Giving Tuesday 2021

Tuesday, November 30th is Giving Tuesday, a global movement for giving and volunteering which takes place each year after Black Friday.

This year Once again CASASC is launching a donation drive to collect comfort items for the SART (in-hospital) program.

CASASC offers a 24-hour Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). This team is a collaborative partnership between CASASC and the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Together support and treatment is provided to those who have experienced recent sexual assault.

The Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre completes sexual assault exams for anyone within the Central Alberta Region and is the main regional artery and contact for towns and cities between Edmonton and Calgary. If a survivor decides to seek medical support at the hospital, it is reassuring to know a trained team is there to meet them and provide the best patient care and support.

When in the hospital, the survivor may also choose to speak with a CASASC trained SART member, who provide information and support. SART members offer each individual a care package that includes comfort items like a blanket, slippers or socks, a journal or a stress ball.

These comfort items provide individuals with a small piece of solace during a trying time. Each pair of slippers or blanket provided show compassion, care and love from the community.

SART members are there not only to support the survivor, but also their family members or anyone who may have come with them to the hospital.

The Central Alberta SART team provides in-hospital support to over 130 individuals each year.

 

Comfort items being collected include:

Fuzzy socks and/or slippers

Blankets

Journals

Stress balls

 

Due to COVID restrictions, only new items are being accepted at this time.

Donations will be accepted between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30th at the CASASC main office (A201, 5212 48 Street). A donation bin will be set up in the front lobby area, just inside the doorway. AHS health guidelines will be followed to protect the well-being of donors, clients, staff and community members.

Monetary donations will be accepted at the main office (cash, credit or cheque). Online donations to this campaign are accepted via our CanadaHelps page

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/central-alberta-sexual-assault-centre/campaign/giving-tuesday-comfort-and-care/

 

Brave Noise promotes safe spaces

Let’s create some noise around positive workplace culture.

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) and Troubled Monk have partnered together for Brave Noise.

Brave Noise is a global collaboration beer with a very brave purpose – stepping up and speaking out for equity in the beer industry. It’s a call to fight for safe places and inclusive environments.

On October 28 Troubled Monk released Brave Noise Pale Ale with a portion of proceeds going to CASASC. Donations will help support survivors of sexual violence, specifically those who connect with the CASASC 24 hour Sexual Violence Text, Webchat and Phone Help Line.

Brave Noise is also connecting with CASASC’s newest campaign – Only Yes Means Yes (OYMY). Brave Noise and OYMY reflect on the same goal – to encourage conversation and give those who have been victimized a safe space to share their story.

“We are happy to be partnering with Troubled Monk, one of our local businesses, and be connected to the global Brave Noise initiative and their advocacy for safe places and inclusive environments for women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals,” said CASASC Education and Community Awareness Manager Carlia Schwab. “Troubled Monk’s Brave Noise Pale Ale connects central Albertans with our OYMY consent campaign that changes how we look at and understand consent and focuses on creating a positive consent culture.”

Supporters can stop by Troubled Monk (5551 45 Street, Red Deer, AB) today to enjoy a pint or pick up a four-pack to get behind an amazing cause. Brave Noise is also available in select stores and on tap in area restaurants and bars.

Read more here about Brave Noise on the Troubled Monk blog here: https://troubledmonk.com/blog/2021/09/24/brave-noise/

Only Yes Means Yes when it comes to consent

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is excited to officially launch the Only Yes Means Yes (OYMY) campaign.

The education, community relations and communications teams have collaborated to create this ongoing poster and awareness campaign around positive consent conversations.

The OYMY campaign challenges our consent conversations by reinforcing that our bodies are always conveying a lack of consent (always saying “no”) and that consent can only happen when a person actively and consciously says “yes” and gives or shows their consent.

Through three simple, relatable posters, CASASC is showing central Albertans what consent can sound and look like, prompting adults to ask the question “Did I get a yes?” and showing what that “yes” can be.

Consent is an important concept in sexual violence prevention. Speaking positively about consent can change our community for the better. OYMY focuses on what positive consent can sound and look like as a way to promote healthy relationships and increase a greater sense of consent culture.

These posters are geared for adult audiences who visit public spaces like bars, restaurants, medical clinics, services agencies and many more. We are asking workplaces to place posters in their staff rooms and places where clients/customers may gather like bathrooms, tables, bulletin boards and gathering spaces in our communities.

We have also developed a FAQ for the campaign that can be used to promote the campaign in the communities we serve.

Over the summer months, OYMY was soft launched into the central Alberta community. Our education team visited over 19 central Alberta communities to have in-person conversations with organizations and business to bring awareness of our services and to share the campaign and posters.

Family Violence Prevention Month 2021

 

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual violence each and every day of the year.

In Alberta, November is Family Violence Prevention Month (FVPM). The goal of FVPM is to raise public awareness around family violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.

What is Family Violence:

Family violence is when someone uses abusive behaviour to control and/or harm a member of their family, or someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.

Family violence includes many different forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect carried out by family members or intimate partners. It may include a single act of violence, or a number of acts that form a pattern of abuse. Family violence can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for victims and for those who see or hear the violence.

Family violence can happen to people of all ages, abilities, cultural and spiritual backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. Victims can be in romantic relationships, divorced, children (birth, step, adopted or foster), grandparents, or individuals with guardians or caregivers.

 

Family Violence and COVID-19:

Rates of family violence increase during and following natural disasters, public health crises and economic downturns. It is important to know where you can turn if you are experiencing family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Child sexual abuse

With the added stress and time together caused by COVID-19, families with unhealthy relationships are more likely to experience child sexual violence.

Social isolation

Isolation is a risk factor for family violence. Many people who experience family violence use their support of friends and family to manage their situation. Social distancing and self-quarantine or isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can make it more challenging to access valuable relationships, but there are ways to stay connected.

 

How You Can Stay Involved All Month Long

Throughout November we’re featuring different ways you can get involved by promoting awareness. Want to get involved? We’ve got you covered. We’ve created custom FVPM graphics for you to share, tweet and tag CASASC throughout the month, along with many other resources and events:

-Purple ribbons – Small silk purple ribbons will be available at both CASASC locations throughout the month. Wear the purple ribbon in unity to show survivors of family violence that they are not alone.

-Purple #iRespect t-shirt – CASASC will have a special edition iRespect t-shirt available. Individuals are encouraged to wear theirs throughout the month, and on Purple Day and the Day of Action.

 

Events:

-Silent Witnesses (Purple Silhouettes) – Friday, November 26th and ongoing

CASASC will be hosting an outdoor exhibit with silent witnesses (purple human figure cut outs) to bring awareness to the issue of family violence in our community. The exhibit will be able to be viewed from your vehicle or on foot on Friday, November 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the north corner of Centennial Plaza Park (52nd Ave. and 48 Street).

The purple silhouettes are also popping up around the community, “hanging out” with our community partners over the next couple weeks. Silent witnesses can can be found at Cilantro and Chive Red Deer (1927 50 Ave.), Troubled Monk (5551 45 Street) and The Outreach Centre (4101 54 Ave.).

-Info Booth at Lacombe Farmer’s Market– Friday, November 19th

Visit our team at the Lacombe Farmer’s Market. We will be handing out information on family violence prevention and info on our services and campaigns.

-Purple Day of Action – Friday, November 26th

On this day, bring out your purple once again to take action against family violence. Show your purple and make a statement that family violence must be prevented in our community.

-Info booth at Red Deer Rebels game – Friday, November 26th

Visit our team at the Red Deer Rebels game in the community corner. We will be handing out information on family violence prevention and info on our services and campaigns.