The State of Victim Support in the CAF

By Allan English
Excerpts from AG’s Report (emphasis added)
5.21 We found that the Canadian Armed Forces offered or referred members affected by inappropriate sexual behaviour to various victim support and care services, including the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre. However, we found gaps in those services. The Forces did not design and implement Operation HONOUR with a primary focus on victim support, and the services were not well coordinated. Therefore, victims did not always have easy access to the right services at the right time. We also found that not all support service providers had sufficient training to adequately respond to victims.
5.34 However, we found that rather than giving the Centre all the responsibilities that the External Review recommended, the Forces gave it responsibility only to provide initial victim support by phone or email, and to give referrals. Most of the remaining responsibilities were given to the Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct within the Forces. [AE- this still seems to be the case. See below.] This team was created in February 2015, also in response to the External Review recommendations. Although the staff at the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre had the subject matter expertise, the Strategic Response Team had most of the responsibilities.
5.35 We asked the Forces to explain this assignment of responsibilities, given its acceptance of the External Review recommendations. Senior leaders explained that the Forces’ leaders must perform the responsibilities that the External Review recommended; otherwise, it would undermine governance and accountability.
5.59 Respect for victims’ needs. We found that victims’ needs were not always respected. Under Military Police procedures, in all cases related to inappropriate sexual behaviour, the investigator must provide the victim information on all local health care and victim support services when the investigator and victim first meet, and provide information about the Military Police Victim Services Program. Also, a victim services coordinator must update the victim on the case’s progress every 30 days until the case is closed. We found that in the majority of the Military Police cases in our sample (31 of 46), at least one of these steps was not taken. To fully support victims and reduce the risk that they withdraw from the reporting process, it is important that all of these steps are taken.
5.60 In most of the Military Police cases in our sample (34 of 46), incidents were reported by a third party, not by the victim. In 4 cases, a commanding officer pressured the victim to come forward when the victim did not want to. About one quarter of the cases resulted in charges (10 of 46), while most cases had insufficient evidence to proceed (28 of 46). Of those 28 cases, we found that the most common causes of insufficient evidence were a victim’s unwillingness to provide a statement and a lack of witness testimony.
5.61 Victims’ confidence in the system. For the 46 Military Police cases and 7 of the 29 Director Military Careers Administration cases, we reviewed the accompanying personnel and sexual harassment complaint files. We found evidence of the impact that reporting had on the victim. In 21 of the 53 cases, the file showed that the victim experienced fear, distress, discomfort, a lack of support, reprisal, or blame, including from the victim’s commanding officer, senior leaders, instructors, and colleagues. In addition to the psychological trauma, such outcomes can only reduce victims’ confidence in the system and contribute to the belief that there are negative consequences for those who report inappropriate sexual behaviour.
Excerpt from DND/CAF progress report 2017/18 (emphasis added)
  • Domestically, work to implement Status of Women’s (SWC) Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV Strategy) that Budget 2017 allocated a total of four million dollars over five years to increase funding for Family Crisis Teams within the Defence Team.

COMPUTER INTERNET SEARCHES FOR CAF MEMBERS OR THEIR FAMILIES IN DISTRESS DUE TO VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Based on what I saw in my research, I decided to do two quick internet searches that people might do in a crisis involving CAF members and/or their families related to violence or sexual misconduct. I found that no CAF resources are readily viewed using this method. The “Respect in the CAF Mobile Application” (see below) might provide better support information.

CAF “FAMILY CRISIS TEAMS”
These are the resources I found online in the order given by Google doing a quick internet search using the term “CAF family crisis teams”:
  1. “Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAOD ) – 5000”: [a long list of links to DND personnel policies]

  2. CAF “Mental Health Programs and Services”: [many different services with few, if any dealing with emergencies]
Excerpt (the only one that seemed relevant):
Family Information Line
Supportive counselling seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
  • Eligibility: Spouse, partner, child, parent or relative of a CAF member, including families of the fallen.
  • Service Provider Details: FIL counsellors provide supportive counselling seven days a week, 24 hours a day. By calling the FIL, you will be connected to friendly, experienced professionals who are well-versed on CAF communities and services. 
  • Specifics and/or Limitations: Short-term supportive counselling is conducted virtually via phone or email. 
  • Contact Information: Email: FIL@CAFconnection.ca 
    • 1-800-866-4546 (North America)
    • 00-800-771-17722 (International)
    • 1-613-995-5234 (Collect calls)

Excerpt (the only one that seemed relevant):
Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs) provide support to all CAF families including those who have a loved one who has been injured or becomes ill while serving. MFRC services include:
  • Support for children, parents and spouses of the ill or injured member;
  • Accessible emergency accommodations for the ill or injured member and the family;
  • Access to childcare during recuperation to prevent and alleviate stress;
  • Assistance navigating through relevant programs and services;
  • Aid in development of positive coping strategies;
  • Foster family peer support groups/networks;
  • Referrals to mental health services;
  • Access to community-based education and prevention programs; and supports and services.
[also includes link to Family Information Line, see above]
Note: I followed the MFRC link above to the Kingston MFRC, but there was nothing obvious concerning CAF family crisis teams.

  1. “DAOD 5044-4, Family Violence”: [links to DND administrative orders on “Family Violence”]
  1. “Chapter 4 – Support - GET SUPPORT - STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT”: [a link to a chapter in the “The Operation HONOUR Manual”]
Excerpt:
This chapter provides an overview and guidance for CAF members and for leadership teams on their roles and responsibilities in creating a safe, supportive environment of compassion and empathy for individuals who have been impacted by sexual misconduct.

  1. “Military Family Violence Support” [seems to be for Maritime region only focussing on navy]

Excerpt:
Military Family Violence Crisis Team
In case of emergency, call 911.
General enquiry: 902-721-5722
Book education/awareness session: 902-722-4956
From “Home“ tab in “Military Family Violence Support” link above “Canadian Armed Forces and Family Violence”

CAF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SUPPORT
These are the resources I found online in the order given by Google doing a quick internet search using the term “CAF sexual assault victim support”

Excerpt on “the app”:
THE RESPECT IN THE CAF MOBILE APPLICATION
WHAT IS THE APP FOR?
  • 4.34. The Respect in the CAF app includes downloadable tools, educational information, and resources to support anyone who is responding to an incident of sexual misconduct.
  • 4.35. It can offer the location and directions to the closest military and civilian resources by using your mobile’s location, while still retaining your privacy and confidentiality.
  • 4.36. It directs users to both military and civilian resources.
WHO SHOULD USE THE APP?
  • 4.37. Anyone who needs help responding to an incident of sexual misconduct including affected persons in crisis.
  • 4.38. Anyone who is supporting an affected person but is not sure what to do next.
  • 4.39. All members of the Canadian Armed Forces and civilians looking for support and guidance.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE APP?
  • 4.40. It is a tool kit that you carry around discreetly on your mobile device at home or on deployment internationally.
  • 4.41. It is a free download from your mobile device’s app store – Android, iOS, or BlackBerry.
  • 4.42. To download the app, go to: CAF mobile app page; iOS; Android; Blackberry






SMRC Survivor Support
Following the searches above, I checked on  using the search term “smrc contact sexual assault.” The first link given by Google was to the “Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.” The second link was to “Chapter 4 – Support - GET SUPPORT - STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT” in the Op Honour Manual (see above). The third was to a new release by DND “The Sexual Misconduct Response Centre Launches the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program” dated 21 Aug 2019. 
Clicking on the link on this page labelled “Sexual Misconduct Response Centre” took me to the “Sexual Misconduct Response Centre,” which had the subtext: “Contact a Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC) counsellor, access resources for leadership, and learn about how to recognize harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour.” Clicking on the “Resources near you
Resources across Canada to address sexual misconduct” led to the page described in the next paragraphe.
The SMRC “Sexual misconduct support resources search tool” has 28 pages of “support resources” by province. Entering the term “Kingston” into the “Search by service, locality …” box produces a list of three resources: 1) the Kingston Military Family Resource Centre, 2) Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, 3) Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program (Kingston General Hospital). Only SACK is identified as providing 24/7 “crisis” services.
Clicking on “If you cannot find what you need, find an error, or know of a resource that is not listed please contact the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre” on the “Sexual misconduct support resources search tool” generates a blank email to the SMRC.
Summary: Specific CAF resources for survivors of sexual assault in crisis do not appear to exist. For those in the Kingston area that need support, they are referred to civilian resources, especially SACK. This seems to be the case across Canada. In any event these resources are not easy to find. In Feb 2019 the CAF committed to improving its “victim support” services. However, as of the date of these comments, nothing concrete appears to have been done.
The Future
A CAF report issued in Feb 2019 made this commitment to improve its “victim support” services (emphasis added):
Victim Support. The CAF must make enhanced victim support a priority. The SMRC is an essential element in providing victim support for the CAF and their assistance in ensuring effective culture change for the CAF is equally important.  
In response to the OAG recommendation to develop a comprehensive and integrated victim case management service, the SMRC, in support of the VCDS, will develop an integrated, national case management system. To facilitate this collaboration, the SMRC Charter will be updated to enable greater engagement with the CAF, without jeopardizing the SMRC’s independence. Linked to this initiative must be a fully implemented national victim support plan which will ensure access for all CAF members to a minimum level of support, regardless of geographical location. (source: “Canadian Armed Forces Progress Report Addressing Sexual Misconduct,” 26 Feb 2019, pp. 10-11)

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