After a successful pilot project, Battered Women’s Support Services Women’s Safety and Outreach Program (WSOP) re-launched on Monday, March 31st, 2014. We thank you for your ongoing support during this period of reflection and restructuring.
We continue to seek to end violence against women and girls in the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver Community, Coast Salish Territory, by providing:
1) Education and Awareness Outreach: We seek to shift the culture of violence against women in the Downtown Eastside Vancouver community through education and awareness. Trained staff and volunteers are equipped to provide information to the many single room occupancies (SROs), shelters, front line service providers, and organizations to raise awareness of the dynamics of sexual and physical assault, program hours, and services available for women and girls. Specific outreach to SROs will be undertaken to increase program accessibility for women who do not access mainstream services during mainstream hours. The program is inclusive of self-identified women, young women, Indigenous women, seniors, Immigrant women, and women who do sex work and of particular importance for Indigenous women, we are equipped to deliver services that are culturally appropriate.
2) Mobile Crisis Response: Trained staff and volunteers provide a mobile crisis intervention for women survivors of assault and sexual assault and/or abuse through
- Crisis intervention and support- risk assessment, safety planning with a biopsychosocial, women-centered approach
- Emotional support
- Support with injuries sustained- accompaniment to hospital, medical services, sexual assault services
- Transportation for women fleeing violence to housing (transition, shelter)
- Response is inclusive of harm reduction supplies such as condoms, personal care items
- Response and services accessible through a dedicated mobile number
- Resource referral
- Advocacy
3) Follow –up: WSOP is relational to reduce the isolation through encouraging ongoing contact with BWSS and the anchoring of supports with other community organizations. The inclusion of an office space allows for immediate daytime follow-up on an outreach basis, if required. In addition, anti-violence services such as Stopping the Violence counseling and support groups will be offered at the location.
Our collaborations will continue with community organizations to include cross referrals, education, awareness, outreach, and access to office and/or interview space. It is crucial to understand the complexity of the experiences women and girls are navigating in and how offering services is a huge part of women’s empowerment.
Our Women’s Safety and Outreach Program operates on Monday – Friday from 5pm to 1am. Please share below Program’s poster widely.
You can download the poster here.
If you could do something to end violence against girls and women, wouldn’t you?
