Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Family Violence Interventions

Program Name:

Tahsahtaweyaht Transitional Housing for Victims of Violence and Aboriginal Youth

Organization/Community:

At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc.

Location:

Southwold, Ontario

Website:

www.atlohsa.com

Goals and Objectives:

To provide transitional housing supports and services to women and their children and youth who have experienced violence and abuse.

Target Group Description:

Male and female youth and older people.

Program Description:

The program assists women and youth by providing transitional shelter services for them and their children. These services tailor an individual safety plan designed to meet that client's own individual needs. The program also offers crisis support services (including phone counselling), skills and parenting development workshops, and referrals to appropriate services. Cultural support services are also offered in the form of pipe ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, language workshops, sunrise ceremonies, community feasts, water ceremonies, naming ceremonies. All of these cultural ceremonies are designed to encourage the clients to find the motivation to make better life choices.

Program Successes/Impact:

Seeing the positive changes in clients' lives. Clients living lives free of violence and addictions.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

The maintenance of housing with limited human resources.

Program in operation since:

2006.

Program:

Ongoing.