The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) is the unified voice of 42 member shelter organizations. Shelters open their doors to provide a safe haven for women, children and seniors fleeing from the nightmare of domestic abuse. They support families as they develop the strength and skill to begin new lives free from violence.

ACWS assists shelters by initiating violence prevention projects to improve shelter services.  

• Education resources for children and schools.
• Specialist work with the 5 on-reserve member shelters, for culturally sensitive intervention development and success achieved for parity funding.
• Shelter system on HOMES database.*
• The State of Alberta’s Children: recommendation on shelter bed capacity implemented by the Alberta Government.
• Inter-sectoral agreements such as MOU with RCMP K Division, Protocol with Alberta Children’s Services, Income support.

ACWS provides professional development and cross-sectoral training for executive directors and shelter workers.

• HOMES training*
• Women’s Shelter Leadership Development Bursary program.
• Crisis Intervention Certificate program in partnership with Portage College.
• Children Exposed to Domestic Violence training.

ACWS is an acknowledged source of expert data collection and undertakes action research.

• Shelter system on the HOMES database,* resulting in longitudinal data gathering at the front line level, on domestic violence in Alberta, including such fields as
  •    Outcome measures for outreach, children’s work and women’s experience of abuse and service provision.
• Danger Assessment research, in partnership with Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell and Johns Hopkins University, for tracking prevention and effective interventions in Alberta.
• Community partner in The Healing Journey, a 3-province longitudinal study on domestic violence that will lead to more effective practices in violence prevention.

ACWS creates public awareness and provides the necessary tools and information for business and community involvement.

• Breakfast with the Guys:  public awareness work with male leaders in the province.
• Public lectures and education sessions.
• Workplace violence initiative.
• Posters, media campaigns and press releases.
• Standing Together: a publication of narratives by Alberta women survivors.
• Silent Witness exhibit.
• November Family Violence Prevention Month Campaign.
• Increasing international support for violence prevention through presentation of the first, ever World Conference on Women’s Shelters**
  • (September 2008) and creation of a global Community of Practice.

*  www.HMRP.net/CanadianOutcomesInstitute.net

** www.womensshelter.ca

Funding for some of 2009's operational projects was provided by: