CASASC has a new furry face greeting clients as they enter the door.
Meet Oscar, a two-month-old Bernedoodle. He joined the CASASC team on October 5. Oscar is in training and is working with his handler on a daily basis to learn all of the ins and outs of supporting clients.
CASASC recognizes September 30th as Orange Shirt Day. This is a day we acknowledge the impacts residential schooling has had on Indigenous people in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a way to commemorate the residential school experience, honour the healing that survivors and their families have and continue to go through, remember the children who did not make it home, and begin conversations around healing and reconciliation that have previously not taken place.
Sept 30th was picked to recognize Orange Shirt Day as the day when Indigenous children would be taken and sent to residential schooling for most of the school year, sometimes into the summer. This day helps to reaffirm that every child matters.
CASASC staff wore the orange Made to Respect t-shirt on Sept. 30th as a visual symbol of our awareness of the need for ongoing reconciliation. We are working to foster respect and mutual understanding with all Indigenous people and communities.
CASASC recognizes that we are situated on Treaty 7 land to the south of the Red Deer river, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina and Stoney Nakoda peoples, and that the Central Alberta region we serve falls under Treaty 6 traditional Métis, Cree and Saulteaux territory to the north of the Red Deer River. We honour the First Peoples (First Nations, Metis, Inuit) who have lived here since time immemorial, and we give thanks for the land we reside on.
CASASC educators read two stories in a special edition of CASASC Story Time on Sept. 30th.
“As educators, we reaffirm the statement that every child matters,” they said. “We are here today to read some stories related to Indigenous children’s experiences with residential schooling and encourage you to seek further information about the experiences of Indigenous people. At the end of the stream, we will recommend some resources you can seek out.”
You can watch the Orange Shirt Day edition of Story Time here
Resources:
Trc.ca– truth and reconciliation commission’s website with all 91 recommendations
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is seeking an experienced and innovative individual to join our leadership team as the Community Support Services Coordinator.
About Us:
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is a voluntary, non-profit organization serving the Central Alberta region under the direction of a community-based Board of Directors.
We provide a range of support services for individuals who are affected by sexual violence including counselling, play therapy, police and court support, crisis support and education.
Position: Community Support Services Coordinator
Reports to: Executive Director
Direct reports: Educators (3), SART Team Lead, and Support Services Team Lead
Job Type: Full Time – permanent
Location: Red Deer, AB & travel within Central Alberta
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week
Hourly rate: Determined based on education and experience
Anticipated Start Date: September 15th, 2020
Position Summary
The Community Support Services Coordinator (CSS Coord) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Community Support Services department. This includes providing informal and formal supervision for all Educators, SART Team Lead, and Support Services Team Lead. The CSS Coord will actively develop strong partnerships with schools, health services agencies, local businesses, community organizations and volunteers.
Responsibilities (include but not limited to):
Desired Qualifications:
Desired Skills:
Addition Requirements (must be valid at time of hire):
CASASC offers a competitive compensation package along with professional development opportunities for innovation and personal growth.
How to Apply:
CASASC is an equal opportunity employer and we value the importance of diversity, dignity and worth of every individual in the workplace.
Applications must include a resume and a cover letter with salary range expectations and can be emailed hr@casasc.ca
Please ensure your name and job title are included in the subject line. Attachments must be in either PDF or Word (.doc/.docx) format.
We thank all applications for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Application deadline: Tuesday September 1st, 2020 at 12:00 pm
CASASC is seeking an experienced and innovative individual to join our dynamic team as an Educator for our school-based program No Secrets.
Position: Educator – No Secrets
Reports to: Community Support Services Coordinator
Job Type: Full Time – 12-month term-certain (maternity-leave)
Location: Red Deer, AB & occasional daily travel to schools within Central Alberta
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week
Hourly rate: Determined based on education and experience
Anticipated Start Date: Immediately
Position Summary
As a part of CASASC’s Education team, the Educator – No Secrets supports our goal to increase the personal safety of individuals through education and empowerment, which will prevent sexual violence.
Our school-based program No Secrets is a two-part personal safety program for students K-8 with a focus on child sexual abuse prevention. No Secrets Part 1 is for children ages 5-9 focusing on the topics of safe and unsafe touching, safe and unsafe secrets, body parts including private areas, feelings and who you can tell. No Secrets Part 2 is for youth ages 10-13 builds on topics from Part 1 while exploring the importance of a safety network, the foundations of a healthy relationship, body ownership and boundaries, and consent (education and empowerment).
This position is one part of the two-person No Secrets educational team. Each educator on the team is responsible for preparing and delivering either part of the No Secrets program, determined by the Community Support Services Coordinator.
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Physical Demands:
Addition Requirements (must be valid at time of hire):
CASASC offers a competitive compensation package along with professional development opportunities for innovation and personal growth.
How to Apply:
CASASC is an equal opportunity employer and we value the importance of diversity, dignity and worth of every individual in the workplace.
Email resume & cover letters with salary range expectations to hr@casasc.ca.
Please ensure your name and job title are included in the subject line. Attachments must be in either PDF or Word (.doc/.docx) format.
We thank all applications for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Application deadline: Friday August 21, 2020 at 12:00 pm.
CASASC is hiring summer office assistants. Two seasonal full-time positions are open to candidates ages 15 – 30 who are returning students in the fall.
Find more information about this Canada Summer Jobs Program Opportunity here: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobpostingcsj/32660014
CASASC is an equal opportunity employer and we value the importance of diversity, dignity and worth of every individual in the workplace.
To apply, please send cover letter and resume to Stefn Dodman hr@casasc.ca by Wednesday, July 22.
We thank all applications for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) recently received a donation from Soroptimist International of Central Alberta.
CASASC Communications Specialist Sarah Maetche (left) accepted the $2,150 donation from a Soroptimist representative along with other receiving organizations on Thursday, June 25.
The funds were generated from the Vagina Monologues event held in February. The Soroptimists raised a total of $17,200 and channeled the funds to seven organizations that support women and girls in the central Alberta region.
What is a secret: Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
You never keep a secret about an ouch touch or a private touch, even if the person tells me they will hurt me, or someone close to me. I still need to tell someone close to me who can help me stay safe.
There are two types secrets: a safe secret and an unsafe secret.
Example of a safe secret: If I told your teacher I was baking your class chocolate chip cookies and asked them to keep it a secret. This is a safe secret because no one is getting hurt in the scenario. It’s safe for your teacher to keep and if the teacher wants to tell she can, and it won’t hurt anyone.
Example of an unsafe secret: If you were having a shower and a family member comes into the bathroom and strips naked and comes into the shower with you. Maybe they start touching your bathing suit area. They then tell you that it’s our little secret and if you tell, I will take away your phone and I will hurt you if you tell. This is an unsafe secret for many reasons.
First of all, no one should be touching you anywhere, especially in your bathing suit area. No one should be saying it’s our secret when they touch you like that, and you have the right to say no and the right to your privacy. This type of secret you need to tell, no matter what the person says. Most likely they will not hurt you if you tell the right people right away.
I know and I understand that it’s hard to tell an adult that someone has touched you and gave you an unsafe secret, but in this kind of situation, you need to tell right away. Sometimes we might not be able to tell right away. You may need to take a couple days to get the courage to tell, but you need to tell sooner rather than later so that we can help you.
Make sure you find someone who will believe you and who can get you help. Here at CASASC, we will always believe you. Call, text or webchat with us on our help line and we can help you.
Help line:
1-866-956-1099
Next week we will be talking about our safety network, the people that you trust and who you can tell.
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.
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.
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
