PORT HAWKESBURY: Ninety local service providers gathered in Port Hawkesbury on October 3 to learn more about how to support victims and survivors of sexual violence.
Seeking Safety is a counselling model to help people attain safety from trauma and/or substance abuse by introducing a variety of coping skills and strategies.
The training day is part of a variety of initiatives planned by the Strait Area Sexual Violence Network, newly formed with funding from the Nova Scotia Sexual Violence Strategy. The group hopes to build a network of agencies, organizations and community members who are committed to preventing sexual violence while providing appropriate services to victims and survivors.
The network recently received funding to hire Nancy O’Regan as a project manager. O’Regan has extensive community development and project management experience, working with NSCC, the StFX Extension Department and a variety of community organizations in Guysborough County and throughout the province.
In November, the network will host a one-day forum on male victimization at St. Mark’s United Church. The outcome of the day will be the launching of a Men’s Services Advisory Committee to help guide the region in developing programs and services for male victims of violence.
In January and March, network meetings will be held to build collaboration, promote information sharing and identify ways to improve services and referrals in the region, particularly to rural areas of Guysborough, Inverness and Richmond counties.
The project is sponsored by Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia and supported by a working committee comprising local agencies and organizations.