Community Support and Outreach Services provides support and education to women, children and youth who are experiencing abuse-related crisis or coping with the after effects of abuse. Services can include one to one and/or group support. Translators are available.

Outreach Offices are located in the following communities throughout Renfrew County: Pembroke, Petawawa, Deep River, Renfrew, Arnprior, Killaloe, Barry's Bay and Eganville.

Womens Services

This service is available to women 16 years of age or older who are residing in Renfrew County. This service is voluntary and requires that women contact BMH themselves to access support.

Women's Services include:

• Education on Woman Abuse/Children who witness abuse
• Risk Assessments
• Safety Planning
• Goal Planning - women will decide on their needs and goals
• Advocacy - Legal, Police, Family & Children's Services, etc.
• Referrals - community counseling, community resources, etc.
• Court Support - may include court accompaniment 

Family Court Support Worker

The process of separation or divorce represents one of the most dangerous junctures in an abusive relationship and this is often the same time the victims of dometic violence, enter the family law system.  The Ministry of the Attorney General believes that there is an urgent need to provide additional supports to domestic violence victims who are involved with family law issues. On this basis, the Ministry implemented a Family Court Support Worker Program across the province.

Bernadette McCann House has received funding for this position. Funding will last until the end of March 2013. The Ministry of Attorney General may review funding for 2013-2014.

The Family Court Support Worker supports female or male victims of domestic violence through the family court process in Pembroke and Renfrew. Services are offered in English and French.

Services Offered:

• Information about the family court process
• Support through the Legal Aid process
• Safety Planning and in particular Court related safety planning
• Court accompaniment, where appropriate
• Referrals to specialized services in the community (domestice violence and culturally relevant services)
• Support with finding a lawyer and support to follow through on requests from lawyers
• Assist with court documentation and recording the history of abuse
• Advocate with court-based services such as Victim/Witness Assistance Program, Duty Counsel and Family Law Information Centre.
• Support to discuss legal issues, lawyer appointments and court outcomes

To access services please call: 613-732-7776 or 613-639-1829
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

  Children/Youth Services

This service provides information and support to children /youth who have witnessed and/or experienced violence against women. The ultimate goal is to help break the inter-generational cycle of abuse.

The following topics may be discussed:

• Definition of Violence
• Who is responsible for Violence?
• Witnessing Woman Abuse
• Feelings - how to express anger
• Conflict Resolution
• Family Changes
• Safety Planning
• Healthy Relationships
• Dating Violence
• Self Esteem

Children/Youth who witness women abuse may believe...

• Violence is an effective way to solve problems
• It is OK to hurt someone if you are feeling angry or upset
• Inequality in relationships is normal - men have power and control over women
• There are a few, if any negative consequences for abusive acts
• They are responsible for the abuse
• They are responsible for stopping the abuse by "protecting" or "confronting" the abuser
   

It is recognized that both girls and boys of all ages are affected by witnessing woman abuse.

Healthy Relationship groups are offered to Youth for both girls, and boys.

To increase public awareness and understanding of relationship abuse, presentations may be presented in community schools.