Yellowhead Community Services Society

Safe Home Service Response

Yellowhead Community Services provides counselling through a variety of government contracts that address specific areas, as listed below.

Services are free and no referral is necessary. We will respond to your call by setting up an initial assessment of your needs with one of our counsellors.

Referrals can be made to other agencies if we are unable to assist you.

Addictions Services provides individual and family counselling to people who experience problems as a result of alcohol and/or drug use. Counselling is also available to adult children of alcoholics and to any person involved with someone dependent on alcohol and/or drugs. Services are available to residents from McLure to Blue River.

Addictions Services provides the following range of services:

Outpatient counselling for individuals and families
Assessments and referral to treatment and detox programs
Facilitate public education through seminars, group training and workshops
Facilitate the establishment of support groups

Mental Health Services are available to adults to assist those who are suffering from serious mental disorders, depression, self destructive behaviours, family conflict, stress issues and problems in daily living. Services are available to residents from McLure to Blue River. The specific services that are available include the following:

Assessment and treatment of diagnosed mental health disorders
Referrals to other agencies/services
Prevention and education services to assist communities in the promotion of good mental health
Facilitate the establishment of self help groups
Encourage healthy living by empowering the community to care for itself

Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) program staff use their best efforts to deliver the following services to children and youth under the age of 19 years who have witnessed abuse and who live in the Clearwater area:

Sensitive, respectful, professional, accountable assessment, treatment and follow-up services for child/youth victims

Support and consultation for custodial parent (s), caregivers and siblings

A collaborative, team approach involving the therapist, RCMP, social workers, teachers, child care workers and other co-helpers, custodial parent (s) and caregivers

OBJECTIVES

Ø Children are taught safety, boundaries, and assertive communication, including refusal skills

Ø Provide a number of direct and indirect specialized services to children and youth who have witnessed abuse of their primary caregivers and families as appropriate, school personnel, and to relevant others in the day-to-day environment of the child or youth

Ø Address gaps in service delivery and encourage coordination and consolidation of services

Ø Work cooperatively with other agencies to assist in the development of a comprehensive range of services in the North Thompson Valley.

To book an appointment, contact 250 674-2600 and ask for Irene Crick.

The Stopping the Violence Program provides counselling services for women who have experienced abuse and/or violence. Counselling is provided to women who are in, or have been in, an abusive relationship or who are survivors of sexual violence - either a recent assault or historical sexual abuse - and who reside between McLure and Blue River.

The program operates from a feminist perspective and provides a non-judgmental, supportive and safe environment for women to explore their experience and deal with the impact of violence and abuse
The focus is on increasing safety and empowerment through validation, education and exploration
There is a recognition that abuse can take many forms. These may include physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse and can range from verbal intimidation and threats through stalking and assault.

The Stopping the Violence counsellor provides specific services that facilitate public education through:

Individual and/or group counselling services for women
Referrals to other agencies/services where appropriate
Public education to the community regarding the impact and dynamics of abuse and power imbalances in our society that lead to women being exposed to abuse or violence

Safe Home Service Response

Available 24/7 to women and their children who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse, threats, or violence. The service is available to residents from McLure to Blue River. Women requiring assistance should contact the Safe Home Service Response at the following:

Clearwater & Area: Call (250) 674-2135

Barriere & Area: Call (250) 682-6444

Trained individuals are available to assist women in assessing their current circumstances and needs for various types of supports that can be offered by this service, including:

Crisis intervention and referral support
Assistance with the development of a safety plan
Temporary emergency accommodation
Limited assistance with transportation

Click here to read about 'Take Back the Night'

What to take if you have to leave home:

Driver’s licence or ID
Birth certificates: yours and your children’s
Money, cheque book, credit cards
Lease, rental agreement, house deed
Bank book, bank statement
House keys, car keys
Social Insurance Card
Address Book, phone numbers
Care card, medications, medical records - yours and your children’s
Marriage licence, divorce papers
Passport

YCS counselling and support services are free of charge. No referral is necessary. Some evening appointments are available in addition to regular office hours. To make an appointment for any of the services offered through Yellowhead Community Services call 250 674-2600. An answering machine is available after hours.