims services units across Alberta down to four regional units was announced. The Province will completely fund the new system.
Jerry Cook, CEO of the Southern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (SARVSS) said his organization now provides victim services, replacing what was formerly the Cochrane Area Victim Services.
SARVSS supports victims of crime and tragic circumstances in partnership with the RCMP, municipal and Indigenous police services, the Crown, and community-based partners.
Cook said his organization wants to reassure anyone concerned about victims services that there will be no decline in levels of service. In Cochrane, as far as the frontline delivery of service is concerned, nothing much has changed.
In fact, two of the three service providers are the same people formerly employed at Cochrane Victim Services.
“It is more than likely the same person you're going to talk to with just different boss and different organization. As far as the frontline delivery of service? Nothing's changed,” Cook said.
“We work with the RCMP, I wouldn't say exactly like before, but it is very similar. We receive referrals whenever there is a victim of crime or tragic circumstance and we respond and do all the things that were done before,” he said.
He said as with any organizational change, there may be growing pains, but in the end, the services provided are still there, and in some circumstances, will actually be improved.
“If anything, things are going to be easier because in the past a lot of these victim service units would have to do fund raising to pay for their operations – the government of Alberta did not pay for everything,” Cook said. “Now the government of Alberta is paying for all of this.”
He said the real unsung heroes of victims services in the community and the province are the volunteer advocates.
“We have a team of about 18 in Cochrane. They pull 12 hour shifts, five days a week, from 6 pm to 6 am and then on the weekend, they end up providing 24 hour supports,” Cook said.
Having access to more resources can mean greater flexibility in scheduling shifts, so staff and volunteers won’t be stretched as thin as they may have been before.
SARVSS is responsible for victim services throughout the southern Alberta district, where the RCMP is one of their partners. They have 35 court and support navigators throughout the southern Alberta district. Services include: providing information on the criminal justice system and the rights of victims; providing information on the Victims Assistance Program; supporting victims to mitigate the immediate impact of a crime; acting as a link between victims and criminal justice system partners; referrals to community resources, and, assisting in criminal justice navigation including court orientation and court accompaniment.
When the new model was announced, some victims services advocates across Alberta expressed concerns that local units could lose their independence and ability to cater to specific community needs.
The government said at the time the new model will provide more stable funding, add coverage to communities that lacked victim services and employ more full-time equivalents.
Victims Services in Cochrane can be reached at 403-851-8055.
