Program focus: Abuse, Anti-Human Trafficking, Behaviour Difficulty, Budgeting, Case Management, Child Welfare, Communication Skills, Developmental Disability, Employment, Housing, Immigration, Legal, LGBT, Life Skills, Male identified, Mental Health, Postnatal, Psychoeducation, Resume building, School, Sex Work, Sexual Relationships, Skill Development, Socializing, Substance Abuse, Trauma, Work more…

The Gender-Based Violence Program provides free support to individuals who are involved or at risk of being involved in human trafficking or those who have been involved in the sex trade by choicecircumstance, or coercion. The program is grounded in treating trauma, relational therapy and addressing human rights. Our team works from a strength based, sex-positive, harm reduction and trauma-informed approach. We believe in empowering survivors to have self-worth and to build healthy support systems.

Our team is composed of Trauma TherapistsCommunity Outreach Workers and Peer Navigators. The GBV program offers the following services centred around client-directed service planning:

  1. Trauma Therapy. Our therapists use a trauma-informed approach to help clients overcome psychological trauma.  The GBV program recognizes that individuals who access our services often experience a combination of acute and developmental trauma.   An acute trauma can be one where a person perceives a threat to one’s life, body, or emotional safety.  Developmental trauma can occur because of adverse and chronic childhood experiences, such as neglect and abuse.  As a result of trauma, people may have difficulty coping with their experiences, which can be very distressing and disruptive to daily functioning. Our therapists support individuals by working toward managing trauma symptoms, reducing shame and blame and building healthy relationships.  Our therapists apply various therapeutic modalities in this process, including relational therapy and EMDR, as well as provide psychoeducation for participants and their family.
  2. Community Outreach & Education. The GBV team is available to provide outreach and education to youth 12-29 years old in various settings. Outreach and education take a preventative, non-judgemental approach to human trafficking/sex trafficking and incorporate topics such as healthy relationships, safety, consent and boundary setting. Concurrently, as part of our outreach, the GBV team can provide education on the topics of sex trafficking and trauma-informed care to service providers.
  3. Case Management & Service Navigation. Our Community Outreach Workers assist individuals with finding safe and affordable housing, accessing financial assistance, finding medical care, obtaining identification documents or legal consultation, school enrollment, job searching and can provide external referrals when needed. Assistance with life skill development, goal setting and budgeting support is also available
  4. Peer Support & Navigation. Our Peer Navigators actively advocate to reduce and end sexual exploitation. They act as support workers to encourage trauma recovery, build hope, confidence, and resilience within participants. The lived experience of the Peer Navigators lessens the isolation that many survivors feel, by creating a sense of belonging, connecting survivors with each other and to community-based resources. They can also offer assistance with appointments, court support, and aid with safety planning
  5. Support Group. Our Peer Navigators run an online support group with support from one of our Trauma Therapists. The group focuses on life skills and social/recreational activities.
  6. Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Counselling Program. This program offers short-term (8-12) immediate counselling sessions for children and youth who are victims of internet sexual exploitation and to their immediate family members. *ICE is available by referral only via the Ontario Provincial Police and BOOST. Learn more about ICE .

Any questions can be directed to the Gender-Based Violence Program at GBVinfo@stridestoronto.ca or 416-438-3697 ext. 13265.


On November 9, 2022, the Government of Canada endorsed the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence. Preventing and addressing GBV in Canada requires a coordinated national approach, with federal, provincial and territorial governments working in close partnership with survivors, Indigenous partners, direct service providers, experts, advocates, municipalities, the private sector and researchers.

The work of Strides Toronto’s Gender-Based Violence Program supports the vision of a Canada free from gender-based violence and supporting victims, survivors and their families regardless of where they live.

Eligibility details

  • Youth aged 12 – 29 years
  • Residing in Toronto
  • Involved in or at risk of being involved in human trafficking and/or current or previous involvement in the sex trade by choice, circumstance, or coercion
  • All gender identities welcomed
  • Have an identified need or goal to address

Please note that we are not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, please contact 911 immediately. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (1-833-900-1010) is available 24 hours, 7 days a week for telephone support and referral information.

To complete a referral, please fill out our referral form

Find out more about our program here

Get in touch with us on Instagram

Program focus: Behaviour Difficulty, Communication Skills, Employment, Housing, Immigration, Income Support, LGBT, Mental Health, Primary Care Support Referrals, School, Skill Development, Socializing, Trauma more…

The Youth Outreach Worker Program is an initiative for at-risk youth ages 12 to 21 years old and their families in East Toronto. It is designed to help empower and provide them with individualized programming to meet their unique needs and circumstances. Youth Outreach Workers (YOWs) also work with other community resources to coordinate youth activities and services.

We also have specialized YOWs who have a focus on specific populations in Toronto, such as Syrian, Afghan and Tamil. Their goal is to make programs and services more accessible to youth and their families by overcoming language and cultural barriers. Outreach to specific populations help inform members of the community of the availability of services and to remove the stigma and fear associated with accessing services such as mental health.

We also offer clinical services as part of our Enhanced Youth Outreach Workers program (EYOW). In addition to providing support services, EYOWs can offer intensive intervention for example in the areas of mental health, addictions, trauma, relationship or family violence and / or human and sex trafficking etc.

Some of the many services we connect youth and families with include:

  • Employment
  • Housing
  • Legal
  • Education & alternative learning
  • Volunteer hours
  • Drop-in Programs
  • Assistance in Applying for schools, loans & government assistance
  • Help getting ID, SIN and Health Card
  • Food Banks
  • Counselling
  • Newcomer youth programs

YOW/EYOW Referral Form

Please use this form when referring clients/participants to the YOW/EYOW team.

Program focus: Anti-Human Trafficking, Bilingual Services (French), Case Management, Child Welfare, Employment, Housing, Legal, LGBT, Mental Health, School, Sex Work, Sexual Relationships, Skill Development, Substance Abuse, Trauma, Work more…

Youth In Transition Workers aim to meet youth where it is more convenient for them, in the community, at coffee shops, libraries or at the office. Some resources and supports offered to youth may include:

  • Housing and or educational supports
  • Employment and services training
  • Life skills (e.g., financial management and household management)
  • Legal services and psychoeducation
  • Health and mental health services
  • Access to Trauma Therapy and Human Trafficking Peer Support Group
  • Snacks and TTC fare for case management needs
  • Access to Strides Food Mart available upon sign up

In addition to the above supports, Strides YIT workers provide targeted/focused assistance in the following areas:

  • Mental Health and Addictions YIT
  • Bilingual (French speaking) YIT connects youth with Francophone resources within their communities.
  • Anti-Human Trafficking YIT provides individualized case management to youth at risk of sexual exploitation and Human Trafficking.

The length of work with youth varies based on their long-term and short-term goals. Once youth provide consent, referrals can be emailed directly to our team: YIT@Stridestoronto.ca.

Eligibility Details

Youth aged 16 – 24 years and is:

  • in Extended Society Care or
  • in a formal Customary Care arrangement immediately prior to the youth’s 18th birthday or
  • eligible for support under Continued Care and Support for Youth (CCSY) or
  • accessing Ready, Set, Go (RSG) funding

Get in touch with Strides Toronto Youth In Transition (YIT) workers on Instagram:

Program focus: Abuse, Employment, Housing, Legal, LGBT, Mental Health, Multimedia, School, Sex Work, Trauma more…

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is an initiative that aims to bring the right services to youth (and their families) at the right time and in the right place.

We provide youth aged 12 – 25 with a range of services to address needs related to mental health, substance use, primary care, education, employment, housing, and other social services. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where youth can access support, connect with peers, and engage in activities that promote wellness.

When you first get connected to our Youth Wellness Hub, we will help you identify which service is the best fit for your needs.

Meet our integrated care team:

  • Harm Reduction Counselling
    If you need support reducing harm and improving well-being in relation to substance use, counsellors are available to provide you with guidance and tools to help you navigate through life while making safer and informed decisions.
  • Counselling
    Therapists are available to help you explore your emotions, gain insights into your behaviours and thoughts, and provide helpful strategies that you can implement in your daily life. Whether you want to talk about anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, coping with trauma or managing stress, our counsellors will listen and support you in enhancing your emotional well-being.
  • Peer Support
    Peer support workers provide support, guidance and understanding through their shared experience of navigating mental health services. Peer support is offered in both individual and group settings.
  • Care Navigation
    Care navigators will work with you to set and achieve goals in areas such as health, mental health, employment, education, housing, and more. They will also help you to navigate social service and healthcare systems to find the best options for you.
  • Health Services
    Our nurse practitioners can provide you with short term clinical care including physical, mental, and sexual health. They are here to help you with needs such as managing medications, discussing birth control options, referring to specialists and more. If recommended by one of our providers, a psychiatric consultation is also available to help with diagnosis, treatment plans, and medication management.

A proud partner of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

Care Navigation – Community Resources Drop In

Toronto East YWHO Poster

Toronto East YWHO Referral Form (for service providers)

Program focus: Abuse, Employment, Housing, Legal, LGBT, Mental Health, Multimedia, School, Sex Work, Trauma more…

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is an initiative that aims to bring the right services to youth (and their families) at the right time and in the right place.

We provide youth aged 12 – 25 years with a range of services to address needs related to mental health, substance use, primary care, education, employment, housing, and other social services. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where youth can access support, connect with peers, and engage in activities that promote wellness.

When you first get connected to our Youth Wellness Hub, we will help you identify which service is the best fit for your needs.

Meet our integrated care team:

  • Nurse Practitioner
    Our Nurse Practitioner provides primary care and transitional clinical care related to physical, mental and sexual health. They can support you with clarifying a diagnosis, creating treatment plans, prescribing and managing medication and making referrals to specialized health services.
  • Care Navigation
    Care navigators will work with you to set and achieve goals in areas such as health, mental health, employment, education, housing, and more. They will also help you to navigate social service and healthcare systems to find the best options for you.
  • Counselling
    Therapists are available to help you explore your emotions, gain insights into your behaviours and thoughts and provide helpful strategies that you can implement in your daily life. Whether you want to talk about anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, coping with trauma or managing stress, our counsellors will listen and support you in enhancing your emotional well-being.
  • Peer Support
    Peer support workers provide support, guidance and understanding through their shared experience of navigating mental health services. Peer support is offered in both individual and group settings.
  • Harm Reduction
    If you need support reducing harm and improving well-being in relation to substance use, counsellors are available to provide you with guidance and tools to help you navigate through life while making safer and informed decisions.

A proud partner of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

Scarborough Youth Wellness Hub Referral Form (for service providers)