Family Violence Initiative

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

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program Name:

Children Who Witness Abuse

Organization/Community:

Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace

Location:

Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Website:

www.hgpeace.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To help children and youth exposed to violence in relationships and help break the cycle of intergenerational violence and abuse.

Target Group Description:

Children and youth ages 3 – 18 and their caregivers.

Program Description:

The program offers group and one on one counselling, a youth outreach service and organizes community education campaigns. The services provided also educate clients and the community on how violence impacts children and what the dimensions of a healthy relationship are. Elders and community artists also give of their time to work with the clients of the program.

Program Successes/Impact:

Garnering community support, funding and referrals. The running of successful community education campaigns.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

The time it takes to garner funding takes away from time spent with the clients.

Program in operation since:

2004.

Program:

Ongoing.