Programs Serving Women Well
Economic Self Sufficiency Program

Agency: Scarborough Women's Centre
Location: Scarborough

Program Description:

A pre-employment program designed for survivors of partner abuse, the Economic Self Sufficiency Program arose out of research performed by the Scarborough Women's Centre, which indicated that women often return to abusive situations because they lack of both interpersonal and economic independence skills.

The program has run two sessions a year since 1998. Participants attend two days a week for 20 weeks and move through three modules. In the first module, they learn about abuse and begin their own healing process. In the second, they develop life skills essential for positive personal and professional relationships, such as communication skills and conflict resolution. In the final module, they determine their present assets and challenges, and set goals. The program includes both group work and individual counseling and support, the latter of which may continue after the woman has completed the program.

Eligibility:

The program is open to any woman who has been out of an abusive relationship for more than three months. This criteria is necessary in order that women stabilize some of the housing and legal issues that accompany leaving an abusive relationship.

Measures of Success:

Because the Economic Self Sufficiency Program maintains contact with many of its 88 graduates, staff are able to measure the program's long-term success.

From an economic perspective, most of the participants have gone on to start their own businesses, obtain employment, and/or complete specialized training programs at college.

At a community level, participants volunteer locally to gain skills, test career options, and give back to society. A number now advocate on behalf of women, particularly related to abuse concerns, or have entered the caring professions as counselors, child care workers and youth workers.

Possibly most importantly, there is tremendous change within the individual and her family. The vast majority of participants are able to stay out of their former abusive situation. Their children receive support and counseling to recover from the abuse they witnessed or experienced, are doing better at school, and respect Mom for her courage. The women learn new ways to handle conflict, and go on to healthy new relationships.

Why It Works:

The Economic Self Sufficiency Program works because it is intense, holistic and sensitive to the personal needs and outside responsibilities of the participants.

In their preliminary research, the Scarborough Women's Centre found that when abuse survivors understand their emotional issues related to the abuse, they are more likely to move on to succeed in employment and educational opportunities. Therefore the program has a strong counseling component. It also includes rules for behaviour within the group meetings in order to establish a safe and trustworthy environment.

The program recognizes that women are responsible for their children and households. It runs from 10:00 to 3:00 so that mothers can drop off and pick up school age children; child care for pre-schoolers is provided. Some events are child friendly or provide practical outcomes, like a monthly cooking class with leftovers. While attendance is expected, there is some flexibility within the schedule based on personal and family needs.

Program supports are provided that acknowledge the common financial situation of women who have just left an abusive partner. They include transportation supports (TTC tickets), referrals to emergency supports, and links to scholarship bursaries.

Challenges:

Initially the Scarborough Women's Centre had planned to include specific job training components in the program. However, participants had diverse interests and talents. The Centre focuses instead on honing the pre-employment aspects of the program and links participants through referrals to other employment and training services.

Presently funding is a major challenge for the program. Established under a Trillium grant and later with money from the National Crime Prevention Strategy (federal government), the program has been without financial support for over a year.

The Effects of the LMDA on this Service:

The Economic Self Sufficiency Program is not funded by Service Canada so the LMDA does not impact the program at this time. However, this program highlights ways in which clients who face many barriers to employment - lack of child care and financial resources, trauma and emotional issues - can be served through an understanding of their fundamental challenges and responsive integration of appropriate services, supports and referrals.

For More Information:

The Scarborough Women's Centre web site: http://www.scarboroughwomenscentre.ca/
Contact: Lynda Kosowan, ED at ed@scarboroughwomenscentre.ca or 416-439-7111

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