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Family Violence Services

 

Family Violence Services

Are you suffering or think you could be suffering family violence? First of all, if this the case, know it’s not your fault! Violence is not something that “just happens”, it’s something that someone does intentionally to hurt you.  

Community Links is here to assist you in finding answers to questions related to this issue. Our Community Support workers are available to help you navigate your situation and explore resources that may be of help to you. A Family Violence Counsellor is available to listen to the struggles someone is putting you through, can assess your situation, and provide an outside perspective on the level of risk you may be facing. The counsellor has no expectations about the decisions you make pertaining to this relationship unless your life is at risk. They will provide a safe and non-judgemental space where you can vent, ask, process, and discuss the steps you would want to consider in keeping yourself and those who depend on you safe from the abuser. Together, we will develop a safety plan that matches your unique needs and circumstances.

First, here’s some information…

What is family violence?

Family violence is any intimidating, harmful, dominating, and abusive behaviour that an individual in a family setting commits against another causing them fear and suffering. They could be your relative or be a domestic or intimate partner, or a previous partner. The term family violence is used interchangeably with domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and gender violence when the victim identifies as a woman or is a person discriminated against because of their gender. Here at Community Links, we use family violence to refer to this issue because we are aware that abusers not only target romantic partners but also direct their abuse towards other members of the family.  

Family violence is when one individual who is considered “family” uses a series of actions to exert power and control over the other. The abuse they exercise can be physical, sexual, physical, verbal, spiritual, emotional, financial, neglectful or psychological. Abuse happens to anyone, of any age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or gender, and affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Family violence acts can occur in both public and private spaces, as well as online.

Family violence can involve a variety of groupings: spouse to spouse; parent to child; child to parent; adult family members to elders and, situations of triangulation. It also occurs in a variety of relationships such as marriage, common-law, dating, and co-parenting (when living apart). Exposure to family violence is a form of child maltreatment.


The impacts of family violence are extensive and long-lasting. It has significant and long-term physical and health impacts on those enduring the abuse as well as in exposed children. Beyond any immediate physical injury, family violence increases the risk for a number of conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease. 

At Community Links, we honor resistance. A common belief is that victims choose to stay in abusive relationships, perhaps because they don’t have the will or capacity to leave, but we believe that victims are always actively opposing or challenging the violence they are suffering. People in abusive relationships resist their perpetrators by standing up against them when it is safe to do so, not complying with their demands, preventing the violence if they can, protecting others, praying for change, hiding their suffering, and reaching out to others who are not judgmental, among many other things. We believe that victims are aware of their own circumstances and often dream of leaving their abuser even if they are not able to do so. Lastly, we believe that if they have remained with a partner or relative despite their abuse, it’s not a matter of will, but due to social factors that make them doubt their capacity to build a successful life on their own.

Barriers to leave an abusive relationship:

Additional Information:

a) Family violence is a violation of personal rights.

b) Family violence can escalate in frequency, magnitude, and duration over time.

c) Family violence can continue when a relationship ends, even if there is no co-parenting (known as post-separation abuse). The risk for escalating abuse, including criminal harassment (e.g., stalking), physical injury and homicide suicide, is highest in t he weeks and months immediately following separation, and may continue beyond this period.

d) Family violence is not about anger or losing one’s temper. It is not caused by stress, substance abuse, poverty, mental illness, or any other extenuating circumstance. However, it may be exacerbated by such circumstances, and other issues may, in turn, be exacerbated by domestic violence.

e) Family violence can occur in social attitudes and beliefs that give rise to, or reinforce, abusive behaviour. Family violence often stems from a sense of entitlement. Sexism and misogyny often accompany abusive attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours.

f) Family violence is detrimental to the whole family unit. It presupposes and creates a break-down of family support and the loss of the family as a place of safety, nurturance, and well-being.

g) Family violence is learned behaviour and may present over several generations. It may present within a cultural or religious context, for example, the belief that having sex with your partner is “an obligation” even when you do not want to. No matter what, rape is not ok even when the person is your significant other.

 h) Family violence is normalized in some contexts. It may be viewed as “normal” by the abuser, the abused, and even other family and friends who are indirectly affected by the abuse. Whatever the belief or however it presents, family violence is still wrong, and the abuser is responsible for his or her behaviour.

At Community Links, when we say “it’s not your fault”, we mean it! We are here to help you assess your circumstances and challenge your barriers. It’s not easy to leave an abusive environment but it is possible! While you decide what the best course of action in your situation is, we are here to guide you, you do not have to do it alone! Reach out!

Early Prevention Programming

  • Our programming geared to child development and parent capacity is a key component in our prevention work.  These programs help build nurturing environments, strong attachments and early education all factors which reduce the risk of violence.

Information and Referral

  • Navigation support is available for basic needs, referrals for additional support systems such as parenting, immigration, shelters, financial support, and legal guidance.

Safer Spaces Certificate to End Tenancy

Clare’s Law

3rd Stage Housing

  • In partnership with Airdrie Housing we have an opportunity to support a family to be prioritized for Airdrie Housing.  They must meet the screening criteria and be approved by Airdrie Housing

Family Violence Counsellor

A highly trained and experienced Family Violence Counsellor is available.  Service is provided at no cost.  Support to develop a safety plan is part of this service.

Women Supporting Women in Healing From Abuse

  • This group will discuss what is family violence, barriers in leaving, boundaries, beyond trauma, gender oppression, roles of culture and environment, parenting in adversity, anger and moving forward. Join us for evenings filled with learning, understanding compassion and laughter! We will learn and unlearn together and explore our creative side.

Healthy Relationships Group

  • In our Healthy Relationships Group we will discuss what is healthy and unhealthy in relationships. You will learn the essential components of a relationship with yourself and your relationships with others. You will have space to explore your emotions and values and learn about the impact of self-care and self-compassion on your self-esteem and overall emotional state. We will discuss the role of communication and boundaries in relationships and explore conflict resolution

  No Where to Turn- Airdrie’s run to End Family Violence

  • This run to end family violence was founded by an Airdrie community collaboration in 2017 to raise much-needed funds and facilitate free services and supports for adults and children experiencing domestic violence. All proceeds raised will fund these free services and supports at North Rocky View Community Links.

 Event organizers continue to honour the memory of Airdrie’s Andrea Conroy, who was taken from her children, family, and community in an act of domestic violence on February 21, 2012 at the age of 33. A highly trained and experienced Family Violence Counsellor is available.  Service is provided at no cost.  Support to develop a safety plan is part of this service.

 
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