Vancouver Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services

The Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMMFSS) is a non-profit organization, formed in September 1991. The Ministry of Social Services (now known as the Ministry for Children and Families Development) accepted a proposal submitted by Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of BC to set up a new organization to serve immigrant and visible minority women and their families experiencing family violence.

Our Mission
VLMMFSS provides a safe and non-judgmental environment for immigrant, visible minority, refugee women and their children in their own language and culture. Individual counselling is provided at the office, out of the office and over the phone. (VLMMFSS)  also provides group counselling and support and counselling to women victims of sexual assault and to adult survivors of sexual abuse, emergency interventions and referrals to appropriate resources. Our approach is to empower women in dealing with their issues, help them to develop coping skills, assist them in self-exploration, and to support them while they go through the different stages of rebuilding their lives at their own pace, in a culturally sensitive environment.  VLMMFSS promotes awareness and understanding of the dynamics of family violence within the multicultural perspectives to professionals working with immigrant families. VLMMFSS offers educational programs within the multicultural communities about the dynamics of family violence and alternative models of treatment.

VLMMFSS speaks: Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Mandarin, Urdu, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Tagalog, Visayan, Farsi, Arabic, Tigrania, Amharic, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Polish, and Russian. Services are free and confidential, and are provided as long as it is needed.

Services at VLMMFSS include: Stopping the Violence counselling on individual and group basis, Community based Victim assistance Program for women accessing the justice systems, Children Program for children who witness abuse and for their mothers, and a Volunteer Program to help women practice their job-related skills.

VLMMFSS accepts referrals from individuals, Ministries, schools, hospitals, other agencies, police, Victim Services and other service providers.

VLMMFSS provides workshops to professionals working with immigrant families. VLMMFSS also creates and distribute educational material for professionals and immigrant communities on the theme of family violence.