LETHBRIDGE DETACHMENT VICTIM ASSISTANCE SOCIETY

THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT HAS UNDER GONE A VICTIM SERVICES RESTRUCTURING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30 2024 OUR SOCIETY WILL NO LONGER BE PROVIDING VICTIM SERVICES IN THE MANNER WE ALWAYS HAVE. INSTEAD WE UNDERWENT STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH THE ALBERTAGGOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW VICTIM SERVICES MODEL IN ALBERTA AND FILL A SERVICE GAP WHICH WILL NO LONGER BE PROVIDED WITHIN VICTIM SERVICES. WE WILL CONTINUE DEVELOPING A PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM THAT IS PROVIDING A SPECIALLY TRAINED ACCREDITED FACILITY DOG TO ASSIST WITNESSES AND VICTIMS OF CRIME THROUGHOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ALBERTA JUSTICE FACILITY DOGS SOCIETY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND APPROVED THROUGH CORPORATE REGISTRIES; TO ALIGN WITH THE VICTIM SERVICES RESTRUCTURING. THE SOCIETIES OBJECTIVES ARE A FOLLOWS: OBJECTIVE 1 – TO PROVIDE AN ACCREDITED FACILITY DOG AS A TESTIMONIAL AID IN COURT PROCEEDINGS TO ALBERTANS. OBJECTIVE 2 – TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS REGARDING THE USE OF TESTIMONIAL AIDS IN ALBERTA. OBJECTIVE 3 – TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGARDING THE USE OF TESTIMONIAL AIDS IN SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. OBJECTIVE 4 – PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE COMPLIMENTARY AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EXISTING SERVICES WITHIN THE ALBERTA JUSTICE SYSTEM.