Services We Provide

RESIDENTIAL SERVICE

The Residential Service (Shelter), known as Bernadette McCann House, consists of a 24 hour crisis line, and a 16 bed emergency shelter. Staff include, Residential Caseworkers, a Transitional Support Worker, a Children's Caseworker and Night Caseworkers. We also have a number of relief staff and volunteers who assist with this service. The shelter provides safe, comfortable emergency accommodation for up to sixteen women and children. A male age 16 or under, accompanied by his Mother will be admitted to the shelter.

   Minimum age for women to be admitted into the Shelter is 16 years and older. A young woman under 16 may contact other services for support, ie. Family & Children's Services, or Columbus House.

Average stay is 4-6 weeks, however this depends on individual circumstances.

We provide women and children with information and education, as well as resources available to them in the county.

We provide Day Assessments for women. These are initial meetings where women may talk about her needs, with a Caseworker.

Safety planning is done with both the women and children when they are at the shelter.

We may provide transportation and accompaniment to appointments. (Legal Appointments, Doctors Appointments, Ont. Works, etc.)

We can provide women and their children with clothing, and occasionally furniture, depending on availability of donations we receive from the Community.

Women in the shelter have one private telephone line, where they are free to make calls to family and friends. (We do not subscribe to call display)

For Safety reasons, we ask women to let us know when they are going out and approximately when they will be back.

There is a curfew of 12:00 midnight for all residents.

Children's Residential Services:

• Welcomes children to the Shelter
• Assists Children in understanding why they are at the Shelter
• Provides some structured programming in both group and one to one settings
• Encourages mother/child bonding
• Co-ordinates volunteer support
• Assists with school registration and offers volunteer teachers to help with homework, and promote the importance of education
• Recognizes the individual needs of each child, and makes referrals to other services, based on these needs.

Women's Shelter & Support Services can provide workshops, and presentations on violence against women issues.Please call: 613-732-7776-105 to make arrangements.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND OUTREACH SERVICES

Community Support and Outreach Services provides education and support to abused women and their children in a community setting.Outreach offices are located throughout Renfrew County serving Pembroke, Renfrew, Arnprior, Killaloe, Deep River, Petawawa, and surrounding areas.

To be eligible for Community Support and Outreach Services, women must:

• Be 16 years of age or more
• Reside in Renfrew County

Women's Services:

• Education on Woman Abuse/Children who witness abuse
• Individual Support
• Group Support
• Services for Children
• Legal Advocacy
• Court Accompaniment
• Safety Planning
• Referrals to Community Resources

Community Support and Outreach Services encourages education in the community. Presentations are made available to schools, churches, community organizations and the general public. For further information contact 613-732-7776-105.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

This service provides information and support to children 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 are explored:

Definition of Violence Who is responsible for Violence? Witnessing Woman Abuse Healthy Relationships Feelings Conflict Resolution Family Changes Safety Planning Self Esteem

Youth Services

• Provides supportive group work for youth ages 13 to 18 who witness or experience violence.
• Promotes healthy relationships through preventative education.
• Provides support and education to young mom's regarding healthy relationships, and the effects of witnessing woman abuse.
• Provides Public Awareness in community schools through presentations and workshops.

Growing Together Group

Provides support groups to children between the ages of 6 to 16 who witness violence. At the same time, mothers or the primary caregiver attend a group focused on supporting their children through these issues.

Women's Shelter & Support Services provides presentations and workshops on violence against women and the effects on children who witnessed abuse.

Volunteer Services

Volunteering at Women's Shelter & Support Services, is about making a difference.

Women's Shelter & Support Services is a unique place to volunteer. In addition to sorting donations, providing childcare, and crisis line support, volunteers assist with office duties, help in the kitchen, work in the yard, drive clients, share their computer skills, and provide aide to agency staff with support groups. The variety of volunteer opportunities offer flexibility to accommodate many interested individuals.

Volunteering at Women's Shelter & Support Services is about caring, advocating, commitment and dedication. It is about the difference that individuals can make in the community, in our organization, and in the lives of others.

Volunteers are:

• Supportive of Women's Shelter & Support Services, Mission & Philosophy Statement
• Community representatives
• Respectful of confidentiality and sign a Confidentiality Contract
• Non-judgmental
• Patient and understanding
• Dedicated and dependable

Women Shelter & Support Services Provides for Volunteers:

• Opportunities to help end violence against women and children
• Opportunities to share your talents, time and energies with others
• Opportunities to be active, to be doing something worthwhile for the community
• Comprehensive training and orientation program
• On-going recruitment
• Opportunities for on-going training

Please contact the Program Coordinator at 613-732-7776-105 to learn more about this unique opportunity.

PUBLIC EDUCATION SERVICES

LIBRARY:

Women's Shelter & Support Service has a lending Library of books and videos. They are made available to the community Monday - Friday between 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please call 613-732-7776 to schedule a convenient time to browse.

PRESENTATIONS:

Women's Shelter & Support Services believe in providing education, and information sessions throughout the County, regarding our Services and the issue of Abuse. If your organization, school, church, group, or business would like to have a presentation, or you wish to discuss this idea further, contact the Public Education Coordinator at: 613-732-7776 extension 105.