| Our
Mission
We are committed to providing support, resources
and referrals to women and children affected by domestic abuse.
Trained volunteers facilitate community-based peer support in co-operation
with participants. Self-directed change and independence are fostered
in a caring and safe environment. All women and children are welcome
regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic
status.
Who
we are:
Peer Support Services for Abused Women is a non-profit society whose
mandate is to provide a support system for women who have experienced
abuse or are at risk of experiencing abuse.
Who
we serve:
We serve women who have experienced abuse or are at risk of experiencing
abuse, wishing to grow beyond their experiences and achieve violence-free
lives for themselves and their children.
How
we got started:
The society began in 1985 when a Board member, a glass artist and
a crisis counselor attached to shelters for battered women met to
discuss the lack of support for women leaving first stage shelters.
We were incorporated by the Province of Alberta in 1986 and subsequently
received a charitable tax number from Revenue Canada.
How
we are financed:
We receive an annual project grant from the United Way of Calgary
and Area and the City of Calgary—FCSS. The rest of our monies
come from private donations and individual donors and foundations.
Who
we collaborate with:
We participate in joint training semi-annually with some others
agencies so volunteers can be equipped for their roles. We sit on
the representative council of the Calgary coalition of Family Violence,
a group that promotes culturally competent. We are also a partner
in the Violence Information and Education Centre, a resource centre
for service providers. We are also involved in a variety of other
community development projects.
Why we do this:
We are a grass roots group that responds to the needs of the women
and children we serve. In the past 15 years, we have seen thousands
of women and children embark on new, violence-free lives. It is
their stories that inspire us to continue, We have witnessed many
of them become peer supporters themselves.
How to help us:
Please call us for more information on membership, volunteer opportunities,
or many other ways to offer support.
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