Albertans are encouraged to address the issue of domestic abuse in their communities during Family Violence Prevention Month in November.
According to Sabrine Koudmani, program co-ordinator with Cochrane and Area Victims Services, raising awareness about the issue is important to ensure that everyone understands the signs of an unhealthy relationship.
“Knowledge is power, and the more awareness we can raise, the better,” Koudmani said. “If your friends and neighbours can recognize patterns of unrest in the home, they may be able to reach out and offer help.”
Koudmani said situations of emotional abuse can be especially difficult to recognize, but many victims will also ignore physical abuse because they can’t see past the “entrenched patterns” they’ve become accustomed to. Providing education around what abuse can look like is an important part of what the organization does, Koudmani said.
“By being visible in the community and talking about family violence, we can also offer victims a bit of solidarity,” she said. “When people know this is an issue that other people care about, they might be more likely to reach out and have the strength to leave a situation that’s not good.”
Over the last quarter – which includes the months of July, August and September – Koudmani said Victims Services has taken on 162 files. Of those files, 24 per cent fall under the classification of Family Violence Act, which are files that involve criminal charges. Family violence without charges laid made up seven per cent of the files from the last quarter.
The organization works with clients to help with things like safety planning, finding counselling services, learning parenting skills and even helping them access financial benefits where applicable. They also provide support through the court process, which can be especially challenging for victims of abuse.
“We are kind of their voice and their go-between but also just an information source,” Koudmani said. “We don’t have all the answers and may not have a solution, but we will work with our clients and our network to make sure they’re not alone. Our goal is really just to be there as a support and help provide whatever service we can to people who are in really bad circumstances.”
Koudmani said Victims Services is always looking for volunteers to join the team. While volunteering with the organization can be demanding, she said it’s also a rewarding experience. Ongoing training is provided on a wide variety of topics, Koudmani added.
“At the end of the day, we won’t be able to reach people if they don’t reach out to us,” she said.
“As much as we try to be proactive and get out into the community to be visible, the most powerful thing any victim of violence has is their own voice. We can amplify that as an organization, but they have to come to us, first.”
For more information or to volunteer, contact Cochrane and Area Victims Services through Cochrane RCMP at 403-851-8000.
