The Women’s Centre of Grey Bruce is launching an anti-human trafficking program in 2021.
It’s also employing a new strategy to address domestic violence cases.
A release says, the Centre has been selected by the Ontario government to launch an anti-human trafficking program in Grey Bruce, through a $1.3 million Anti-Human Trafficking Community Support Fund.
The Centre says the program is aimed at creating public awareness of the “growing trafficking problem” in the community, and to direct support to youth victims.
The Women’s Centre will partner with community agencies to provide wrap-around victim support and the program will include an educational component for school-aged children that focuses on the signs of human trafficking.
The Women’s Centre says it will also provide shelter, counselling, and outreach support to human trafficking victims under 16 years old.
The Centre says it has also recently partnered with WomanACT in a pilot program to introduce the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) model in addressing domestic violence cases. MARAC is a popular model in the UK and Europe which reportedly reduces repeat victimization by increasing safety and connecting survivors with the support they need.
The Centre says, “This partnership will help create the foundational materials necessary for a nation-wide rollout for agencies to work together in risk assessment, information sharing, and safety planning.”
Meanwhile, the Centre remains open during the current provincewide shutdown. It offers 24-hour service including emergency shelter, counselling, crisis line support, safety planning, and advocacy to women and children in the Grey Bruce community.
Women and children who feel unsafe or are experiencing abuse, can reach The Women’s Centre by:
24/7 crisis phone line: 519-371-1600 / 1-800-265-3722
24/7 text support: 226-974-0755
9-1-1 for all emergency situations
thewomenscentre.org or Facebook