Victim Services of Peel

Published purpose

Through this 43 month project, Victim Services of Peel (VSOP), will leverage their existing relationship with the Peel Regional Police (PRP) to develop and put in place the HALT (Helping Alliances with Law Enforcement and Trafficking) model, an integrated approach whereby the Crisis Intervention Counsellors (CIC) are embedded in the Vice Unit at the Peel Regional Police to collaborate on Human Trafficking investigations and immediate on-scene response to strengthen the GBV sector. It will address the need to provide real-time support to Human Trafficking Victims at time of police response.  To do so, the project will establish a steering committee with subject matter expertise, engage with local organizations to increase access to long term wrap around services, hire and train 2 Anti - Human Trafficking (AHT) Crisis Intervention Counsellors, organize joint training sessions with PRP, and embed Crisis Intervention Counselors into PRP to provide immediate Client Services. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the promising practice. Victim Services of Peel will share evaluation results including lessons learned, and project successes with stakeholders and the public so that they may replicate it or expand upon it. With the supplemental funds in 2025 Victim Services of Peel will be used to: 1- increase impact of the promising practice by hiring staff to provide support on evenings and weekends to survivors, and 2- increase knowledge mobilization by hosting a Human Trafficking Symposium aimed at disseminating the best practices to Human Trafficking Police Units, Victim Services Sites, Crown Attorney’s, and Social Service providers from across Ontario. With the supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Victim Services of Peel will plan and design a new HALT Model Training informed by evaluation findings and lessons learned from Phase I targeted to police services, victim services, and social service providers. The new training modules and materials will be developed and piloted through online modules, webinars, and in‑person sessions. Evidence and insights will be captured through an external evaluation to inform future refinement. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.