BELLEVILLE – Ontario is providing Quinte Health an additional $236,000 in base funding to expand services provided by its Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Program, Tyler Allsopp, MPP for Bay of Quinte announced today.
The new base funding allocated in 2024-2025 will provide $140,000 for enhanced nursing supports and $96,000 for a clinical nurse team leader. The investment will strengthen services and provide clinical leadership, guidance and mentorship support for nurses within the centre, ensuring survivors can access comprehensive quality care and support when they need it.
“Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence have been through some of the most harrowing conditions one could imagine. It is important that we provide them access to compassionate and timely care here in our communities,” said Allsopp. “Today’s announcement gives Quinte Health the resources it needs to deliver that vital care.”
Stacey Daub, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Quinte Health, welcomed the news.
“This announcement carries deep emotional weight for all of us at Quinte Health. As we approach one year since the tragic loss of our colleague, Shannan Hickey, RN, we are reminded that intimate partner violence can touch any community, including ours,” Daub said. “This funding honours Shannan’s memory and supports the extraordinary work of our Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Program team – nurses who provide compassionate, skilled care where it is needed most. We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for standing with survivors and investing in care that helps people reclaim safety, dignity and hope.”
Across Ontario, the provincial government is providing an additional $9,440,000 to enhance and expand services at 14 existing Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres (SADVTC).
QUICK FACTS
- Quinte Health’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Program responds 24 hours a day, seven days a week at each of its four hospitals. It offers a comprehensive range of services including assessments for STIs and pregnancy, medical follow up care, documenting injuries and collecting evidence, facilitating follow up with police and social service agencies, community referrals, and transportation. Survivors can present at any Quinte Health emergency department or call 613-969-7400, dialing 0, and asking for a DVSARP nurse to be paged.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE
- Read more about Ontario supports for intimate partner violence at https://www.ontario.ca/page/intimate-partner-violence.