Walking The Long Path To Healing, Together.

Case Management

VST Case Workers help victims access the support they need. From safety planning and referrals to housing, legal, and financial systems, to court accompaniment and advocacy with service partners, victims never have to navigate the long, non-linear process of healing alone.

The Trauma Dog Project

Penny, VST's trained red fox Labrador, provides vital, grounding support to survivors of crime or sudden tragedy. Whether at court, in hospitals, or on home visits, Penny and her handler provide comfort, courage, and a steady paw to help victims of crime process their trauma.

Exit Route

Exit Route embeds VST Social Work professionals, called Neighbourhood Victim Advocates (NVA), directly into five police divisions and four specialized units where exploitation and violence are most likely to occur, including: Sexual Assault, Internet Child Exploitation (ICE), Human Trafficking (HT), Homicide and Missing Persons.

Neighbourhood Victim Advocates work in communities and alongside police to support victims' emotional and practical needs.

Vanessa set the terms. VST met her there.

"Vanessa"

When Vanessa, a trans woman, was assaulted, police referred her to a VST Exit Route Neighbourhood Advocate, Camille.

Past experiences with police and social workers made Vanessa reluctant to engage. She refused visits or phone calls and would only communicate with Camille by email.

Camille Never Gave Up On Vanessa.

Over months of email correspondence, Camille stayed connected on Vanessa's terms.

Gradually, Vanessa opened up about her depression, isolation and fear.

Because She Set The Pace, Vanessa Was Able To Get The Support She Needed.

When the crisis lifted, Vanessa thanked Camille:

"You never tried to minimize what I was going through or tell me what to do. For the first time, I felt like someone actually saw me."

Post-Court Pathways

Research shows that for young people who have experienced abuse, testifying in court can intensify symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression for years afterward. Without specialized support, many survivors continue to struggle long after the trial ends.

Cross-examination, questions that feel disbelieving or accusatory, and sitting steps from their abuser cause a harm of their own—what Justice Canada calls "system-induced trauma."

The first program of its kind in North America, Post-Court Pathways helps young victims of abuse recover from the emotional and psychological impacts of testifying in criminal court.

A new model to help young people heal after court.

Post-Court Pathways is the first program of its kind to help children and youth recover from the emotional and psychological impacts of testifying in criminal court.

Janis Rotman Fundraiser

VST is working with researchers and clinical experts to build the therapeutic model and design the pilot, which will be delivered to a small cohort of survivors in 2026.

One young survivor who received VST support during and after testifying in criminal court said:

"It made a difference to finally not be alone."

2025 Fundraiser

In its inaugural year, RISE (now SOAR), a fundraising event, sold out to help launch the Post-Court Therapy Program.

2025 Fundraiser

$525,000

Raised

True healing isn't about plugging someone into another system; it's about building one with them in mind.

Alison Albright, in The Walrus

SOAR WEBSITE