Our Anti-Violence Program has been a leader in the Ottawa community, offering services to Abused Women since 1987, and service to children who have witnessed abuse, and to their mothers since 1991. Thousands of women and children have received counselling since that time.

The Ministry of Community and Social Services and the United Way of Ottawa have been strong financial supporters of this program since its beginning.

Our program is based on the principle that violence against women is never justified or acceptable.

Woman abuse can be found in every
social, economic, cultural and religious group.

Woman Abuse Program

The Woman Abuse Program is for women who have experienced verbal, emotional, physical, financial, sexual, spiritual/religious abuse, stalking/criminal harassment from a husband, boyfriend or partner in the past or at present. The program serves women of all ages (over 18), cultures, religions, sexual orientation and ability. Women are referred by docotrs, lawyers, police, community centres or women can request service for themselves. The Woman Abuse Program operates from a team approach and women have an option of individual counselling, support groups and access to transitional support.

Support Groups

Support Groups for women who experience abuse are run twice a year - fall and spring. Support groups offer a place for women to break isolation, to help develop support networks, to identify and explore options and to place abuse in a societal rather than an individual context. The Support Group offers a place for women to share experiences with other women who have been abused. The goal of support groups is education and support, to encourage self-confidence, and enhance decision-making capacity. Women who attend the group may have left an abusive relationship or can still be with their partner.

The Support Groups are held once a week for 12 to 14 weeks. The following issues are covered:

• What is abuse?
• Impact of abuse for women and children
• Personal safety and safety planning
• Warning signs for future relationships
• Developing a life plan

Individual Counselling

Individual Counselling is offered as an option to women attending the support group. The focus of individual counselling often deals with the impact of trauma, intensive safety planning and assisting women to develop supports and coping strategies as they deal with the justice system and rebuilding their lives.

Transitional Support Program

The Transitional Support Program is a service of the Woman Abuse Program whose goal is to assist women to live free from violence and abuse. Transitional Support Workers assist women with practical supports such as safety planning, referrals to shelters, lawyers, counsellors, finding housing, accessing basic financial assistance, court support, and accompaniement to appointments.

back to top

Program for Child Witnesses of Woman Abuse

Children's Groups

The Children's Group is offered to children ages 6-12 who have witnessed woman abuse in their homes. Individual counselling is provided to children attending groups as needed.

These support groups are offered for ten to twelve weeks once a week and generally consist of six to eight children per group. Topics include:

• safety planning
• understanding woman abuse
• divorce/separation issues
• finding positive ways to share feelings

Mother's Groups

The Mother's Group runs at the same time as the Children's Group and is offered to mothers whose children are in the children's program. Individual counselling is provided to mothers attending groups as needed. Topics include:

• children's experience of woman abuse
• custody and access issues
• personal safety for children
• parenting
• self-esteem, self-care

back to top

General Program Information

Violence against women may include physical assault, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and/or sexual abuse. It includes threats to harm children, other family members, and personal property. The violence is a pattern of behaviour used to intimidate and humiliate an intimate partner. The violence may seem minor or trivial when viewed in isolation, but all together forms a pattern that is abusive.

The impact on women who are abused may have serious harmful effects on their physical, social, psychological and spiritual well-being. These may take the form of permanent physical injuries, such as loss of hearing and sight, chronic pain, social isolation, addictions, depression, and eating disorders.

The impact of children whose mothers are abused may be serious and longstanding if not addressed. Helping children understand that they are not responsible for the abuse, that they are not alone, and helping them develop a plan of safety, can prevent future difficulties in all areass of their lives.

Counselling is provided to:

• Women over the age of 18 who have been abused by their partners, past or present
• Children between the ages of 6 and 12 who have witnessed their mothers being abused
• Mothers of the children we serve
• Other family members who are supportive and would like to be part of the counselling process
  

These services may be provided through support groups, individual counselling, and family counselling (mother and children).

The Anti-Violence Program is not a Crisis Service.
If you are in immediate danger please call 911.

If you are experiencing abuse and require more immediate service the following 24 hour crisis lines are available:

Women's Crisis Line - Ottawa 613-745-4818

Ontario Assaulted Women's Hotline 1-866-863-0511

Our Counselling Staff

Services are provided by trained professional counsellors who are knowledgeable, compassionate, and sentsitive to these complex issues. The counsellors are actively involved in the VAW community and it's efforts to advocate for the needs of abused women and children.

Languages

Anti-Violence Counselling Services at Family Services à la famille Ottawa are offered in English. Cultural interpreters are used whenever language is a barrier to receiving services.

Locations

Counselling services are provided at Family Services à la famille Ottawa situated at 312 Parkdale Avenue.

Program Policies

Language

Cultural interpreters are used whenever language is a barrier to receiving services. Every effort is made to reduce barriers and welcome women with disabilities.

Fees

There is no fee for these services. Help may be provided with transportataion and childcare.

Confidentiality

All notes, records and communications created by Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSFO) during your involvement as a client are kept secure and confidential and can be shared only with your written consent. The agency keeps a record of all appointments/visits. Information my be shared within FSFO for case management, quality assurance and eligibility purposes. Any information about a client is kept within the agency in strictest confidence.

There are a few exceptions to confidentiality when the law requires that our records be disclosed under strict conditions. In the following situations the law requires that reports be made and/or information released:

• Suspected child abuse
• Any life threatening danger to a client or to a third party (threat of suicide, threat towards others)
• Court orders and subpoenas

Privacy Policy

Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSFO)adheres strictly to the current legislation governing personal privacy (Personal Health Information Protection Act).

The information the we collect is used to:

• Ensure we can contact you
• Maintain accountability as a services provider
• Ensure safety, legal and ethical standards are met
• Assess the quality of services provided and the effectiveness of outcomes

All clinical files and data are the sole property of FSFO and are stored in a secure location or on a secure server. Any questions or concerns can be addressed directly to the Privacy Officer, who is the Executive Director.

back to top

Pamphlets

Please feel free to download and print the following pamphlets

How You can Identify and Help Women at Risk of Abuse

Safety Planning for Women Who are Abused

How to Talk to Men Who are Abusive

Have You Been Assaulted?

Transitional Support and Housing Programs

Support Groups and Counselling

Sexual Assault Services

back to top

Contact Information

If you would like to access counselling services or would like more information, please contact our intake worker by telephone at
613-725-3601 (ext. 117), by TTY at 613-725-6175 or by email at intake@familyservicesottawa.org