The Domestic Violence Outreach program offers support to individuals leaving or experiencing domestic abuse.  This program can be a source of short-term support as women seek information and make healthy choices.  The focus is safety, connection to resources, information, and education related to domestic abuse and breaking the cycle of violence.

The outreach team provides case management services to individuals who have experienced domestic abuse or family violence, either in the community or transitioning from a shelter.  While everyone’s experiences are unique, services may include:

• case management
• safety planning
• addressing basic needs
• advocacy and referrals
• educations and prevention
• individual support / crisis intervention
• assisting individuals to secure affordable housing
• assisting individuals to address financial concerns
• understanding and working through the legal/judicial system
• connecting individuals to resources

Our goal is to ensure anyone living in or leaving an abusive relationships has access to someone who can respond to their crisis and support them.

If you would like more information regarding domestic violence support and/or be connected to an Outreach Worker please call 403-347-2480.

The Domestic Abuse Response Team is intended to focus not only on immediate crisis needs of families, but provide early intervention and ongoing support to help individuals and families avoid reaching further crisis.

A partnership between Red Deer Regional Hospital Emergency Department and The Outreach Centre that focuses on the prevention of further victimization, decreases utilization of healthcare services, and encourages survivors of violence to seek supports needed to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of their children.

Referrals to DART are ONLY through the Emergency Department of Red Deer Regional Hospital.

DART staff will:

• provide patient with crisis intervention
• provide patient with domestic violence information
• assess further immediate risk of domestic violence
• develop a 24 hour safety plan (including accommodations)
• discuss patient safety upon discharge from the Emergency Department
• upon consent follow up with patient the following business day

If you would like more information regarding the DART team, domestic violence support and/or be connected to an Outreach Worker please call 403-347-2480.

Victims of domestic abuse can visit a licensed therapist to learn how to cope with the emotional trauma that’s often left behind even after they’ve left an abusive relationship.  Those who are in an abusive relationship can receive the help to recognize, understand the abuse, and develop the skills and resources to address the abuse for themselves.

In many cases, individuals suffering through domestic abuse or family violence are not inclined to report what is happening to the authorities. This stems from fear as well as the hope that the behavior will go away. Unfortunately, it rarely does, and in most cases, it worsens.

Domestic abuse or family violence can be physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological. Common behaviors include name calling, threat making, manipulation, humiliation, blaming, and similar violations. Other dangerous indicators of domestic abuse or violence involve the aggressor attempting to isolate the victim from others, monitoring the victim’s behavior, among other acts.

Being in a violent relationship can feel incredibly isolating. Although it may feel as if you are alone, it is important to know that there are people who can help. The first step of reaching out is often the hardest, but it is the only way the violence will stop. Research shows that women who are in or have left an abusive relationship experience a higher than average level of anxiety, depression, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Many women and men can find it difficult to deal with the emotional and psychological impacts of abuse and the ways in which it can continue to affect their lives, and relationship with others over time.

If you would like more information regarding domestic violence therapy and/or be connected to a therapist please call 403-347-2480.