Domestic violence victims now get real-time help from social workers with new police partnership

When Windsor police officers respond to an intimate partner violence (IPV) call and a charge is laid, a social worker will arrive on scene to assist the victim in real-time.

It's a new three-month pilot project announced Thursday between police, Family Services Windsor-Essex, the Hiatus House and Windsor Regional Hospital.

Starting Friday, social workers — who won't be riding with officers — will be available to respond at the scene with officers Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Outside of those hours, officers are told to connect victims to the Hiatus House 24-hour crisis line at 519-252-7781.

"No more leaving a pamphlet with them with the hope that they're going to call," said Staff Sgt. Richard Sieberer, who works in the Special Victims Unit.

7.1% spike in IPV cases this year in Windsor

Data shows that roughly 50 per cent of IPV calls happen between those hours, according to Windsor police.

So far this year, Windsor police has responded to 2,500 IPV-related calls, which is a 7.1 per cent increase compared to last year.

In those moments after a victim is abused by their partner, one of the five social workers assigned to respond will provide "psychological first aid."

"We're really going to try to work to start where they're at, explore their emotions, give them an understanding of what trauma impacts are," said Ciara Holmes, director of mental health and counselling programs at Family Services Windsor-Essex.

"We're going to validate that you're going to feel a range of emotions and we're not going to put them on the spot to make any big decisions."

Previous partnership aims to intervene, prevent IPV

In June, police announced a separate partnership with Family Services Windsor-Essex related to domestic violence.

That relates to early intervention when police respond to reports of a dispute and a criminal charge is not laid.

The vulnerable person in those scenarios is referred to the organization for supports with the hope of preventing any escalation that may lead to violence.

One of the biggest pieces of having a social worker speaking with the victim in-person immediately after an instance of IPV is making a connection, Holmes said.

"I'm here, I see you and I can see what's happened and we're going to take care of you," said Holmes.

After that immediate intervention, someone from one of the three partner agencies will reach out to the victim to follow up.

"What this allows us to do is to get ahead of that and to be identifying people who have not made a choice to reach out for specific services," said Sylvie Guenther, executive director of the Hiatus House.

"It's sort of coming to them and maybe reaching a whole group of people that we've not been able to reach in the past."