The Family Violence Counselling Program is a service funded by a compilation of different ministries that address the dynamics of intimate partner violence within relationships. The program works in cooperation with the family, the community and other service providers to identify and address issues of violence within the family system. The emphasis upon service is that violence is a choice and that each person is affected by violence in the family differently. The program works actively with victims of abuse by focusing on safety, recognizing the difference of abuse and healthy relationships to assist in making decisions that will allow people to live violence free in the future. The use of both voluntary and non-voluntary services demands a varied continuum of service, which has necessitated effective partnerships with our service partners such as Domestic Assault Services - Oxford, Ingamo Family home, Probation and Parole, the Crown Attorney's office as well as both police services in Oxford County.
Voluntary Services include:
Women's Healing Groups: This three part group is offered to women who have experienced a violent or abusive relationship and are seeking to gain awareness of healthy relationships to assist in making choices that will support living violence free in intimate relationships. The groups focus upon personal growth, exploring emotions and a women's wilderness adventure weekend.
Individual Services: The emphasis of service is to focus upon safety planning, risk assessment as well as assisting with housing applications, providing legal advocacy and support. Limited individual support is also available.
Children and Youth Services - Child Witness to Family Violence Group (CEFV): This ten week program is offered to children between the ages of 5 to 14 who have witnessed or experienced the effects of violence between their caregivers or significant adults within their lives. Children, depending upon their developmental stage and individual factors, are affected individually; however, there are common activities that assist in developing an active safety plan as well as focusing upon emotional safety and resiliency. Wait list group services are offered to children once a month at 909 James Street.
The Child Witness Program receives referrals from the Police, the Crown Attorney and the Children's Aid Society of Oxford County for children under the age of 18 who may have to testify in criminal court in Oxford County. The goal of service is to provide the victim/witness with the supports that would allow for a candid account of the evidence without compromising the rights of the accused. Emphasis upon education, stress reduction, coping skills, emotional support for the individual and their family as well as advocacy allow for each individual's needs to be assessed and met during the Court process.
Healthy Relationships Groups are offered to young women attending high school who would benefit from being part of a group focused upon identifying the factors of a healthy relationship, encouraging a critical look at their own relationships and addressing concerns regarding teen dating violence.
Mandated Groups:
Partner Assault Response services funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General are also offered. The men's program (MARC - Men Accepting Responsibility to Change) and the Women's program is a 16 week psycho-educational for people who have been violent or abusive towards their partner or spouse. The majority of participants in the group are men. The program accepts referrals from the Crown Attorney, Probation and Parole, child welfare as well as accepting voluntary referrals if there are no outstanding criminal charges.
Programs For Men - Caring Dads: Helping fathers value their children - a program to help fathers improve their relationships with their children and end controlling, abusive and neglectful behaviour. In Oxford County, the program is a joint collaboration between the Children's Aid Society of Oxford County, Probation and Parole and Domestic Assault Services - Oxford. The Caring Dads group program runs once a week for 17 weeks.