Updates and Events

FaithLink has updated its Turn Off the Violence Resource Manual, as well as created their new brochure. If you are interested please fill out our online form for copies.

• Mission
• Background
• FaithLink Community Sponsors
• Committee Mandate
• Committee Structure
• Meeting Dates
• Events
• Documents
• Contact Us

"Spiritual/religious communities and service providers working together to prevent domestic abuse and to provide healing and hope to all those affected by it."

Working to build partnership to end abuse by:

• Raising awareness of family violence and increasing capacity of spiritual/ religious communities to respond to disclosures of abuse.
• Raising awareness among service providers of the importance of the spiritual for clients who espouse a spiritual perspective.
• Building collaborative working relationships between spiritual/religious communities and secularly-based service providers.
• Conducting relevant research that explores the interface between the spiritual and secular regarding issues of family violence.

FaithLink incorporates the following core values:

1. Respect: services are offered to religious (spiritually based) and secular organizations. We respect the strength each brings to the goal of addressing issues of family violence.
2. Safety and Accountability: safety for those who have experience abuse and accountability for those who have acted abusively are a priority.
3. Honoring Diversity: FaithLink honors the diverse beliefs, customs and traditions of its partners and develops resources that are appropriate.
4. Collaboration: collaborative working relationships are established with and between religious (spiritually based) and secular organizations.
5. Creativity: flexibility, openness and innovation will be demonstrated in all initiatives.
6. Healing: promoting healing within families and communities.
7. Restoring: valuing compassionate living, believing that all individuals and organizations have the capacity to be safe and respectful in all their relationships.

FaithLink emerged in 1998 from discussion, research and collaboration between individuals from within the religious community and those providing secular services to those affected by domestic violence. The coming together of these different sectors of the community was a journey of innovation, collaboration, and vision. It believes that religious/spiritual communities have a significant role to play in preventing family violence from occurring and in assisting those who experience abuse. By joining with secularly-based service providers, spiritual communities can ensure that those of their members who experience abuse can access specialized services and continue to receive the support of their spiritual communities. FaithLink interprets 'religious/spiritual' broadly to include all groups and organizations. It is presently actively working within the Christian faith community, the Jewish community and the Khmer-Canadian Buddhist community.
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FaithLink is funded by grants and donations from the community. We are constantly seeking sustainable funding opportunities. FaithLink gratefully acknowledges the following community sponsors:

• Alberta Children's Services, Office for the Prevention of Family Violence and Bullying, Community Incentive Fund
• The National Crime Prevention Strategy, Community Mobilization Program
• The Status of Women Canada: Prairies/NWT Region
• Prairie Action Foundation
• The Calgary Foundation
• The Muttart Foundation
• Private Donors
• The Canadian Women's Foundation

FaithLink assists spiritual communities address the issue of family violence by:

• Developing resources for responding to disclosures of abuse.
• Increasing capacity through training.
• Providing activities and resource manuals.
• Raising awareness through presentations to congregations.

FaithLink assists secularly-based service providers by:

• Providing spiritual awareness workshops.
• Providing client based brochures regarding the availability of spiritual resources
• Identifying spiritual leaders who understand family violence and who are prepared to accept referrals from secular agencies.
• Providing opportunities through which self-care can be enhanced.

FaithLink builds bridges of trust and understanding by:

• Sponsoring conferences, workshops and opportunities for spiritual leaders and service providers to share wisdom and discuss issues of mutual concern.

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The Steering Committee acts as the body responsible for the overall direction of the work. This governing council has the following core functions and responsibilities:

• Setting policy for FaithLink
• Monitoring the work of FaithLink
• Providing leadership, through sub-committees, to various programs and activities undertaken by FaithLink.

FaithLink sponsors two annual conferences to bring members of religious/spiritual communities and service providers together to discuss issues of common concern in addressing family violence. These events aim to: raise awareness of family violence within the religious/spiritual communities, raise awareness of the importance of the spiritual among secular professionals, facilitate collaborative working relationships between spiritual leaders and secular professionals, and share information.
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This sub-committee is responsible for personnel and finances as well as making recommendations to the Steering Committee regarding policy development and initiative.

Marriage Preparation Committee
FaithLink offers workshops and resource materials for spiritual leaders, counsellors and sponsoring couples who counsel those preparing for marriage on the issue of domestic violence.

Finance Development Committee
This sub-committee of the Executive Committee works to develop and implement long range financial planning

Research Committee
FaithLink works with other organizations and individuals to conduct relevant research. Presently FaithLink is working with Dr. Nancy Nason-Clark in a project that examines the effects of a centred meditation practice on service provider self-care, counsellor-client relations and colleague collaboration. FaithLink and RESOLVE Alberta are engaged in a three year study tracking changes in knowledge of, attitudes toward and responses by spiritual leaders to family violence and by service providers to issues of the spirit.

Future Planning Committee
This committee is examining opportunities and structures that would allow FaithLink to share resources through an alignment with another organization.

Turn Off The Violence Week Committee
Each fall FaithLink, in co-operation with the Turn Off the Violence Week Committee, provides new activity and resource materials to Christian congregations throughout the city.

Protocol Development Committee
FaithLink works with individual religious/spiritual communities to develop disclosure response protocols that are sensitive to beliefs and cultural norms. This committee assists in providing guidance to this work.
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Events
If you would like more information on this committee, or would like to know how to get involved please contact Irene Sevcik (403) 283-3013 ext.240, Irene@faithlink.ca.

Documents

For more information on these documents contact Resource Coordinator Marlette Reed at Marlette@faithlink.ca

FaithLink Brief to the Alberta Round Table on Family Violence
This is FaithLink's brief to the recent Alberta Round Table on Family Violence. It includes information about FaithLink and the role faith communities can play in addressing the issue of domestic violence

Response Protocol
This document is intended as a resource for spiritual leaders regarding the issues of domestic violence.

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Contact Us FaithLink
#306, 301-14th Street NW
Calgary, AB. T2N 2A1
Telephone: (403) 283-3013
Fax: (403) 283-3780

Irene Sevcik, Coordinator
Irene@faithlink.ca Tel: 283-3013 ext.240

Andrea Silverstone, Resource Coordinator
wildroseab@aol.comTel: 283-3013 ext.242

Marlette Reed, Resource Coordinator
Marlette@faithlink.ca Tel: 283-3013 ext.241

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