Are you a woman who has had difficulty getting into the work force or making choices about training or education?
Have you experienced violence and/or verbal, emotional, physical, sexual or domestic abuse as a child, youth or adult?
If you find yourself saying yes to these questions, we urge you to consider learning more about a program that is tailored to meet the needs of women like you.
The official name is “Specialized Services for Female Victims of Violence & Abuse” but we often refer to it by its old name “Bridges to Healing.” Though the name and some details have changed, the focus of the program is bridging women from the impacts of abuse to more quality of life, self-confidence and self-sufficiency.
The program is offered throughout the province and in the South Okanagan it is provided by SOWINS (South Okanagan Women in Need Society) under contract to Open Door Group who run the Work BC Service Centres in Oliver/Osoyoos.
At SOWINS, the program is coordinated by Brenda Wasnock, a registered social worker with over 30 years of experience in her profession.
The set of services for this program, as Brenda has developed, refined and delivers them, embody the true meaning of social work “the interest in a person’s strengths as well as their challenges.”
The model of awareness, acknowledgement and action, will assist you to achieve the goals of recognizing, understanding and overcoming the impacts of abuse. This way of working ensures that you are in your own process; moving through the healing at your own pace, discovering and developing your dignity and integrity. It is this ‘heart’ that makes the service successful, and what drives Brenda’s passion for coordinating the program.
The program is a 5 week series of group workshops and/or individual counselling sessions focused on healing and life skills.
The workshops are relevant, fun, interesting and thought provoking. The process will help you begin to heal from your abuse and develop personal and life skills that prepare you for the next steps on your path, be that getting and maintaining work, training or education or engaging in volunteer positions.
Participants are welcome from all ages 17 to 65 +. You can begin services anytime. Workshops can be provided one to one in Oliver or Osoyoos or in a group setting in Penticton. Transportation can be arranged.
Interested? Call Brenda 250-493-4366 extension 117 for more information. After you have spoken to her, you will need to meet with an Employment Adviser at your local Work BC Centre, the Open Door Group.
Call your local office and ask for an appointment to talk about the specialized services offered through SOWINS. Or contact your local Work BC Centre: In Oliver – Unit D-291 Fairview Road, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-2911 or in Osoyoos – 4-9150 Main Street, RR2, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V2.
(Samarpan Faasse is the fundraising and public relations coordinator for SOWINS.)
