The Sexual Misconduct Response Centre Launches the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program

News release

August 21, 2019 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Improving access to support services for military members and for the wider CAF community who have been affected by sexual misconduct is a top priority for the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Today, the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC) launched the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program, as part of Canada’s overall commitment to responding to gender-based violence. This new initiative aims to ensure that affected people in the wider CAF community are better able to cope with the effects of sexual assault, and are better supported to access the services they need. This includes anyone associated with the CAF, including family members, civilian employees, contractors and others impacted by the CAF presence in their community. This program will fund projects proposed by community-based sexual assault centres operating near the ten CAF bases with the highest client base.

In addition to addressing gaps in support services for those affected, this contribution program will foster the development of collaborative working relationships between the sexual assault centres and CAF support services.

To be eligible for funding, the applicants must be incorporated Canadian not-for-profit sexual assault service providers and serve a community in the vicinity of one of the specified ten CAF bases. The total funding amount available is two million dollars. Successful projects will be funded for up to $50,000 a year for four years (until March 31, 2023) subject to periodic reporting to the SMRC.

The Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program is part of It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-based Violence. It aligns with Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada’s Defence Policy, which recognizes that addressing the problem of sexual misconduct in the CAF is essential to supporting its uniformed members, their families and the wider Defence Team community.

Quotes

“Ensuring individuals affected by sexual misconduct have access to options and a wide range of support services within their community is paramount to addressing the overall issue of sexual misconduct. The implementation of this program is consistent with input received from CAF members affected by sexual misconduct, and I am looking forward to reviewing the project proposals.”

Dr. Denise Preston, Executive Director, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, Department of National Defence

Quick facts

  • The SMRC launched the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program to ensure that individuals affected by sexual misconduct in ten CAF communities have access to a wider range of support services to cope with the effects of sexual misconduct.

  • The SMRC Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program is calling for project funding applications from incorporated Canadian not-for-profit sexual assault service providers that serve a community in the vicinity of one of the specified ten CAF bases. Applications must be received no later than September 30th, 2019.

  • The ten preselected CAF bases are:

    • Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, near Victoria, British Columbia
    • CFB Edmonton, in Edmonton, Alberta
    • CFB Borden, near Barrie, Ontario
    • CFB Kingston, in Kingston, Ontario
    • CFB Petawawa, in Petawawa, Ontario
    • Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa), in the National Capital Region (Ottawa/Gatineau)
    • CFB St. Jean, near Montreal, Quebec
    • CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City, Quebec
    • CFB Gagetown, near Fredericton, New Brunswick
    • CFB Halifax, in Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • The SMRC will assess project applications and administer the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program. More information on the application process and how to contact the SMRC is available on the program website.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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