Alexandra
Gardner Women and Children Safe Centre (AGSC)
The AGSC is
a 20 bed, low barrier, homeless shelter for women and children.
The shelter offers free services, regardless of age, race and
circumstance and assists clients to work on their next steps to help them plan
for a safe future. The AGSC also offers extra accommodation by providing mats
during the winter months. Services
include:
- a
warm, clean and safe non-judgmental environment
- three
nutritious meals a day
- 24
hour on-site support
- individualized
case planning (e.g assistance in finding housing, help in seeking
employment, help in accessing medical treatment)
- laundry
facilities
- referrals
to NOW Canada programs and other community services
| Residential Safe Home
Program
This program is a
vital component in the continuum of care provided by NOW Canada to
sexually exploited female youth. The Residential Safe Home Program offers
three homes; two for single participants and one for young women with
children. Participants live in
the homes while attending NOW’s ASK Learning Centre or another program
in the community which best meets their needs. |
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Highlights
of the program include:
- warm,
safe and supportive transitional living
- homes
run by caring, experienced and dedicated live-in House Directors
- assistance
with the development of basic life skills
- a
drug and alcohol free environment
- access
to all NOW Canada programs including one-on-one client support
- assistance
for participants working to re-gain custody of their children
This program is unique. There are
limited resources available for sexually exploited female youth to leave an
unsafe and unhealthy lifestyle and it is NOW Canada’s pleasure to be able to
offer this opportunity.
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ASK
Learning Centre
The ASK Learning
Centre offers three months of life skills and employability assistance to
help sexually exploited female youth reintegrate back into the community
as healthy, caring individuals.
This
extensive curriculum includes:
- team
working skills
- effective
communication
- anger
Management
- relapse
Prevention
- community
volunteering
- employer
expectations
- evaluation
of career interests
- preparation
of cover letter and resume
- interview
skills
- group
Equine Therapy and Yoga Therapy
- ability
to gain Food Safe and First Aid certificates
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| Client
Support Program
NOW’s Client
Support Program offers extensive client support services to the women
who enter NOW Canada. Participants
are provided with carefully planned one-on-one support to assist them in
getting their lives back on track. |
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Supports
include:
- referrals
to NOW Canada’s ASK Learning Centre or other programs which may better
meet an individual’s needs
- referrals
to treatment programs
- connections
to drug and alcohol counselling
- Advocacy
and support in attending appointments (e.g. Ministry of Children and Family
Development, medical assessments, court appointments)
- 24
hour emergency support
- on
going needs assessments and support for all NOW Clients
- specifically
designed support for youth and their families
- access
to one-on-one Trauma Therapy
NOW
Place Apartments
NOW Place
Apartments offer a home, not just a temporary place to live.
This complex provides independent, affordable, second stage accommodation
to women, with and without children, who demonstrate a proven financial need.
Amenities
include:
- 1
and 2 bed apartments
- 24
hour security system
- Drug
and alcohol free living
- Laundry
facilities
- 24
hour emergency assistance
- Access
to NOW Canada’s programs and services
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Follow
Care Program
After graduation from NOW Canada’s ASK Learning Centre, most
participants still require support. NOW
recognized that some ladies require more assistance than others therefore,
the Follow Care Program is participant initiated, allowing women to move
forward on their own, but still have the ability to seek our NOW’s
assistance as needed.
Follow
Care participants are also encouraged to act as Peer Mentors to women
going through NOW’s programs. They
act as role models and are proof that you can turn your life around and
live a healthy and safe life, free from addictions and abuse.
Follow Care participants have access to:
- Trauma
Therapy
- Yoga
Therapy
- Equine
Therapy
- one-on-one
client support
- 24
hour emergency assistance
- advocacy
and support in attending appointments
- NOW’s
Healthy Living Program
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Healthy
Living Program
This program provides temporary emergency funding and financial assistance
when unexpected and unbudgeted situations occur to participants who have already
proven willingness to make a lifestyle change.
This is participant initiated, individually assessed and provided on an
as-needed basis.
Examples
of assistance include:
- groceries
- rent
- prescription
medications
- emergency
dental work
- baby
supplies
- transportation
to get to school/work
- daycare
costs
- medically
advised dietary requirements
- specialist
appointments
24
Hour Emergency Assistance
NOW provides
24 hour emergency assistance to women looking to exit the sex trade and also for
NOW participants who may be in crisis and in danger of relapsing into their
previous unhealthy and unsafe lifestyle.
Trauma
Therapy
Since its
implementation in 2000, Trauma Therapy has become an important component in the
continuum of care offered at NOW Canada. NOW
works with some of BC’s most traumatized women, youth and children.
Trauma Therapy offers participants the opportunity to work one-on-one
with a qualified therapist to help them look at the reasons that initially led
them into the sex trade and/or addictions. Participants
learn new and effective coping strategies to help them deal with the past and
the traumatic life events they have encountered.
Equine Therapy
This
innovative program offers NOW participants the ability to take part in group
therapy sessions with an equine therapist. It
guides participants through the management of care for horses and provides them
the opportunity to explore the reasons why they experienced sexual exploitation
and addictions. Equine Therapy
assists in developing team working skills, builds self esteem and fosters
compassions towards others. It has
also been suggested that it ensures a stronger, more sustainable recovery for
the young women who take part in this unique program.
Yoga
Therapy
This offers
participants the opportunity to take part in weekly, 60 minute group sessions,
in a safe, non-judgmental environment. A
carefully planned mixture of Hatha and Ashtanga yoga is presented to
participants by a qualified yoga instructor, experienced in working with women
who have suffered abuse and addictions. Sessions
are aimed at increasing participants’ physical and mental stability to ensure
they stay safe, free from violence and abuse and remain focused on their
recovery.
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