Overview
Available Therapy and Counselling Funding Support
If you have been sexually abused or the subject of a prohibited act involving child pornography by an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT), help is available.
You, your parents, guardians, and siblings can apply for funding to help pay some of the costs of therapy and counselling.
Who is eligible
If you were sexually abused or involved in child pornography while under the supervision or responsibility of an Ontario Certified Teacher and a complaint has been filed with the Ontario College of Teachers, you may qualify.
The Ontario College of Teachers will make funding available to help cover your costs for therapy and counselling. Approximately $17,000 – $18,000 can be claimed. The amount is equivalent to what the Ontario Health Insurance Plan would pay for 200 half-hour sessions of individual out-patient psychotherapy with a psychiatrist.
You will have to submit acceptable documents and receipts.
Keeping it confidential
The College respects the sensitivity of these matters, and follows high standards to keep applications and information as secure and confidential as possible.
Defining sexual abuse and child pornography
The College uses the definition of “sexual abuse” as it appears in the Ontario College of Teachers Act. The law defines sexual abuse of a student by an OCT as:
- sexual intercourse or other forms of physical sexual relations between the member and the student,
- touching, of a sexual nature, of the student by the member, or
- behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature by the member towards the student.
The sexual abuse or prohibited act of child pornography does not have to have occurred in Ontario so long as the College member is alleged to have committed the act.
Child pornography is a recording of a child being sexually abused or exploited. Under Canada’s Criminal Code, it is an offence to make, print, publish, import, distribute, transmit, sell or possess child pornography.
You need to know
The Ontario Certified Teacher will not be told about your funding application. The application for therapy and counselling funding is kept as confidential as possible.
However, if you have made an allegation against the Ontario Certified Teacher in the form of a complaint, then the Ontario Certified Teacher will be informed of the complaint and given 60 days to respond.
How to apply
Please go to oct.ca > Public Protection > Funding for Therapy and Counselling. Simply fill out and submit the form. If you would prefer to speak with someone directly or if you need more information, please email us at fundingsupport@oct.ca or phone us at 416.961.8800, Ext. 379 or toll-free in Ontario at 1.888.534.2222, Ext. 379.
