A Brief History
Sexual assault, like other physical attacks, is an act of violence. But the crime of sexual assault is unique: it is an act of aggression committed by those who are more powerful against those who are less powerful. Sexual violence is prevalent in Canadian society. Such violence is part of a continuum: at one end of the continuum are acts of unwanted sexual touching; at the other end are acts of rape that can involve severe physical injury or even murder. Social tolerance of acts at the low end of the continuum and minimal intervention in these cases by the criminal justice system have unfortunately contributed to a social environment in which some members of society do not view sexual assaults as particularly serious. (Excerpt taken from EVA Sexual Assault Handbook April 2017).
For a number of years the Lethbridge community operated sexual assault services through a number of agencies including the YWCA Lethbridge and District and Lethbridge Family Services. Although this process met many needs at critical times, the community was in need of one identifiable source to address sexual assault that was accepting of all people - men, youth, women, children, 2SLGBTQ+, varying cultures and faiths. One source, common understanding, trauma informed and responsive to the community. As a result the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre was brought to life in the fall of 2018 and opened its doors to the public January 7, 2019.
In November of 2018, we accepted the challenge to complete a feasibility study to develop a child advocacy centre in SW Alberta. We had engaged the services of Rida Abboud, PhD Social Work, to assist in the development of the feasibility study which included a literature review, model review, individual interviews, and group sessions throughout the region. A final report was issued in March 2019.
Through the feasibility study we found three primary factors:
- families were met with significant financial hardships in travelling to Calgary for service,
- lack of child therapists specific to trauma that will take on children who are involved in the judicial system, and,
- there were no fully trained child forensic interviewers south of Calgary.
We committed ourselves to build capacity in SW Alberta so that qualified services could respond to the needs in our area just as well as services do in larger centres. Since that time, we have assisted in facilitating the training of 18 members between the policing services (Blood Tribe, Taber, Lethbridge) and Children Services (Lethbridge, Blood Tribe and Piikani) on child forensic interviews.
We have invested in the development of an equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy to ensure that we are culturally responsive in the delivery of our services.
We further developed a leadership and multidisciplinary team made up of several agencies: Blood Tribe Police, Blood Tribe Child Protection Services, Piikani Child and Family Services, South Region Child and Family Services, Lethbridge Police Services, RCMP, Taber Police Services and Alberta Health Services.
In November 2021 the Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre commenced triaging files. This work included finding pathways to trauma services to reduce the impacts the abuse has on the child, basic needs assessments with non-offending family members, and follow up on the investigation process.
In 2022 we hired our first full time Trauma Therapist for the CSAC and have the privilege of a gracious donation to support the contracting of a Clinical Lead/Child Therapist for the CCYAC.
In 2023 we opened a newly renovated site that hosts our Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre complete with 2 child forensic interview rooms, one that doubles for remote testimony, clinical therapy space, and a host of meeting rooms.
Services have evolved to include peer support groups (in English and Spanish), therapy, system navigation/integrated case management, crisis management, public education, specialized justice services, advocacy, volunteer programming, DBT groups, Connect Parenting, Circle of Security and much more.
Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals
Mission: Chinook Sexual Assault Centre (CSAC) is a stand-alone organization that provides leadership, advocacy and comprehensive services specific to victims of sexual violence within Southwestern Alberta.
Vision: To end sexual violence in Southwestern Alberta
Values: To fulfill the Vision and Mission of the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre, we value and believe in:
- Creating a dynamic model of inclusive service delivery for all impacted by sexual violence. (All refers to people of every age, ethnicity, ability, religion, culture, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation)
- Services that are client centered, trauma informed, grounded in evidence, collaborative, and coordinated
- The need for victims of sexual violence to be heard and believed
- Response services which honour an individual’s unique needs and choices
- Evidence based practice grounded in innovation, research and evaluation results in the ability to create and deliver required support services, education and care for all
- The right to consent, and that any unwanted sexual attention is unacceptable
- An individual’s right to safety
- Respect and dignity for all people
- Self-care as a critical component of strengthening resilience within a system that supports and values practices resulting in health and wellness
- Change needing to occur to combat sexual violence
- The power of human connection
- Healing as a process requiring acknowledgement, response, support and time
- Promotion of gender equality, respect and healthy relationships results in prevention of sexual violence
Goals:
- To provide leadership, coordination and exemplary services specific to sexual violence including prevention strategies
- To educate people in southwestern Alberta about gender-based violence while encouraging healthy relationships
- To create trust with the CSAC in Southwest Alberta through the provision a safe, inclusive, knowledgeable and professional resource for victims of sexual violence, their families and communities
- To be a strong and action-oriented voice for all impacted by sexual violence though systems, policy and processes.
CSAC Leadership
Board of Directors
- Cayley King, Chair
- Michele Montgomery, Past - Chair
- Liam Nixon, Vice-Chair
- Tammie Belanger, Treasurer
- Robynn Sander, Secretary
- Roberta Smallbones, Director
Management
- Kristine Cassie, Chief Executive Officer
- Cheryl Patterson, Manager - Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
- Miranda Hargreaves, Supervisor - Chinook Sexual Assault Centre
- Baylee Schmidt, Supervisor - Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
- Ida Draper, Administrative Support and Client Care Manager