1. HerWay Home Program: Comprehensive Programming for Women and Children in Victoria Presented by: Jill Davoren Betty Poag

2. HerWay Home Program “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They are the messengers of overwhelm and grief and of unspeakable love. “ Washington Irving 2

3. HerWay Home Program Queen Alexandra Hospital Foundation for Children Victoria General Hospital- Perinatal Program Blanshard Community Birth Project 3

4. HerWay Home Program Review of the literature Identify best approach to ensure broad, “low threshold” support for women Comprehensive, coordinated, cross- sectoral and interdisciplinary 4

5. HerWay Home Program Current Membership Includes: Over 30 community and health service agencies Over 85 individuals 2 Ministries Several community members 5

6. HerWay Home Program Steering Committee and the following Working Groups: Housing Program Planning Research & Evaluation Funding and Communication Women’s Advisory Working Group 6

7. HerWay Home Program Reviewed successful programs: ◦Sheway, Vancouver- Downtown Eastside ◦Maxxine Wright Community Health- Surrey ◦Breaking the Cycle- BTC, Toronto Guided development of a Victoria-specific Program Advising provincial and national communities 7

8. Intersections - A view of the complexity (Poole, 2004) Poverty Sexual Orientation Racial DiscriminationAccess to health care Experience of Loss Punishment/ Incarceration Age Disability Mothering Context/ Isolation Partnership/Friendship Public policy Systemic discrimination Resilience Substance Use/Misuse Mental Illness Experience of Violence/ Trauma HIV/AIDS 8

9. HerWay Home Program H H ousing First E E mpowering R R espect W W oman A A cceptance Y Y our Choice H H ealth O O pportunity M M othering E E quality 9

10. HerWay Home Program Theoretical Frameworks that guide our service delivery model: Woman-Centred & Child-Centred Trauma Informed Harm Reduction Services “mapped” to stages of change (Transtheoretical Model) Staff will have training in Motivational Interviewing to work more effectively with clients. 10

11. HerWay Home Program Services: Housing Primary Health Services/Perinatal Services Infant/Child Services Drug and Alcohol Counselling 11

12. HerWay Home Program Services cont’d: Woman Abuse Response Services Parenting Support and Advocacy Nutrition/Food security Pragmatic Supports 12

13. Mother’s Alcohol Use Mother’s nutrition Mother’s stress level Mother’s access to prenatal care Mother’s use of other drugs Mother’s overall health Poverty Stigma and Racial Discrimination Age Context/Isolation Experience of Loss Policy on Mothering, ethics of funding Resilience Experience of Violence Genetics HerWay Home Poole, N. (2003). Mother and Child Reunion: Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder by Promoting Women's Health. Vancouver, BC: BCCEWH Physical environment, housing 13

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15. HerWay Home Program Detox Services Medical Detox Eric Martin Pavillion 4 Victoria General Hospital- Antepartum Unit 15

16. HerWay Home Program Stabilization Pregnancy detox and early postpartum 4-6 bed stabilization housing Supported by specialized staff 24 hours/day 16

17. HerWay Home Where are we now? Finalizing fact sheet Completed business case Identifying funding sources for capital & operational funding Applying for funding 17

18. HerWay Home OUR VISION: Find sources of funding Continue to develop partnerships and engage community, health and government Recognize challenges of current economy and political climate and continue to work toward our vision 18

19. HerWay Home "All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." Martin Luther King Jr. 19

20. HerWay Home Thank you for your time and attention! 20