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August 2019
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Alberta Initiatives

Expansion of Specialized Police and Court Support Services in Alberta

Survivors of sexual violence and their supporters can access specialized support and information about the criminal justice system in more communities across Alberta than ever before. Over the past year, sexual assault services in Alberta have been working to build and enhance their programming focused on survivors who may want to engage with the criminal justice system. Staff in member agencies across the province are trained to assist survivors who are at any stage of the criminal justice process, from contemplating filing a report to police, through to court preparation and accompaniment during the trial process, for both recent and historical experiences of sexual violence. Survivors will be provided accurate information about the processes and procedures of the criminal justice system, which can help to address many of the fears and to dispel myths that survivors may have about the process. This can help to ease anxiety and can be integral to supporting a survivor’s well-being and comfort throughout this stressful process. The support worker can also help advocate for the survivor and be a consistent source of support throughout what can be a complicated and lengthy process.

If you are considering if you want to engage with criminal justice system, reach out to your local sexual assault service (text or call 1-866-403-8000, chat www.aasas.ca) to be connected to specialized program staff.

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:
Aug 6-7     Edmonton (Session Full)
Aug 26-27 Ottawa (Registration Open)
Aug 28-29  Maskwacis (Private Training)
Oct 10-11   Lethbridge (Registration Open)
Oct 16-17   Red Deer (Registration Open)
Oct 17-18   Calgary (Registration Open)
Nov 5-6      Lloydminster (Registration Open)
Nov 21-22  Peterborough (Private Training)

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

Join the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) for a fantastic FUNdraising evening with an island flair. Dress in your favourite Hawaiian shirt, or your favourite sundress, enjoy a Polynesian dinner, and Hawaiian entertainment.

Lots of summer fun, beach photo boards, live and silent auctions.

Supporting the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, CASASC and the Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation.
A fun Halloween themed event for Southeastern Alberta's Sexual Assault Response Committee. Join them October 26 for canapes, dancing and of course, lots of fun for a great cause.

Raise funds for Southern Alberta's Child Advocacy Centre. For more information visit www.lightthenightball.com
Join SAFFRON in May 2020 for a two-day conference that celebrates resilience in those who have been impacted by trauma, and also to learn how to build resilience in those who work with individuals who have experienced trauma.

The focus of day one is celebrating and building resilience with our clients. Day two is building and recognizing resilience within ourselves as we work with those who have experienced trauma. 

With keynote speakers already scheduled, Saffron is extending an invitation to members of our community who are working with clients who have experienced trauma to present during the breakout sessions. If you are interested in applying on behalf of your agency to speak at the conference, please download the application form.
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