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:

Watson Lake Yukon Women's Shelter and Transition Home

Organization/Community:

Help and Hope For Families Society

Location:

Watson Lake, Yukon

Website:

www.helpandhopeforfamilies.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To promote awareness of family violence and to empower women, children and men to live without violence.

Target Group Description:

Women and their children.

Program Description:

The program offers an emergency shelter for women and children escaping violence, a four unit transitional housing service, on site counselling for women who have been victimized, parenting and nutrition workshops and a play therapy program for children 6 years and under. In addition to this, the program offers a beading group for girls who receive guidance and traditional teachings from local Elders. There is an Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meeting schedule, a food bank (which provides access to traditional foods) and a clothing donation depot. The program has also included a community garden project for clients to participate in.

Program Successes/Impact:

The ability for the program to provide for all emergency needs to clients in one space. The garnering of broad community support.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

The challenge of coping with the high rates of family violence in the area. The shelter is almost always full and crisis lines very busy.

Program in operation since:

2002.

Program:

Ongoing.