Domestic Violence Peer Support Groups

The Cause

The Peer Support Program includes two group programs, Finding Our Voices & Growth Circle for women or those who identify as women to receive direct service, in the form of peer support groups offered at no cost. We are the only Alberta domestic violence organization to offer peer support programming. Rather than merely reacting to domestic violence our approach is preventative in nature.

Group sessions are facilitated by volunteers who have encountered domestic violence in their own lives whom we train and to whom we provide ongoing support. Volunteer curricula include effective group activities to facilitate discussion, how to curate environments, how to be trauma informed, and building capacity to engage in effective group evaluation and engagement activities.

Peer support is a model that empowers individuals through a narrative of recovery, self-efficacy, and hope. It is a proven intervention for working with women who have experienced domestic violence. Participants are encouraged to open up and be vulnerable, so they can heal and grow. Helping women to establish healthy relationships fosters an environment in which their children can learn to lead healthy relationships in the future. Building knowledge and skills to prevent and reduce violence at an early age can prevent its occurrence at a later stage in life. By working with mothers, we are also working with their children.

1. Finding Our Voices is a six-week group program (one 3-hour meeting per week) which focuses on issues related to self-esteem and the importance of effective communication. Topics include self-image, shame, compassion, and the significance of healthy relationships. Participants share experiences and learn from each other.

2. Growth Circles is a 14-week group program (one 3-hour meeting per week) that explores the experience of domestic violence. Topics include understanding domestic violence, contextualizing experiences of trauma and shame, creating support systems, and building personal power.

The goal of the program and benefit to communities include:

1. Increased social connections.
2. Increased engagement in community and society. Research shows that when engaged in this way, social risk factors such as domestic violence decrease.
3. Support women to make decisions to effectively deal with violence. When they are aware of resources available, women then make decisions that keep them and their children safe.
4. Social return on investment. When women make different de

Who Will it Benefit?

The goal of the program and benefit to communities include:

1. Increased social connections.
2. Increased engagement in community and society. Research shows that when engaged in this way, social risk factors such as domestic violence decrease.
3. Support women to make decisions to effectively deal with violence. When they are aware of resources available, women then make decisions that keep them and their children safe.
4. Social return on investment. When women make different decisions for their families, their reliance on social systems decreases and their participation in society increases.