This is a community-based support and referral program open to all women who have or are experiencing abuse in their lives. The program includes one-to-one and group sessions aimed to empower women and provide them with a better understanding of the cycle of abuse and equip them with strategies to heal and cope with the effects of violence.

Sandgate Outreach & Counselling Women Advocates will:

• Provide supportive counselling, advocacy and referrals
• Assist in safety planning
• Support women to help them understand their rights, self-esteem needs, and violence prevention strategies
• Provide outreach to women in the shelter and in the community

Women’s Support Groups (WSG).

The Women’s Support group is a 10-week program designed to educate, empower and support women who have been or are experiencing abuse in a safe and non-judgemental environment. The aim is to decrease a person’s sense of isolation, provide emotional support, learn about the cycle of abuse, and encourage healthy coping strategies to deal with stressful life events. Women learn that they are not alone and help one another to overcome feelings of frustration, loneliness, and despair.

Transitional & Housing Support Program (THSP)

This program provides safety, support, advocacy, empowerment and education during the transition to allow women the access to this service to make choices without fear.

Sandgate transition advocates support and advocate for women by providing:

• Safety planning
• Transition planning
• One-to-one counselling
• Housing applications
• Court accompaniment and support with the legal process
• Children’s Aid Society (CAS) support meetings
• Education, employment information, and resources
• Referrals to community agencies

“Let’s Talk” Child Witness Program

The Lets Talk program is designed to help children understand the cycle of abuse and deal with their feelings as witnesses or victims of domestic violence. We aim to provide children with a safe and supportive environment where they can talk about their experiences and participate in a variety of activities aimed at assisting them in working through their feelings.

Our children’s program offers group counselling for children aged 4-18, as well as a concurrent mother’s group. The mothers’ group offers women a chance to discuss how exposure to domestic violence has impacted their children and to also connect with other mothers and share resources. Women who attend this program greatly support their child’s learning in the Let’s Talk program. The program covers a range of tops, including: Conflict Resolution, Anger Management, Changing Family Dynamics, Safety Planning and Self Esteem.