Community needs plan to address violence against women

Shining Mountains Living Community Services is turning its attention outwards with the goal of creating a plan that will help reduce violence against women.

The organization, which for the past 17 years has provided shelter and support to women fleeing domestic violence in central Alberta, recently received $300,000 from the Status of Women to undertake a longer term plan.

Shining Mountains, which is run by Aboriginal women, is partnering with Blackfalds Neighbourhood Place in a three-year project to create a community plan to address violence against women.

“The plan is centered on the women,” said Raye St. Denys, executive director of Shining Mountains. “Women hold the knowledge of what they need.”

Since 1995, Shining Mountains has provided safe housing for women and their families fleeing violence and addictions with on-site support, parenting and life skills programs, violence and addictions prevention and nutrition and budgeting. The agency delivers HIV/AIDS education to Aboriginal communities in a culturally appropriate way, transitional housing for two years or more and a cooking program for men and women to learn how to prepare nutritious food on a limited budget. Ninety-five per cent of those accessing its services are Aboriginal women and children.

St. Denys has deep roots in Blackfalds.  Her family has lived in the community just outside of Red Deer for 45-50 years. St. Denys said she has seen the degree of violence grow and it is significant for the population. Blackfalds has been growing rapidly with its population going from 2,000 in the year 2000 to 6,300 in 2011.

 It is anticipated that the community will reach 10,000 by 2015, said Jennifer Howitt of Blackfalds Neighbourhood Place, who adds that services have not kept up with the growth.  Howitt’s organization along with Victims Services are the only two social service agencies in Blackfalds.

Many residents are Aboriginal and many work in the oil patch, with all the social factors that accompany it, said St. Denys. Blackfalds residents access many services in Red Deer, but women escaping violence are often stranded as there is no bussing available to the city.
It is these situations that the three year plan will address.

Phase one of the community plan will involve interviewing the women in Blackfalds who have self-identified as having directly experienced violence, having family members or friends who have experienced, or having been involved with Blackfalds Neighborhood Place.  Other stakeholders including RCMP, first responders, people in government and town council, will also assist in developing the plan.

In phase two, they will go back to the women, explained St. Denys, asking if the information is right, what solutions they think would help and how can the issues be addressed.

“Feedback from the town and other stakeholders will be sought to determine what they are capable of doing,” said St. Denys.

In the plan’s final phase, the partners will explore options, develop the report and provide feedback to the community. If it is determined that a shelter is needed in Blackfalds, their board will entertain the idea, said St. Denys.