NEW parenting group

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Join us for Rest, Play, Grow – a book discussion group starting on Jan. 14. at 6 p.m.

Rest, Play, Grow is grounded in the integrated, attachment-based and developmental approach to making sense of kids created by Gordon Neufeld.

Participants will read two chapters of Rest, Play, Grow by Debra Macnamara during the week and then come together to share insights, questions, and experiences. In case a participant is not able to do the reading, there will be a review of the material at the beginning of each meeting.

 

Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)

Based on the work of one of the world’s foremost child development experts, Rest, Play, Grow offers a road map to making sense of young children, and is what every toddler, preschooler, and kindergartner wishes we understood about them. Baffling and beloved, with the capacity to go from joy to frustration in seconds, young children are some of the most misunderstood people on the planet.

 

Chapters (topics covered):

-How Adults Grow Young Children up

-The Preschooler Personality: Part beauty, part beast

-Preserving Play: Defending childhood in a digital world

-Hungry for Connection: Why relationship matters

-Who’s in Charge? The dance of attachment

-Feelings and Hurts: Keeping children’s hearts soft

-Tears and Tantrums: Understanding frustration and aggression

-Alarmed by Disconnection: Bedtime, separation, and anxiety

-“You’re Not the Boss of Me”: Understanding resistance and opposition

-Discipline for the Immature: Buying time for the child to grow up

-How Young Children Grow Adults Up

 

Discussions are facilitated by Michelle Moger and CASASC therapists.

Rest, Play, Grow runs for 6 weeks.

Find out more info and/or to reserve your spot email casasc@casasc.ca or call 403-340-1124.

Vigils held to remember victims of violence

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A moving vigil was held in Red Deer and Lacombe on Dec. 6 to remember victims of violence.

Attendees gathered at Red Deer City Hall Park and at gazebo in the Lacombe Memorial Centre park to bring awareness on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

This day marks 30 years since the tragic mass shooting at l’École Polytechnique de Montreal where 14 young women lost their lives in a senseless, targeted act of violence. December 6 is designated by Parliament as a national day to commemorate this tragedy and reflect on the troubling fact that for women, girls and LGBTQ2 individuals across our country violence continues to be a daily reality.

Attendees at the vigils were given candles and white roses to hold while various speakers made remarks about the impact of gender-based violence in our community.

Speakers at both parts of the vigil included Rayann Tonner from the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, Patricia Arango of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, Debbie Barron of the Lacombe Victim Service Unit and Elder Corky Larsen.

City of Lacombe Councillor Thalia Hibbs addressed the group gathered under the gazebo on behalf of the City.

Both parts of the vigil were MCed by Kellie Cummings from the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre.

Rotary East supports No Secrets

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The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) recently received a donation from Rotary Club of Red Deer East for the No Secrets and education programming.

CASASC Executive Director (left) accepted the $7,500 donation from Rotary representatives Club President Liz Audenart (centre) and President Elect Sharon Moffat (right) on Dec. 6.

The funds were generated through Gala Luau, an annual Rotary fundraiser in support of the Smiles Thru Lindsay Foundation, the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre and CASASC.

No Secrets is a personal safety program for children ages 5 to 9 with a focus on child sexual abuse prevention. No Secrets provides a forum from which children can discuss safe and unsafe touching, body parts including private areas, feelings and who you can tell.

The donation to the Kindergarten to Grade 4 sexual violence prevention program will be used towards program materials.

#YourWordsMatter at Red Deer College

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Your words matter. The language we use to talk about others and explain our experiences matter. Words can be seen as a form of gender-based violence (GBV).

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) continued its’ mission to eliminate sexual violence by partnering with the Students’ Association of Red Deer College (SA) for #YourWordsMatter, an GBV awareness event.

#YourWordsMatter, the awareness and info fair and silent march through campus, occurred on Thursday, Nov. 28 at Red Deer College.

The purpose of this event was to bring awareness to the widespread issue of GBV within our society. GBV can be defined as violence that is directed at an individual based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life.

#YourWordsMatter was hosted on the fourth day of the SA’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which began on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ended on International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

The awareness and info fair featured interactive displays, resources and information about eliminating GBV in our community.

For the first time on the RDC campus, a silent march was held. This was meant to be a quiet and proactive, yet visual way to bring awareness to GBV throughout the RDC main campus. The silent march departed from the Forum at 11:45 a.m. with attendees wearing purple and carrying positive messaging around the prevention of GBV in our community.

Everyone was encouraged to wear purple on the day – to show support for survivors of GBV. A special edition purple #iRespect t-shirt was also released on this day.

What is gender-based violence?

Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence that is directed at an individual based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life.

In Canada, GBV disproportionately impacts women and girls, as well as other diverse populations like Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQI2+ and non-binary individuals, those living in northern, rural, and remote communities, people with disabilities, newcomers, children and youth, and seniors.

GBV is not limited to physical abuse but includes words, actions, or attempts to degrade, control, humiliate, intimidate, coerce, deprive, threaten, or harm another person.

Why is this important?

Individuals in Canada and around the world continue to face violence each and every day.

GBV can manifest in many different forms. GBV can happen in the private or public sphere, in kitchens, bedrooms and streets, stores and boardrooms or in refugee camps. It can include street harassment (like groping, cat calling, whistling, or unwanted attention in public spaces), sexual assault, sexual harassment and intimate partner violence.

The roots of GBV are all around us – in sexist jokes that demean women, in media messages that objectify women, in the rigid gender norms we impose on children.

Why #YourWordsMatter

Words matter. Your words matter. The language we use to talk about others and explain our experiences matter.

Words, the language we use, can be a form of GBV.

Intentionally using someone’s incorrect name or pronoun is an act of GBV.

Joking about that girl’s body from your class with your buddies is an act of GBV.

Making threats to harm another person is an act of GBV.

Calling someone a name, bullying, humiliating or insulting them on Instagram is an act of GBV.

Making fun of someone’s faith or religion is an act of GBV.

Making online threats to someone’s children, family, pets or friends that cause fear is an act of GBV.

Sending sexually explicit texts and photos of your genitals to someone without their consent is an act of GBV.

Your words matter. You can help take action against GBV by using your words to question, call out or speak up against GBV acts.

Your words can empower others. Your words can inspire others. Your words have power.

#YourWordsMatter

Tickets on sale for Calgary Roughnecks holiday home opener

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We’re doing it again!

CASASC and the Calgary Roughnecks, Calgary’s professional box lacrosse team, have partnered together yet again to raise funds.

Support CASASC at the Roughnecks home opener on Saturday, December 21st. The Roughnecks will be hoisting their championship banner to the rafters!

Come for the holiday experience and support a great cause.

Roughnecks games are fast, fun and entertaining for everyone. CASASC raises money for each ticket that’s sold. That’s right. It’s as easy as going to the link below and making your purchase directly with the Roughnecks.

Venture to Calgary on your own for the game, or new this year, have a worry-free trip to and from the game by riding on the CASASC #iRespect bus. A nominal fee will be charged to ride the bus departing from downtown Red Deer. Contact CASASC for more details about busing.

https://roughnecks.spinzo.com/roughnecks-vs-mammoth-banner-raising-night-2019-12-21-BDVSY?group=central-alberta-sexual-assault-support-centre-nk4u

2019 Front Line Service Providers’ Awards

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The CASASC team attended the 2019 Front Line Service Providers’ Awards on Nov. 6 at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

The 15th annual awards ceremony, hosted by the Domestic and Relationship Violence Committee (DRVIC), is a time for front line service providers to come together to recognize each other and the meaningful work being done within these communities.

CASASC Outreach Counsellor Alma Garbe was nominated for a Front Line Service Providers’ Award for forging connections and facilitating partnerships with communities based on their needs.

“For CASASC, she is the bridge to delivering services to Indigenous populations,” wrote her nominator. “Whether it is partnering with Maskwacis Health, Rocky Mountain House Victim Services or a rural hospital, Garbe works collaboratively with the community and beyond to ensure those impacted by violence are assisted.”

Ronnie Biletsky of the Red Deer Regional Hospital was nominated for the Patrick Dillon Leadership Award by CASASC. Biletsky oversees the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) within the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

“Ronnie is a senior nurse who supervises the two programs in the hospital ER,” wrote her nominator. “She is aware of the smallest details and aims to improve the services and patient experience every time she is around. She has the ability to seamlessly be present wherever she is needed most. She has dedicated her life to support those affected by sexual violence and domestic violence in the hospital setting.

With her dedicated and resilient spirit, she has shaped the Central Alberta SART program into a recognized and admired program by other cities in the province. It is a program recognized for its’ excellence.”

CASASC also presented a special recognition to Therapist Deb Murray and Outreach Counsellor Alma Garbe for their dedicated years of service to the agency. Both Murray and Garbe are retiring at the end of the year.

CASASC would like to congratulate all of the nominees and recipients at this year’s award ceremony.

Wawanesa Insurance supports CASASC

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The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) recently received a donation from Wawanesa Insurance.

CASASC Executive Director Patricia Arango (centre) accepted the $10,000 donation from Central Alberta-based Wawanesa representatives on October 28.

Wawanesa is committed to providing capital donations in communities where they work and live to create better neighbourhoods.

The capital donation to CASASC will be used towards the transition to a secondary office and counselling space.

 

Volunteers of CASASC’s text/webchat crisis line win Community Builder Award

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Recognized for making a lasting difference in community, the volunteers of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC)’s 24 Hour Text and Webchat Sexual Assault Crisis Line received the Community Builder Award.

Volunteers accepted the Red Deer Mayor’s Recognition Award on the evening of June 6 at the Cambridge Hotel.

CASASC Volunteer Coordinator Michele Kercher and CASASC Volunteer Board Member Matthew Mowbrey accepted the award from Mayor Tara Veer on stage on behalf of the 70 plus volunteers.

CASASC introduced the provincially-available 24 hour text and webchat line in May 2016. The addition to the 24 hour crisis phone line was introduced due to a missing need within the community.

The Mayor’s Recognition Awards recognize Red Deer individuals, groups or teams who have brought honour and recognition to Red Deer in one of five categories. Award recipients are selected by the Mayor’s Recognition Awards Committee, with the exception of the Mayor’s Special Award recipient, who is chosen by the Mayor herself.

Since the launch of the text/webchat line, hundreds of individuals have contacted the crisis line from across the province.The line is open to anyone affected by sexual violence.

The phone line, along with the text/webchat crisis line, are run by the volunteer coordinator and are supported by over 70 volunteers. Typically, there are over 120 text/webchat shifts to fill each month so those accessing the crisis line can speak/have contact with someone no matter the time of day. Without the volunteers taking these shifts, the text/webchat line would be unable to operate 24 hours-a-day, year round.

In 2018, volunteer responded to 220 text/webchat contacts with individuals across Alberta.

From inception (May 2016 to December 2018) volunteers have assisted 653 individuals in the province. The need for this service only increases.

No Secrets program receives grant from Community Foundation

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The Red Deer & District Community Foundation has granted $7,500 to the No Secrets education program.

No Secrets is a personal safety program for children ages 5 to 9 with a focus on child sexual abuse prevention. No Secrets provides a forum from which children can discuss safe and unsafe touching, body parts including private areas, feelings and who you can tell.

In 2018 No Secrets was presented to almost 10,000 students across Central Alberta.

Thank you to the Red Deer & District Community Foundation for supporting this important prevention-based program in our community

New therapy dog joins the team

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CASASC has a new furry face greeting clients as they enter the door.

Meet Sylvie, an eight-week-old Bernese Mountain dog. She joined the CASASC team on May 24 and already is a popular addition to the pet therapy team. Sylvie is in training and is working with her handler Mackenzie on a daily basis to learn all of the ins and outs of supporting clients.

Mackenzie says Sylvie has already made a difference with many clients. Seeing her adorable fluffy face and displaying her calming demeanor is enough to lighten up the mood in the office, for clients and staff alike.

Photo Credit: Pehlz Pics