Alberta
Violence Prevention Grants

High Level Native Friendship Centre, High Level
2008: $25,000 (2006: $20,000)
This organization, located in a remote Northern community, will offer support to 30 women survivors of violence over 11 months through group counselling, workshops and information sessions. High Level incorporates First Nations cultural practice (healing circles, smudging ceremonies and communal prayer led by an Elder) into programming. 

Discovery House, Calgary
2008: $23,000
This initiative will provide counselling, referral, support and advocacy to immigrant and refugee women residents of Discovery House (a downtown second stage shelter). The shelter wishes to respond to a large increase in the number of residents, primarily from Sudan, who have experienced domestic violence, resettlement and war. By building the capacity of agency staff and customizing program and policy development around this particular population, the shelter aims to better meet their needs and support their transition after leaving the shelter. 

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society
2008: $25,000 (2007: 20,000)
Musasa House provides long-term, safe accommodation and support services for women and children.  Using a holistic approach to education and counselling 10 residents and their families will be offered programming and resources that help them rebuild their lives after abuse and re-integrate into the community. Services include a “children witnessing violence” group, a financial literacy program and individual counselling. More than half of the residents are First Nations women. 

Edmonton Financial Literacy Society
2008: $25,000 (2007: $10,000)
Following on from a pilot project funded in 2007, this initiative will deliver a financial literacy course to 10 women in partnership with the Wings of Providence Shelter. These funds will go directly to support a matched savings fund – every $1 saved by a woman is matched 2:1. Each woman will choose an asset-building activity to undertake with her savings: past examples include completing high school education, upgrading skills, and providing deposits for rental accommodation. 

SAFFRON Strathcona Sexual Assault Centre, Sherwood Park
2008: $25,000 (2006: $20,000)
ONYX Teen Girls Program provides a safe environment of learning for females aged 10 to 16. Currently running in Sherwood Park and Fort Saskatchewan, participants learn to be critical thinkers as they gain awareness of issues including: self identity, dating safety, conflict resolution and assertiveness. The program is adult and peer-facilitated. As some of the topics may be sensitive or upsetting, a youth therapist is available for counselling. CWF funded the ONYX pilot program in 2006. 

YWCA, Lethbridge and District
2008: $10,000  
This initiative will offer time with a First Nations female Elder to women and children staying at the YWCA’s Harbour House Emergency Shelter. The Elder will be available for spiritual guidance, smudging and traditional rituals, Blackfoot language translation and will also support personal and group healing work.

Edmonton Financial Literacy Society (2007) $10,000
Delivered in partnership with the Wings of Providence Society, “Economic Self-Sufficiency for Women Survivors of Family Violence” helps women move toward economic independence through education in financial literacy, savings, and asset building. In the second phase of the program, participants (who are clients of Wings of Providence Society Shelter) have their savings matched dollar for dollar: CWF’s grant is being used in part to help fund the matching program. Ten participants are expected to take part in 12 one-hour financial literacy education sessions.

Calgary Family Services Society, FaithLink program (2007) $20,000
The Cambodian and Laotian Community Enhancement Program focuses on raising awareness about violence against women within the Cambodian and Laotian faith communities. Activities include developing Khmer and Laotian language materials, producing culturally and religiously sensitive educational resources and presentations, and training community leaders so they can provide victims with basic support and information about local resources.

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society (2007) $20,000
“Musasa House Second Stage Program” works with women and children to help them understand the causes of family violence, heal from abuse and make positive changes in their lives. This two-phase, intensive support program includes services such as legal counsel, transportation, education and information, parenting and skill development. Support and counselling is available for children to teach them healthy ways to deal with anger and anxiety, inform them about safety planning, and help them to resolve behavioural problems resulting from exposure to violence.

African Sudanese Association of Calgary (2007) $5,000
The goal of this initiative is to offer greatly needed support to Sudanese women and girls in Calgary who have experienced violence. CWF is providing a planning grant and the help of a CWF volunteer, who works at a shelter in Calgary, to further develop the program.

Parkland Turning Point Society (PTPS), Stony Plain (2007) $10,000
"PTPS Women's Phase II Program" explores the nature and impact of abuse in intimate relationships through education, support, healing and hope. Participants gain insight into how their past experiences, such as family-of-origin issues, child abuse or addiction, have impacted their lives and relationships. They are also encouraged to let go of negative messages, beliefs and behaviours which limit their ability to make healthy choices. Thirty nine women are expected to take part.

Alberta Council of Women's Shelters: $23,000 (2006)
The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters is a province-wide, voluntary organization supporting women’s shelters and their partners through education, research and services for the benefit of abused women and their children. Through this grant, the Council provides guidance and materials to help shelters make a case for second stage housing in their community, and works with existing second stage houses to develop tracking and measurement tools and win government support.

Odyssey House, Grand Prairie $5,575 (2006)
The goal of this initiative by Odyssey House is to help girls aged 13 to 15 increase their knowledge about violence and help them to make good decisions. Presented in a fun and interactive way, the program covers topics that include women in the media, healthy and unhealthy relationships, overcoming obstacles, and facing the world. Graduates of the group will have the opportunity to come back as peer facilitators.

Strathcona Sexual Assault Centre, Sherwood Park: $20,000 (2006)
ONYX Teen Girls Program is a one-year pilot project that provides a safe environment of learning for females between 12 and 14. Participants learn to be critical thinkers as they gain awareness of issues including: self identity, dating violence prevention, and assertiveness. The program is adult and peer-facilitated. As some of the topics may be sensitive or upsetting, a youth therapist is available for counselling.

Prostitution Awareness & Action Foundation of Edmonton: $20,000 (2006)
Creating Options Aimed at Reducing Sexual Exploitation (COARSE) is a multi-faceted court diversion program that connects women with crisis and/or long-term support through community and government resources. Participants may have experienced sexual violence, addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges, or conflict with the law.

High Level Native Friendship Centre, High Level: $20,000 (2006)
This initiative provides support to women who have experienced violence by helping them to rebuild their lives through education, counselling and training. The program is divided into four components: imparting knowledge, increasing awareness, starting over, and the healing process.

Brigantia Place- A Camrose Society for a Women's Shelter, Camrose $12,000 (2005)
The Mentoring Program at Brigantia Place pairs women up with volunteers who assist them in coping with the challenges they face after leaving the shelter. Mentors provide guidance on court proceedings, life skills, connection to community services, and assist participants with finding and evaluating child care providers. Also offered is the Transition Program which helps women obtain the items they need to set up their new homes.

Shining Mountains Living Community Services, Red Deer $20,000 (2005)
Building Boundaries helps women (primarily Aboriginal) to reclaim their lives from the after experiencing abuse. Services include follow up counselling and support to women who have been in a shelter. Building Boundaries is designed to provide the women with a method of regaining their power through the symbolic use of the Medicine Wheel. The four sections of the program are: Recognition, Reclaim, Construct, Nurture and Act.

The Women’s Centre of Calgary $13,050 (2005)
Girl Power Camps focus on sexism, violence, stereotypes and empower girls to dispel societal myths. Participants (aged 9-16) are those who might not otherwise be able to participate in a camp of this style. Curriculum for this project is loosely based on findings from the pilot project conducted in 2004, and feedback from the girls who participated in it.

Planned Parenthood Association of Edmonton $15,000 (2005)
Expecting Respect Peer Education Program helps teens make good choices by increasing their knowledge, confidence, leadership and presentation skills. Peer educators are trained to present to students on one of three topic areas: healthy relationships, bullying or harassment. Presentations are made in school and are age-appropriate.

Sonshine Society, Calgary $21,500 (2004)
The focus of the FaithLink project is to build bridges between religious/spiritually-based communities and domestic violence services in Calgary. Its goal is to help religious communities become an integral part of the larger community's response to family violence by increasing their awareness and assessment skills. CWF funding will be used to extend services to the Jewish community, enhance educational materials on domestic abuse for the Christian community and assist family violence service providers to address the importance of spirituality for those women from religious/spirituality-based communities who access their services.

Edmonton Community Loan Fund Society, Edmonton $25,000 (2004)
Assets for Independence helps reduce the economic vulnerability of women who have left an abusive situation. A matched saving program and workshop is offered to educate women on asset building, goal setting and financial management. The program has five components: incorporation of the sustainable livelihoods model, savings, financial literacy workshops, monitoring and evaluation, and dissemination. One of the main objectives of the project is to have the women participating act as mentors to the organization in the project design and delivery and also as mentors to other women.

Eagle Women's Emergency Shelter, Black Diamond $28,000 (2004)
This is an outreach program for women living in rural communities who are experiencing abuse and/or at risk of experiencing abuse. Rural women experiencing abuse are at a higher risk of homelessness than their urban counterparts. The project addresses the needs of the women and educates the community about domestic violence. The program includes follow-up services for women who have been through the shelter program, crisis intervention, counselling and support groups. Women share the impact abuse has had on their lives and develop social bonds with other abused women in their community.