Copy
June 2019
View this email in your browser

Alberta Initiatives

AASAS was thrilled to launch Alberta's ONE LINE for Sexual Violence on May 6th. 

Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence provides confidential support and information, and boosts access to specialized services for individuals who have been impacted by sexual violence. One Line is a province-wide first-response platform that connects survivors to local and regional services. Alberta’s #IBelieveYou campaign and the #MeToo movement have dramatically increased demand for sexual assault services. In some centres, demand has more than doubled. One Line is a specialized response to that growing demand.

One Line is staffed by trained, specialized responders, both paid and volunteer. Support will be available 9:00 am to 9:00 pm seven days a week with access to interpretation services in over 200 languages, including Cree. After hours support is available from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am through the Central Alberta Sexual Assault and Support Centre.

Rural centres do not have the same access to crisis support common in urban centres, yet the rate of sexual violence is often higher in rural areas relative to population. One Line levers the services of larger urban centres to provide emotional support, information, and referral across regions. Where possible, survivors will be connected to the services nearest to them.
#IBelieveYou at Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College has been a partner in the #IBelieveYou campaign since its inception. This year, the college created a video to share the message of support to those who have experienced sexual violence.

In the News

Alberta's One Line

With simultaneous launches in eleven Alberta Communities, there was plenty of media coverage of this new and essential service.

CBC Radio
Global TV
CTV Lethbridge
CHAT News Medicine Hat
CTV Lloydminster
and many more.
Dear Survivor, You Are Not Alone

The University of Calgary, Mt. Royal University and Bow Valley College partnered on an awareness campaign during Sexual Violence Awareness Month in Alberta. 

“As thought leaders in our communities, post-secondary institutions have a responsibility to move the needle in terms of sexual violence awareness and prevention. Through this partnership our institutions are working together in solidarity to heighten awareness and communicate the importance of this work to our larger Calgary community.”

Training Opportunities

First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training

What will Participants Learn?

This training is intended to build the capacity of professionals, paraprofessionals and community members to assess and respond effectively to disclosures of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Survivors who receive safe and supportive responses to disclosures of sexual violence are more likely to reach out for help from medical and counselling services and/ or report to police. First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™ is a comprehensive two day training, inclusive of the full continuum of sexual violence and across the lifespan.

Upcoming training dates:
June 13-14 Calgary (Session Full)
Aug 6-7 Edmonton (Session Full)
Oct 10-11 Lethbridge (Registration Open)

Please visit the AASAS website regularly for new training dates.

If you would like to coordinate a First Responder Training in your community, organization, or institution – please email AASAS.
Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence

The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) is thrilled to announce an upcoming Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence Course, taking place in an online classroom from September 26 – December 12, 2019. 
 
What will Students Learn?
This course offers an integrative, mindfulness-based approach to ongoing assessment and interventions with adult survivors (all genders) of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. It draws on the most current theory including feminist, attachment, regulation, and interpersonal neurobiology; and evidence-based practices, including mindfulness, cognitive, emotion-centred, somatic, neurofeedback and other emergent approaches for trauma, addiction and mental health.
 
Who Is This Course For?:
This 12 week online integrative course is designed for counselors, therapists, and other mental health practitioners who may wish to work with survivors of sexual violence, or who may be already working with survivors and would like to more deeply inform their counselling practice. Registrants must have, at a minimum, a bachelors level education in a social or health services discipline and/or are registered/licensed with a professional association that maintains a code of ethics and standards of practice that provide parameters for the registrant’s scope of practice. Special considerations may be accommodated on a case by case basis.
 
Participant Feedback about the Course:
  • “I really enjoyed every part of this course… I felt my instructors were very informative and presented the course great”
  • “I very much appreciated how comprehensive this course was”
  • “I feel I learned things about myself and am aware of it now”
For more information and to register, click on the poster below. 

Member Agency Events & Updates

Chinook Sexual Assault Centre AGM will be hosted on June 10, 2019.

June 17 and 18, Sagesse with their Rainbow Ready Program, will be reviewing the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre processes and assisting them in ensuring they are welcoming and responsive to the needs of the LGBTQ2+ Community.
Copyright © 2019 Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services, All rights reserved.