Safe Centre and Peel CAS; Making it easier for individuals experiencing violence to access the support they need

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Oh, this is the building. You know I have been driving by this building for months and had no idea this was the Peel Children’s Aid Society (Peel CAS).” It was Wednesday, November 15^th, 2023, and as I turned into 25 Capston Drive, Mississauga, I took in the huge gray building that I had just discovered was Peel CAS.

Safe Centre and Peel CAS were hosting a breakfast launch event to announce this expansion, and of course the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had been invited to share in the announcement of something that would be groundbreaking for the community.

The Safe Centre of Peel is a partnership of 17 organizations in Peel Region that work together to provide wraparound services to support survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Many of these organizations have been co-located and integrated in Brampton since 2011.

Rates of IPV continue to rise, and it has now been declared an epidemic in Peel Region. IPV is the most common reason for referrals to Peel Children’s Aid Society (Peel CAS), representing close to one third of all referrals. To help meet the needs of the community and support survivors across the region, Safe Centre has decided to expand its wraparound service offerings by opening offices in Mississauga, co-located within the existing Peel CAS building.

During the breakfast, which hosted organizations from all across the Peel region, The Safe Centre of Peel announced plans to expand their services to a new location in Mississauga. This announcement is an important step toward enhancing services for survivors of intimate partner violence throughout the region.

As noted earlier, IPV is such a growing concern in Peel that the Region declared it an epidemic in June 2023. The Safe Centre has been providing services since 2011 from its current location at the Honourable William G. Davis Centre for Families at 60 West Drive in Brampton. Expanding to a second location in Mississauga will increase the Safe Centre’s capacity to serve more clients and make it easier for individuals experiencing violence to access the support they need.

“On behalf of all the partner agencies at the Safe Centre of Peel, we are delighted to announce this much needed expansion of our services,” said Sharon Mayne, CEO of Catholic Family Services Peel-Dufferin, lead agency of Safe Centre of Peel. “This co-location agreement will allow us to build on the successful and ongoing collaborations currently taking place, and better serve those facing or fleeing violence in the region.”

Currently, the Safe Centre has nine on-site partners and eight off-site agencies offering services and resources to survivors of intimate partner violence and their families, and there are discussions underway with all the partner agencies about how they plan to participate in the expansion, which is expected to open its doors in six to 12 months.

Peel CAS has been a part of the centre for many years, with two dedicated Family and Intimate Partner Violence teams based at the Safe Centre office in Brampton. The Peel CAS building is a modern, welcoming, family-friendly environment, newly built in 2020, with plenty of space available for this co-location.

            “Intimate partner violence is the most common reason for referrals to Peel CAS, representing approximately one third of all referrals,” said Mary Beth Moellenkamp, CEO of Peel Children’s Aid Society. “Year over year, Peel CAS continues to see the number of IPV related assessments increase in risk and rate of severity. Family violence is a complex issue requiring the sort of multi-faceted approach to community partnerships exemplified by the Safe Centre of Peel. We look forward to welcoming our partners into our building, creating new opportunities for enhanced services and collaboration.”

It is not easy to seek help with an abusive relationship. The Safe Centre of Peel is based on the “Family Justice Centre” model, where multiple agencies offer services for victims of family violence in the same location. While I was there, I spoke with a couple or the police officers, and I posed a few thoughts, items that I think should be next in line when dealing with IPV:

Many individuals (men) who engage in abusive behavior may struggle with mental health issues. What access is being provided to mental health services that can address these underlying concerns and contribute to overall well-being?

Many individuals (men) who engage in abusive behavior may have experienced abuse themselves in their past. What interventions are being sought to address their behavior, which can help break the cycle of violence and prevent it from being perpetuated to the next generation?

Offering help to abusive individuals can provide them with the opportunity to recognize and change their harmful behavior. What rehabilitation programs, counseling, and therapy can be set up to help individuals (men) address the underlying issues that contribute to their abusive behavior.

Without proper intervention, abusive behavior is likely to continue. What are we doing as a community to provide help to abusive individuals (men), so that there is a better chance of preventing recidivism and promoting healthier relationships in the future?

Yes, we have to protect our women, and our children, but the center of the family is the man, and we have to find ways to support them as well. Throwing them in jail is a band-aid, not a solution.