Crisis Intervention Program

Our Crisis Intervention Workers provide 24-hour support to the women and children in Shelter, as well as to people who phone our Crisis Line. Our job is to help our residents feel welcome and safe, and to support them as they identify their needs.

Brigantia Place will:

• provide crisis intervention services to resident and non-resident contacts both in-house and over the phone
• encourage and support appropriate community referrals
• provide up-to-date information on the patterns and effects of family violence
• ensure the security and safety of families within the shelter

Outreach Program

The Brigantia Place Outreach Program consists of three projects: Outreach, Follow Up and Preventive Education. All programs are free of charge and offer non-judgmental support. Services are available regardless of family status, however, risk assessment may be completed to ensure staff safety in visiting a client's home.

• The Outreach Project provides support to women, men and families who may not have previously utilized emergency shelter services, but who are affected by family violence.
• The Follow Up Project is offered to women and children as they make the transition from shelter to community living. Support services are also available to partners who may be abusive.
• The Preventive Education Project aspect includes facilitating educational presentations and/or workshops on a variety of issues.

Brigantia Place will:

• accept referrals from community agencies relating to interventions in the family's home when prevention of domestic violence is identified and there is no other mandated service available to the client.
• provide in-home prevention, education and support detailing all aspects of intimidate partner abuse, parenting, and life-skills to families
• provide basic counselling, emotional support, encouragement, life skills and problem solving skills to the family
• offer a weekly sharing circle group for residents and non-residents
• develop a family safety plan
• advocate with individuals for their link to community resources to continue the prevention process

Family Support Program

The Family Support Program exists to provide support in a child focused, individual and family context with the goal of enhancing and maintaining the spiritual, physical, emotional and social well-being of the family. In order to achieve this objective, we offer weekly Parenting Groups, Mom and Tot Play Groups, and Kids Groups. The Parenting Group allows women to share their stories and receive support. The group is also used for education surrounding the effects of abuse on children, and provides suggestions for parenting. The Mom and Tot Play Group gives moms a chance to play with their children in a structured format. The Kids Group focuses on how the children are feeling, the experiences they had at home and also gives the children a chance to interact with each other.

Brigantia Place offers extra programming in the summer for the children. Child care workers are responsible to plan age appropriate activities for the children at the Shelter. Brigantia Place cannot however offer babysitting services for children.

Volunteers are a fundamental component of Brigantia Place and the battered women's movement. This has been true historically, as the first services for battered women were initiated by volunteers. Brigantia Place Volunteer Program is funded by the Wildrose Foundation. We have an Adult and a Teen Volunteer Program with a wide variety of opportunities to choose from.

Adult Program	Teen Program
Resident Support Receptionist Child Care Maintenance Reading Baking Computers Sports Crafts Fundraising Clothing Depot Yard Care	Child Care Reading Music Computers Crafts Baking Electronics Carpentry Yard Care

Volunteers are important to Brigantia Place. The time, energy, skill, and support given by volunteers has allowed the Shelter to broaden its scope and offer a variety of services, which would not have been possible otherwise. Volunteers have brought a wide variety of skills that have enriched the programs offered at the Shelter. Volunteers have added support, friendship, knowledge, and endless amounts of enthusiasm. Brigantia Place honours its volunteers for their many hours of commitment to Brigantia Place and the excellence they demonstrate on a daily basis.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or a volunteer board member, please call 672-1045.

The School Program at Brigantia Place is operated by Battle River Regional School Division. We have a certified teacher and follow the Alberta Curriculum for all grades 1 to 8. During their stay at the Shelter, your child/children will be able to keep up in the math and language arts areas. The class sizes are small which gives the teacher more time to implement as individual program for each student.

As well as academic instruction, we discuss the issues that brought the family to the Shelter. How are the children feeling and what do they do with these feelings?

The school day is from 9:00 - 11:45 AM, lunch break, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday. We have a fitness program outdoors in the nearby parks and hiking trails daily. Parents and pre-schoolers are invited to come with us and enjoy an outing outside of the Shelter.