COVID-19 Service Updates

With the current pandemic of COVID-19, the safety of women and children in their own homes is a paramount concern. Is it important that everyone in the community know that SERVICES TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE are OPEN FOR BUSINESS. While the physical buildings may be closed, local agencies are continuing to provide services and supports. Please ensure that you continue to make referrals or call these agencies for support.

Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth

CMHA’s after-hours response line continues to be available: 519-274-2848. Visitors will be encouraged to telephone rather than visit the office.
If a case manager responds in person to a client situation, Covid-19 symptom screening will take place. The response by CMHA staff may not be the assigned case manager. It is recognized that each staff member has unique circumstances which may limit who responds with face to face contact when it is required.
Toll-Free: 1-888-875-2944, 0 for reception.

Choices for Change: Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Counselling Centre

The office in Goderich is closed until the foreseeable future. Support is available over the phone and via OTN. Both the intake line and the main phone line will be monitored.
The main phone line (1 877 -218-0077) will inform people the offices are closed but that staff will provide phone support and direct them to the Helpline and Crisis Response Team. More information can be found on Facebook pages and website.
The Addiction Medicine Clinics are considered an essential service so will continue to operate.

Crown Attorney’s Office

The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for telephone inquiries.
For in person, the office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Telephone inquires rather than in-person attendances are strongly recommended to reduce the number of people in the building. Call 519-524-9272 or email GoderichCrownOffice@ontario.ca

Huron Perth Centre

The Centre continues to offer a range of services including children’s mental health, youth justice and through the VAW services-Renascence. Phone support is offered Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.
Call 519-482-3931.

Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society

The physical office is closed although staff are working remotely and continue to respond to client needs. Screeners are available during office hours to receive referrals/incoming information and the phone system will connect to answering service after hours for a Protection Worker to respond to client needs.
Call 1-800-265-5198 – There remains 24/7 coverage

Huron Perth Public Health

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 and other health topics please refer to the HPPH website: https://www.hpph.ca.
Our phone intake line Health Line is available at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3267
For access to sexual health services, please text or call 519-440-1439
Clients can access harm reduction supplies Monday to Friday. The door is unlocked 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (access door is under the bridge at the health unit in Clinton). Naloxone is also available at local pharmacies.

Huron Women’s Shelter

The Shelter is committed to ensuring women and their families have access to support, services and advocacy. We recognize that for the duration of the pandemic, violence may elevate and access to usual supports throughout the community may be disrupted.

Shelter Services:
• The 24 hour help line is available to anyone in need
• The shelter is offering risk assessment, safety planning, system navigation, advocacy and healing journey supports (Counselling, groups etc.) to all women and families in need through virtual mechanisms (phone, email, zoom).
• The shelter has 4 units capable of social isolation/distancing available to women or families who are at immediate high risk to DV/GBV. Women coming into these units will be asked to isolate for 14 days.
• If you are unsure if a woman is at high risk, please call our team and we can support enhanced risk assessment and safety planning.

Second Stage Housing (SSH) Sites:

All second stage sites of the Shelter (Exeter, Clinton, Goderich) are closed to visitors however we continue to support residents via email, phone and video conferencing.

Call the 24 Hour Support and Information Line: 1-800-265-5506 or 519-524-6245

John Howard Society of London and District

Offering services and intake by phone and the London offices remain open with a skeleton staff.
Individuals are able to contact the Society for service and collect calls are still being accepted. Individuals with no access to phone are still able to come to the London office to receive services and support.
The Huron County Partner Assault Response Program is still conducting intakes and partner calls by phone.
Individual sessions of the PAR program have been conducted over the phone. The first PAR group using a videoconferencing platform will start on April 28, 2020.
To contact the Partner Assault Response Program call 226-219-6421. To access other programs operated by the John Howard Society call 519-438-4168.

Ontario Provincial Police

The OPP has closed all offices to the public but is still open for business and answering all calls for service after assessment on a needs and priority basis. Non-essential services are not being offered (for example, criminal record and vulnerable sector screening checks unless it related directly to Emergency Services employment or deemed a priority by the OPP).

Any contact with OPP will initiated by telephone, 519-524-8314, 911 or 1-888-310-1122. Questions are being fielded over the phone where possible. Officers are attending in person calls and taking Covid-19
appropriate screening and precautions. Officers are arresting and processing offenders for all crimes and if necessary holding for Bail. Officers are conscious of the increased need for referrals to community agencies during the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to make appropriate community referrals.

Poverty to Prosperity (P2P) in Huron

Food banks in Huron continue to operate with precautions such as pre-packed hampers, limited access to space, and physical distancing. Please be in touch with your local food bank for specific inquires and to book an appointment:
• Bayfield Area Food Bank, 519-955-7444
• Friends of the Community Clinton, 519-955-1809
• Clinton Salvation Army – 519-482-8586
• Exeter Community Food Bank – 519-860-4104
• Goderich Salvation Army – 519-524-2950
• St. Vincent de Paul Society Goderich – 519-524-1087
• Seaforth and District Food Bank – 519-527-0281
• North Huron Food Share Wingham – 519-357-2277
• Wingham Salvation Army – 519-357-1387 or 519-357-3757
• Zurich Blessings Food Bank & Community Store – 519-236-4376

For local assistance, please visit Perth Huron United Way’s Facebook group: Huron-Perth Covid-19 Resource Group – Help is Close to Home: https://www.facebook.com/groups/198346424935322
Follow P2P on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p2phuron/

Probation Office

The majority of meetings with clients are being held by telephone although there are some clients that are reporting in person including high risk and homeless clients.
For domestic violence victim outreach, the Probation Office is increasing calls to victims, while ensuring other support service numbers are known.
Collateral calls are being made as well to assist in supervising clients. Call: 519-524-2193.

Rural Response for Healthy Children

Office is closed to the public although staff have access to emails and their work voice mail.
Staff are reaching out to parent/caregiver clients to offer support. If parents/caregivers agree, staff will contact them every 7 to 10 days to track their situations and respond.
Call 519-482-8777 or 1-800-479-0716. Messages are retrieved daily.

Supervised Access Visitation & Exchange Huron Perth

The office is open to calls and emails. Currently all sites are closed for on-site services. If both parties have been contacted, intakes are being conducted over the telephone.
Call: 519-508-6101.

Victim Services Huron

Office phone has been forwarded to a staff cell phone so it will continue to be answered directly.
Staff are willing to support on scene First Responders if required. If phone support is an option that would be the first line of defense.
Referrals, safety planning, and needs assessments will be completed by phone and email. In person support could take place after Covid-19 screening questions were completed to ensure safety for all. Call: 519-600-4108.

Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)

VWAP staff is conducting interactions with clients by telephone.
Clients are encouraged to call VWAP at 519-524-4085 for information, support and referrals.

Please also remember these services:

Call 211 or visit 211ontario.ca for current government, social and community services.
For information on legal concerns during COVID 19, please visit: https://stepstojustice.ca/covid-19

Current as of April 22/2020.