Peer Support Services For Abused Women OFFERING PEER BASED SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT RISK OF OR HAVE BEEN ABUSED, (AND THEIR CHILDREN)

Our Mission Creating individual and systemic change to promote respectful, healthy and peaceful relationships

Our Vision RESPECTFUL, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIPS

Our Programs Growth Circles Growth Circle programs are offered to women who have left abusive relationships. In Growth Circles participants share their experiences and learn from other women who have been there too. Growth Circles are facilitated by trained volunteers who may be survivors of family violence themselves. Growth Circle program is 12 week, 2.5 hours per week. Session topics include; dynamics of violence, anger, parenting and self esteem.

Our Programs Moving on With Mentors The Moving on with Mentors Program offers individual peer support to women anywhere on the domestic violence continuum. The MOWM program is designed to assist women in meeting their personal goals, achieving self efficacy, accessing communities resources. There is a drop in group component of the program, that included both sharing of experiences and psychosocial learning. The Peer Support Mentor is a woman who herself, may have, experienced family violence and can act as a ‘mentor’ in facilitating growth and change for clients.

Our Programs Finding Our Voices Finding our Voices is a self esteem group. The group is available to any women whether she has experienced abuse or not. The group runs for 6 weeks, 2.5 hours a week. Topics include: communication, body image, assertiveness. The workshop is designed for any woman grappling with self esteem issues.

Our Programs Same Sex Domestic Violence This program is to address the often marginalized issue of same sex intimate partner domestic violence. In partnership with Safety Under the Rainbow, a collaborative initiative to address this issue PSSAW offers workshops to service providers on this issue, participates in awareness campaigns targeted to both the GLBT community and service providers and conducts research on this issue. This program is delivered province wide.

INSPIRING TEENS Scope of the Issue  Most present day issues of violence for teens come in the form of verbal abuse, bullying, dating violence and disorderly behavior (Bear, 1998, Gabor 1995)  Canadian-based education research suggests that we have high rates of aggression among school aged children.  Young men are under served in the area of sexual health and relationship wellness and that they have been systemically marginalized and require more services than are being offered to them (Calgary Sexual Health and Wellness 2008)

INSPIRING TEENS Scope of Issue  Domestic Violence Statistics for Mountain View County from Survey in % of respondents said they know someone who had or was experiencing domestic violence 87% of respondents said they see a need in the community for domestic violence services 70% of respondents said that if the services existed they would use them for themselves or someone they know.

INSPIRING TEENS Scope of Issue  Teens are faced with new types of sexual harassment and domestic violence (sexting, cyber bullying/violence etc..)  Teens lack basic understanding of the issues  Teens struggle to understanding how to address conflict as a bystander  Teens struggle with definitions of violence

INSPIRING TEENS Media – Advertisement Analysis  What is the target group of the ad and the product being sold?  What is the primary message of the ad?  What is the secondary message of the ad?

INSPIRING TEENS Being an Engaged Bystander  Scenario Who should say or do something? What can be done? (keep in mind your own safety in each situation)

INSPIRING TEENS Program Objectives Teens understand the definition and dynamics of violence Teens understand how to be an effective bystander to stop violence Teens understand how to deal effectively with conflict Teens have the tools to live violence free lives

INSPIRING TEENS SessionTopicObjectiveTime 1Understanding ViolenceTo provide participants with an understanding of domestic violence/bullying and harassment and of common terms associated with violence min 2Understanding RelationshipsTo provide participants with an understanding of their definition and expectations of relationships and to understand the attitudes that support dysfunctional relationships min 3Gender StereotypesParticipants are able to identify influences, values and stereotypes and how these factors affect relationships min 4Media InfluencesParticipants are able to identify the influence of media on relationship definitions Min

INSPIRING TEENS Sessio n TopicActivitiesTime 5 and 6Engaging Bystanders in Violence Prevention To provide teens with an understanding of how to be a ‘successful’ bystander and how to address cyber bullying Min 7Problem SolvingParticipants are able to indentify problem solving strategies and have tools to implement them min 8Violence in Relationships To provide participants with an understanding of violence in relationships min 9 and 10Sexual Harassment and Date Rape To provide participants with an understanding of what sexual harassment and sexting are, what date rape is and how to prevent it min

INSPIRING TEENS – How it works…. Programs are delivered in partnership with the Chinooks Edge School Division. Classes are part of the regular Career and Life Management curriculum – required by all high school students to graduate Teachers grade and test students on the students based on the material provided (it is part of their overall CALM grade)

INSPIRING TEENS- How it works…. Students self identify or refer individuals to Peer Support Services for Abused Women if experiencing domestic or sexual violence. Support of students is provided jointly by the Inspiring Teens facilitator and the Wellness Worker within the school

INSPIRING TEENS Outcomes and Impact 228 Students served in the 2009 – 2010 school year Delivered in 5 schools in Mountain View County and Bowden 8-10 classes per CALM class

INSPIRING TEENS Outcomes and Impact 80% of teen participants understand the definition and dynamics of violence 86% of teen participants understand how to be an effective bystander to stop violence 82% of teen participants understand how to deal effectively with conflict 87% of teen participants have the tools to live violence free lives

INSPIRING TEENS Outcomes and Impact Pre – Post survey based on the likert scale  Survey measures attitudes, behavior and beliefs

INSPIRING TEENS Questions and Contact information Trina Lonsberry – Program Coordinator, Mountain View County or Andrea Silverstone – Executive Director or