Counselling and Legal Support Services

    Counselling and Legal Support Services offers assistance to women age 16 and over who are in
abusive relationships. Services provided are culturally sensitive to the diverse ethnic/racial population of
York Region. The purpose is to offer free and confidential counseling, legal information and practical
support in a nonjudgmental manner.

Legal/Court Support Program and Referral Service

    The Legal and Court Support Program provides women with assistance regarding their legal issues. Family and criminal court process is explained, legal options are explored and legal terminology is
clarified. Women are provided with court support. Referrals are made to legal aid and community
agencies. The court support worker can liaise with lawyers, police and crown attorneys on behalf of
clients.

Let’s Talk Child Witness Program

    The Let’s Talk Child Witness Program is designed to help children throughout York Region
understand the cycle of abuse and deal with their feelings as witnesses to violence against women.
The groups provide children with a safe and supportive environment where they can talk about their experiences and participate in a variety of activities aimed at assisting them to work through their
feelings. The program is open to children between the ages of 4-16.

Transitional Support Program

    The Transitional Support Program assists women who have left their abusive partners make the
transition to live violence free lives. Transitional Support Counselors provide advocacy, parenting
support, counseling, legal aid information and assistance developing safety plans to women and
children in York Region.

When Love Hurts Women’s Support Group Program

    The Support Group Program is offered to women in York Region who are or have been in abusive relationships. All groups are conducted in a confidential, safe, sharing and supportive environment.
The groups are designed to help women understand the patterns of abuse, recognize how it affects
their lives and explore ways to regain self-esteem and confidence.

Reta’s Place

    Reta’s Place is an eight-unit apartment building. This program enables ex-residents of Yellow Brick House to achieve their short-term goals. Residents can stay up to 6 months at Reta’s Place.

Public Education

    The Public Education Program is offered to both high school and elementary school students to
increase their awareness of abuse in dating relationships. This service is educational and preventative. Education and awareness is offered to service clubs, institutions and social service agencies
throughout York Region.

Child Counselling Program

    Yellow Brick House child counsellors work directly with children who come from domestically violent and abusive homes. The children are provided with one on one confidential counselling that enables them to express their feelings about their experiences and to assist them in adjusting to the new family environment. The children work on their self esteem and behaviour issues and the counsellors address any children’s needs with the mother/caregiver.
Child Counselling Brochure

Yellow Brick House Counselling & Legal Support Services
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The objectives are:

     • To provide supportive counselling to women in crisis.
     • To provide services that are culturally sensitive to the diverse ethnic/racial population of
       York Region.
     • To provide legal services to women in the community.

Counselling:

     • Short-term individual counselling
     • Immediate crisis counselling on the phone
     • Information, education and advocacy for women in abusive situations
     • Referrals to community services

Legal Services:

     • Information on women's legal options regarding separation
     • Legal information regarding assault
     • Legal resource material on family and criminal law
     • Legal referrals
     • Information on applications (custody, support, restraining orders and legal aid)
     • Support during court, lawyer's appointment and/ or legal aid

Legal Clinic:

    Free legal clinic by volunteer lawyers.

Resource Center:

    Brochures and articles on family law, criminal law and abuse.

Languages:

     Between all the staff members, 27 languages are spoken:

     • Arabic
     • Bengali
     • Cantonese
     • Croatian
     • Dari
     • Dutch
     • English
     • Farsi
     • Fijian
     • French
     • German
     • Hebrew
     • Hindi
     • Italian
     • Kurdish
     • Mandarin
     • Punjabi
     • Romanian
     • Russian
     • Serbian
     • Spanish
     • Tamil
     • Telugu
     • Thai
     • Turkish
     • Ukrainian
     • Urdu