Our Programs & Services

24-HOUR FAMILY VIOLENCE HELPLINE

Phone: (403) 234-7233 (SAFE) | Toll-Free: (866) 606-7233
Text: (403) 604-6689 | Email: help@cwes.ca

Staffed by trained counsellors, the 24-Hour Family Violence Helpline operates 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and provides support, information and resources, safety planning and confidential counselling. It is often the first line of contact for individuals concerned about how they are being treated and friends or family looking to support someone, or men looking for help.

All of our programs and services can be accessed through the Helpline.

The Helpline received

10,459 calls

, approximately

29 calls a day

.

EMERGENCY SHELTER

Our 50 bed Emergency Shelter facility provides safe and secure accommodation, basic essential items, referral services, support and counselling for women and children fleeing family violence and abuse.

At the Emergency Shelter, the women and children who arrive find a warm, homelike environment. We ensure that our residents have the security and safety to recover from the effects of violence and abuse they experienced in the family home. They get comfort, rest, counselling and the knowledge they can put their lives back together without fear.

Partnerships with resources commonly needed by victims of abuse are also brought onsite, ensuring greater accessibility to services, including a Wellness Clinic where women and children can seek medical attention, workshops, weekly group counselling, and a school liaison.

The Emergency Shelter housed

320 women and 386 children

.

• 98% of women who accessed the Emergency Shelter indicate that their safety and immediate needs were met
• 95% of women have increased their knowledge about family violence and abuse, and know more about the signs of abusive relationships

COMMUNITY SERVICES COUNSELLING

For women who are unable, or choose not to enter the Emergency Shelter facility, the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter offers the Community Services Counselling Program. Counsellors provide support in a safe place in the community, safety planning, parenting support, and navigation of community resources.

Over 90% of the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter clients are served through community programs outside of the Shelter facility.

Last year,

600 women and 640 children

benefitted from the Community Services Counselling program.

• 98% of women served through this program gained knowledge on how to keep themselves safe
• 96% of women feel they are not to blame for the abuse they have experienced

COURT PROGRAM

The legal system can be very intimidating, but with the Court Program, women experiencing family violence and abuse, who have to go through legal proceedings can do so with hope and confidence.

This program provides navigation of the court system, information, referrals, safety planning, and preparedness for court, assisting women to explore their options so they can make the best choices for themselves and/or their family.

In 2019-2020, the Court Program served

215 women and 286 children

.

• 100% of women report that they have a better understanding of the court process
• 98% of women feel better able to keep themselves safe through accessing the legal system

CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Child, Youth and Family Support Programs are available to all clients. Depending on the family’s situation, the age of the child/youth, and the needs of the family, services may include: individual counselling for the child/youth, family counselling with parent(s) and child, parenting support, safety planning, financial literacy for parents, ages and stages developmental screening, play-based therapy for children and/or families, and navigation of community resources.

The Children’s Activity Centre within the Emergency Shelter provides a blend of structured and child-led play, where the focus with the children is on keeping oneself safe, identifying emotions, and providing opportunities for socialization.

124 children and 43 parents

accessed Child, Youth and Family Support Programs.

• 96% of parents have seen positive changes in their child as a result of the support they received from these programs
• 90% of parents report that their child has learned strategies to keep themselves safe

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

The Healthy Relationships Program is for adolescents aged 12-21, experiencing distress connected to their close relationships. Youth participate in group counselling sessions, discussing issues related to family violence, how to build healthy relationships, boundaries, abusive behaviour, and communication. Individual counselling as appropriate is also offered.

Referrals are made at the school by teachers and Guidance Counsellors or through school partner programs.

The Healthy Relationships Program is offered in collaboration with the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District and the Rockyview School Division.

Last year,

410 youth

participated in the program.

• 92% of youth have learned skills to help them build healthy relationships
• 96% are able to identify support networks they can go to for help

MEN’S COUNSELLING SERVICE

The Men’s Counselling Service offers non-judgmental individual and/or group counselling to men who are concerned their anger and abusive behaviours are negatively impacting their close relationships. It provides a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment where men can discuss their concerns with professional therapists who specialize in abuse/anger management issues.

The program addresses the need for men to take responsibility for their abusive behaviours, and their ability to change them.

Men’s Counselling Service website: mcscalgary.com.

This program helped

524 men and 137 women

.

• 89% of men surveyed, report that they are more respectful of their partner as a result of this program
• 88% of women surveyed, report that they now feel safe from control and intimidation since their partner participated in this program