Domestic Violence
Woman Abuse | Children Who Have Witnessed Abuse |
L.E.A.F | Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse Program | Family Group Conferencing
Woman Abuse
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download the
Woman Abuse
Services brochure
Approximately 60% of the clients who use the counselling service are women who are struggling with the impact of a violent/abusive relationship. The counselling gives women a framework within which to understand that they are not responsible for or deserving of abuse which is defined as a societal problem. The devastating personal effects of violence and abuse include loss of self-esteem, dissociative states, difficulties in parenting and in all other relationships, addictions, sleep disorders, and debilitating fears and anxieties. Individual and group counselling is offered to address these difficulties where appropriate.
For women dealing with the effects of an abusive relationship, a comprehensive range of counselling, support and case management services are provided in partnership with a local women’s shelter. The counselling helps women to rebuild and strengthen their self-esteem and confidence in themselves so that they can make informed choices and decisions about their lives. The service provides information to women about legal rights and about available community resources. The service helps women to identify safety issues and to develop a safety plan so that they can avoid dangerous and abusive situations. A range of support groups as well as individual counselling is offered.
Individual and group counselling under very controlled conditions is offered to men who abuse in order to help ensure the safety of their partners, to reduce the recidivism of violence and to further break the cycle of violence.
Click here to contact a counsellor
Children Who Have Witnessed Abuse
Learning Effective Anti-Violence in Families PROGRAM (L.E.A.F.)
Child witnessing is… seeing… hearing… or being aware of abuse, as defined above. If any of these are happening to you or are being seen by your children-
REMEMBER… ABUSE IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
Did you know?
It is estimated that 80% of children of abused mothers have directly witnessed the abuse. Children living in an abusive home grow up in an atmosphere of tension, fear, intimidation and tremendous confusion. Serious behavioural problems are 17 times higher for boys and 10 times higher for girls who have witnessed abuse. Children who have witnessed abuse suffer the same emotional effects as those who have been physically abused. Child Witnessing can have a significant impact on children of any age.
In 1 out of 3 families where the mother is assaulted, the children are also directly abused.
(Sources: National Clearinghouse on Family Violence/Ontario Women’s Directorate)
CFS provides one-on-one counseling to children who have witnessed abuse, in addition to the L.E.A.F. group program, as outlined below.
There is no fee for child witnessing counseling services, and no wait list for individual counselling.
Learning Effective Anti-Violence in Families PROGRAM (L.E.A.F.)
The L.E.A.F. Program is an early intervention program for children 4-16 who have witnessed the abuse of their mothers. The purpose of this program is to provide women and children with a safe place to discuss the abuse they have been exposed to. Our services are free, confidential and include childcare, transportation assistance, snacks and wheelchair accessibility.
Topics for Kids’ Groups May Include:
- What is abuse?
- Creating a safety plan
- Identifying feelings
- Abuse prevention
- Building self-esteem
- Family Changes
- Anger management
- Conflict resolution
- Dating violence (where appropriate)
A group will also be held for MOTHERS
Topics for Mothers’ Groups May Include:
- Defining and understanding abuse
- Impact of children witnessing abuse
- Parenting skills
- Healthy child development
- Self esteem
- Self care
- Safety planning for children and adults
- Custody access issues
Referrals and questions are welcome
Individual and group counselling under very controlled conditions are separately offered to men who choose to use abusive behavior in their relationships, in order to help ensure the safety of their partners, to reduce the recidivism of violence and to further break the cycle of violence.
Click here to talk to a counselor about counseling for children who have witnessed abuse
Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse Program (PAR)
Goal
The goal of the Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse program is to facilitate men to take ownership and be accountable for their choice of violence and abuse. In doing this, the program provides them with information and practical tools to change those values, beliefs and behaviours which are the foundation of their use of violence, abuse, power and control.
CFS is an inclusive organization, striving to reflect and meet the needs of our diverse community. Individual sessions are utilized for men in same-sex relationships. Interpreters can be provided for the initial intake appointment and entire 16-week group, when a request is made.
Objectives
The group, in partnership with the community, is designed to help men:
- To critically examine their own use of abusive behavior by exploring a variety of session topics
- To understand their violence as a means of controlling their partner
- To examine the effects of their violence on their partner, children, others and themselves
- To understand the roots of violence against women through examining our cultural and social context
- To explore and practice non-controlling and non-violent methods of relating to their female partners
- To become more accountable to the victims of their violence
- To take the necessary steps to prevent future abusive and/or controlling behavior
- To understand behavior as a choice and consider new, healthy alternatives instead of abuse and control
- To talk openly about their abusive behavior and explore new options free of emotional, physical or sexual abuse
Focus of Group Work
- Recognition that reducing abuse and violence against women is not about anger management or better
communication skills - The focus of this group is to help men let go of power and control in their intimate relationships and address the values, beliefs and expectations that may motivate them to do so
- A major emphasis is placed upon helping men examine their beliefs and attitudes and to make any necessary changes within themselves to prevent future abusive behaviour
- Minimizing or blaming others will be discouraged – the focus is on abuse as a choice – behaviours are not to be justified and minimized or blamed on other factors (i.e. partner’s behavior, alcohol, etc.)
- Time will be spent considering the effects of their actions on others
- Participants will be invited to accept responsibility and demonstrate accountability for their own actions
Referral Process
Who may be referred?
- Voluntary clients who acknowledge that they have been abusive and controlling towards a female partner
- Post-sentence court mandated referrals will be forwarded to the agency by the local Probation and Parole Offices
- In all cases we encourage the individual applicant to call the agency to schedule the initial assessment for the Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse Program
If you are not sure that you or your client is appropriate, please contact us to make an intake appointment to discuss the program in greater detail with a counselor.
Fees
- There is no fee for the initial assessment
- The participant will be expected to pay a nominal fee for the group sessions. Arrangements to do so will be make at the initial intake assessment
Commitment
Participants agree to attend 16 group sessions
Limited Confidentiality
Information revealed in the group will be held confidential, to the extent allowed by law
Click here to talk to a counselor about the MAVA program
MAVA Partner Contact
Although it is the goal of the Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse (MAVA) program to increase ownership and accountability in men who choose to abuse their partners, it also has a simultaneous goal of being concerned about and addressing victim safety and providing support.
For all men who are participate in the Men’s Anti-Violence and Abuse program, the Partner Contact program will make all possible efforts to be in contact with the victim. Information will be shared regarding the group participant’s attendance or if they have been terminated from the program, as well as providing support, safety planning information and/or referrals to local services and resources.
This is a requirement for all individuals involved in the MAVA program
Click here to talk to a counselor about MAVA Partner Contact
Family Group Conferencing
“It takes a village to raise a child”
What is Family Group Conferencing (FGC)?
Family Group Conferencing is a culturally sensitive decision making process that brings together a family group. It is a family meeting focused on the child(ren) in the family. It collaborates immediate and extended family members, kin and community in mutual support and collaboration to develop a plan to keep the child safe.