The Leadership Table brings together organizations leading the movement for ending gender-based violence in Waterloo Region. The Leadership Table focuses on the root causes of gender-based violence and works together to advocate for systemic social change.
Specifically, the Committee will focus its attention on four activities:
African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region (AWAWR) is a community-led organization advancing the safety, health, and dignity of African and racialized women and their families. We work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence through culturally grounded support, community education, advocacy, and partnerships. Our work centers women’s lived experiences and strengthens community-driven solutions that promote healing, resilience, and equity.
Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health offers a continuum of supports from building safe and healthy relationships to supporting victims and survivors of abuse.
Support is available through:
The Coalition of Muslim Women KW (CMW) is a non for profit organization that provide opportunities to racialized Muslim women and youth for personal and professional growth, and leadership development.
CMW actively addresses gender-based violence, racism, discrimination, Islamophobia, and xenophobia (anti-immigrant sentiment) through culturally appropriate support services, diverse outreach, advocacy, and bridge-building programs.
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region (F&CS) has a specialized regional team of intake workers, family service workers and counsellors who provide services to children, mothers and fathers.
Services increase the safety and well-being of children where the main reason for involvement with the family is domestic violence.
The John Howard Society of Waterloo-Wellington (JHSWW) is a non-for-profit organization that provides prevention, early intervention, justice diversion and reintegration support for adults and youth who are in conflict with the law or at-risk of becoming in conflict with the law. For over 75 years, we have been working towards our mission of effective, just and humane responses to crime and its causes.
JHSWW actively addresses gender-based violence through direct service delivery such as Partner Assault Response (PAR) and Caring Dads group programming. For youth, we offer a wide variety of justice diversion and school-based prevention programs. Our programs address risk factors, focus on accountability and skill building to promote responsible behavior.
Individual and group counselling services are available for women and children who have experienced domestic violence; and for men and women who have been criminally charged with domestic violence.
Group counselling programs include:
Partner Assault Response (PAR), 12-week group meeting is designed for men and women who have been charged or convicted of domestic violence and mandated to attend a group meeting by the Crown or Probation and Parole.
Women Helping Women, an open support group for women survivors of domestic violence and abuse.
For over 30 years, the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) of Waterloo Region has been a place of healing and hope for survivors of sexual violence.
SASC provides free, wraparound support, including trauma-specific counselling, groups, and accompaniments to court, the hospital, and the police station.
They also offer a 24 Hour Support Line, family court-related services, sexual violence legal advocacy, an Anti-Human Trafficking Program, and innovative public education.
SASC’s Family Court Support Program empowers women and non-binary people through information, support and appropriate referrals.
Since 1972, SHORE Centre has been Waterloo Region’s trusted source for accurate sexual health education and confidential pregnancy options support. SHORE offers clinical services including birth control consultations, IUD insertions/removals, medication abortion and emergency contraception. SHORE also provides pregnancy options counselling, support for people wanting to continue an unplanned pregnancy, as well as educational groups and workshops.
The Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre (SADVTC) is a 24/7 on call team of forensic nurses and social workers who respond to the needs of individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
They also offer emergency and short-term follow up care to those accessing the team.
SADVTC operates through the Emergency Departments of St. Mary’s General Hospital and Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Their team works in partnership with many local resources geared to help clients receive the best care and support during their experience.
Victim Services Unit
Services are designed to assist victims of domestic violence in dealing with the victimization and/or the criminal acts of domestic assault, sexual assault, or criminal harassment.
Domestic Violence Investigations Branch (DVIB)
DVIB has a dedicated team of detectives who investigate incidents of domestic violence where the commission of an offence has been identified.
Wilmot Family Resource Centre offers wrap around support for individuals and families living in the Wilmot/Wellesley Township.
Services include the food bank on-site; client care services; parenting supports; child and youth programming; Indigenous-led individual support and healing circles for Indigenous women; and the family violence prevention program. Victims/survivors of relationship violence and abuse can access safety planning and advocacy services, individual counselling, and group programs.
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) supports women and children to move beyond violence by providing safe shelter, transitional housing, education and outreach services. WCSWR operates two emergency shelters for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
WCSWR also offers a free, confidential, outreach program for women who are experiencing domestic violence but do not require emergency shelter. Shelter and outreach services can both be accessed by calling WCSWR’s 24/7 crisis support lines via phone or online chat.
Individual and group support for victims/survivors of relationship violence. Supports include information, safety planning, advocacy, individual support.
Woolwich Counselling Centre is a community-owned counselling agency facilitating emotional and mental wellness. They create awareness, provide education, and promote prevention for individuals, families, and communities. In partnership with other community agencies, they act as a catalyst for healthy living. Woolwich Counselling Centre offers affordable, accessible, and professional services for all.
YWCA Cambridge, a trusted community leader, gives a voice to the needs of cis and trans women and girls, non-binary and two-spirit individuals through innovative and responsive programs, services and advocacy. This includes participant-led, prevention-based programs and workshops for youth in schools and the community, as well as pre-employment and life skills programs with a focused curriculum and outreach support for those impacted by gender-based violence.
YW Kitchener-Waterloo is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls by providing services and programs that support physical and mental wellbeing and economic choice and independence. Envisioning an inclusive and equitable world where women are empowered to choose change, the YW Kitchener-Waterloo offers career, shelter, affordable and supportive housing services to support women, transgender, non-binary and Two Spirit community members living in Waterloo Region. To learn more visit us at ywkw.ca.