PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Emergency Shelter
The Women’s Interval Home provides a 17 bed short-term emergency shelter to women of all ages, with or without children, who are experiencing abuse from their partner, spouse, or caregiver.
The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We provide individual and group counseling for women and children, safety planning, support, advocacy and referral services.
We provide a shelter-based school program for children from kindergarten through grade 12.
Our children’s counsellors offer emotional support, individual and group counseling services for children who have been exposed to abuse. Parenting support for moms, information and referrals to other service providers are also available.
Transitional Support & Housing Program
The Transitional Support & Housing Program is a service for women, with or without children, who have experienced violence and abuse and are trying to rebuild their lives. This is not an emergency or long-term counselling service. It is a short-term, goal-oriented program for women who are ready to develop and follow a specific action plan leading toward a violence-free, independent life.
Through one-to-one support, the Transitional Support & Housing Worker will assist you to develop an individual “transition” plan. A transition plan will identify short-term goals that you have for yourself and the concrete steps you need to make to be successful in achieving these goals.
The Transitional Support & Housing Worker helps women find the community resources that will help them build lives free from abuse.
The resources may include:
- Housing
- Financial assistance
- Legal aid
- Education
- Job training
- Immigration services
- Court support
- Counselling
Safety planning is an important component of this program. There is no fee for this service. For more information about this service, please contact the Transitional Support & Housing Worker at (519) 336-5200 ext. #31
CHILD WITNESS PROGRAM
Within the parameters of the Child Witness Program, the Child Witness Counsellor offers individual, supportive counseling and safety planning to children ages 4-16 who have witnessed woman abuse. Trauma debriefing and advocacy may be offered when appropriate.
To find out more about this program and speak to a counsellor please call
(519) 336-5200, ext. 24.
Support Groups
Lifeskills
Regardless of age, social or financial position, women can gain a great deal from Life Skills classes.
Classes are presented one evening per week year round, bearing in mind some of the following goals:
- See yourself as a learner
- Become less isolated by being part of a group
- Learn to develop honest friendships
- Understand group experience and your contribution to it
- See yourself as contributing to your community as a parent, tenant, citizen, volunteer or employee
- Become aware of community resources and opportunities
- Value yourself as a person outside your role and plan for your own development
Women’s Support Group
The Women’s Support Group consists of a 10-week group for women who have experienced abuse in their relationship. It gives women an opportunity to share their stories in a safe, supportive and confidential environment. Group members are made aware of different tactics of control, the cycle of violence, and warning signs of abuse. They also learn how to regain their self-esteem, how to set boundaries, and how to become assertive. The mutual support and respect of group members help each woman to become empowered to make their own decisions and take control of her life. For further information, please call (519) 336-5200, ext. 25.
Youth Relationship Project
Is an 18 week program designed for youth currently enrolled in Secondary education who are interested in relationships and who are looking for a way to fulfill some of their community service hours.
The group is free and runs on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Students will learn:
- to define different aspects of healthy relationships
- assertiveness skills for handling dating pressure
- to define woman abuse
- about their rights and responsibilities in dating relationships
- about community resources, and much, much more….
Child Witness – Concurrent Group
This group program is offered to children 4-16 who have witnessed woman abuse. This group gives children a safe and supportive environment to process the violence and the abuse of power and control they have witnessed.
A group for the children’s mothers is offered concurrently in order to assist moms with issues around their children’s healing process.
The group runs for eight to ten weeks and transportation is available if necessary.
There is no cost for this group.
To find out more about the Concurrent Group please call (519) 336-5200 ext. #24.
