Manitoba is investing $1.3 million in a new community-based sexual assault crisis response and healing program.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires says this new program will expand the availability and accessibility of specialized services and supports for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence and give victims an option that does not involve visiting a hospital emergency room.

“Improving the availability of patient-centred, community-based options for sexual assault or intimate partner violence survivors is a critical goal we are delivering on today,” said Squires. “This program will be an additional resource to enable community service providers to provide forensic nursing services in a non-hospital setting as part of a trauma-informed continuum of care.”

$1.3 million will be committed to phase one of the program, including the program’s initial site at Klinic Community Health and a community spoke site at Ka Ni Kanichihk that will be served by a mobile team.

"This announcement is a positive first step in meeting people where they are at, eliminating barriers and providing care centred on the needs of survivors, and we look forward to working with community partners and Manitoba on much-needed prevention programs,” said Dodi Jordaan, executive director, Ka Ni Kanichihk.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Manitoba, and Squires says this new program will also complement Manitoba’s Provincial Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence program, increasing the resources available.

The program at Health Sciences Centre remains available for children and adults who have experienced sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence, and survivors who need medical care will continue to be treated at the hospital before an examination.