ALBERTA COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S SHELTERS

FRONTLINE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO SHELTER AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS. ONE OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS TRAINS SHELTER WORKERS ON PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SAFETY TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE COORDINATE THE COLLECTION OF DATA FROM SHELTERS ACROSS ALBERTA TO INITIATE CONDUCT AND PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH RELATING TO THE CAUSES IMPACTS PREVENTION AND ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CHILDREN AND SENIORS. RESEARCH INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF SURVEYS DISTRIBUTED TO KEY POPULATIONS FOR EXAMPLE THE ALBERTA MEN'S ATTITUDES ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SURVEY. WE PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH OUR LEADING CHANGE CALL TO ACTION WHICH SEEKS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE IN COMMUNITIES SCHOOLS BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS SO THAT PEOPLE LEAD FROM WHERE THEY STAND TO END DOMESTIC ABUSE. INCLUDES TRAINING YOUTH THROUGHS CHOOLS AND SPORTS TEAMS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE IMPACTS OF ABUSE TRAINING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING MEN AND BOYS PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLAY A ROLE IN ENDING DOMESTIC ABUSE. WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHELTER STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN NETWORKING EVENTS AND REGULAR MEETINGS INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND SUPPORT ACHIEVE CHANGES TO POLICY AND PRACTICES TO HELP ENHANCE SAFETY FOR SURVIVORS AND ENSURE THE PROVISION OF CONSISTENT SERVICES. WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO HONOURING THE PRINCIPALS OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION TO HELP END VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

SHELTER WORKER SUPPORT AND COACHING PROGRAM; WE OFER STAFF AT MEMBER SHELTERS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORT AND COACHING PROVIDED BY OUR SPECIALIST ADVISOR FOR SHELTER SERVICES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE SHELTER STAFF TURNOVER AND ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS. LEGAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: WE OFFER TRAINING TO ALBERTA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE DANGER ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSES TO FAMILY VIOLENCE. IN THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR WE PROVDIED DANGER ASSESSMENT TRAINING TO OVER 400 LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AND TRAINED 200 LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ON IMPROVING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSES TO FAMILY VIOLENCE.