Victim Crisis and Referral Services (VCARS)
Victim Crisis and Referral Services (VCARS) is a program that consists of community volunteers in partnership with VCARS staff assisting Police and community service providers in meeting short-term practical and emotional needs of individuals who have been victimized as a result of a crime or tragic circumstance, and their longer-term needs by referral to appropriate existing community agencies. VCARS offers crisis intervention services to clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Specific objectives of the program are:
- To lessen the trauma of being victimized.
- To help the individual who has been victimized cope with the impact.
- To encourage the individual who has been victimized connect with appropriate community resources.
- To assist police, emergency and community services in meeting the needs of individuals who have been victimized.
- To provide opportunity for the community to become more involved in dealing with the effects of victimization.