Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Program

Our team provides care that is consent based and directed by you.  If you wish to receive medical treatment from our program, present to any Niagara Health Emergency Department or Urgent Care Centre as soon as possible.  Any injuries requiring medical attention will first be treated by the emergency department/urgent care centre staff, and then SADV nurse will be contacted to provide additional treatment. SADV care is provided at the Marotta Family Hospital.

Certain treatment options are available to you within 12 days of the assault/abuse.  You can choose any or all of the following:

• Examination, assessment, treatment, and documentation of injuries
• Pregnancy testing and pregnancy prevention (e.g., morning after pill)
• Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (e.g., Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HIV, Hepatitis B)
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Referral to community agencies for additional support
• Follow-up care that checks on your wellbeing, informs you of any test results/repeat tests if required, follow-up on HIV prophylaxis, etc.

Police involvement is a personal choice that will be respected by our SADV care team. Reporting your assault is not required to access care from our SADV team.

If you wish to pursue legal action, a Sexual Assault Examination Kit can be completed. The kit is the collection of evidence from your body and clothing worn during or immediately after the assault. This evidence can only be collected if the assault occurred within the last 12 days (or within the last 72 hours if you are under 13 years of age).

In cases of intimate partner violence, photographs and body diagrams can be used to document injuries.  If your clothing is damaged it can be saved as evidence.  Our nurses may also complete a risk assessment and safety planning, as well as provide referrals to community resources. 

If assault/abuse occurred more than 12 days ago, you can call our centre to speak with one of our nurses to inquire about your care options. You still have the option to report the incident to police even if the assault/abuse took place more than 12 days ago.

You may choose to seek medical attention from a Sexual Health Clinic or your family physician for testing and treatment of STIs.

Our program offers short-term trauma counselling to recent victims/survivors (within 2 years of the assault/abuse) of sexual violence or intimate partner violence. To access our counselling you need to live in the Niagara Region and be 16 years of age or older.

Our counselling program is client directed, individualized and collaborative. Our Master’s trained psychotherapists focus on providing education and treatment for common trauma responses (hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, dissociation etc).

If you are interested in trauma counselling, please call the SADV Counselling Line: 905-378-4647 ext. 46475.

Anonymous Third-Party Report (ATPR)

ATPR allows survivors of sexual violence ages 16 and older to report details of their assault to the police anonymously. There is no time limit for completing the ATPR. An assault can be recent or historical. The report is completed with an SADV social worker. Once the report is completed it is only identified by a file number. The report is then forwarded to police anonymously and entered into a database in an attempt to identify serial sexual offenders.

If you are interested in completing an ATPR please call the SADV Counselling Line: 905-378-4647 ext. 46475.

Niagara Health Mental Health & Addiction Services