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 experienced abuse and accountability for those who have acted abusively are a priorities.
   
   
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.

History

FaithLink emerged in 2000 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.

In the spring of 1999 the Action Committee on Family Violence, in collaboration with the United Way of Calgary and Area and the Calgary Injury Prevention Coalition commissioned an Angus Reid survey to determine Calgarian’s attitudes toward violence.  16% of respondents identified their church as a place to seek help as a victim of domestic violence.

In the fall of 1999 two informal discussion with Dr. Nancy Nason-Clark, a sociologist who has done extensive research with faith/religious community and the Chair of the Religion and Violence team at Muriel McQueen Ferguson Centre of Family Violence Research, were hosted by RESOLVE Alberta and the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Centre.  Emerging from these discussions, a working group formed to examine ways to promote dialogue between religious (spiritually based) communities and service agencies addressing the issue of domestic violence in Calgary.

The working group evolved into a collaborative body, the FaithLink Steering Committee.

Today, FaithLink has 30 Steering committee members, 23 of whom are active and 3 staff members, one who is dedicated to working specifically with the Jewish community.


Funding

FaithLink is funded by grants and donations from the community.  We have received generous grants from Community Mobilization Program and the Canadian Women’s Foundation.  We are constantly seeking sustainable funding opportunities.

Sonshine Community Centre is currently our fiscal agent.


Initiatives

Protocol Development and Training: FaithLink will work with any religious (spiritually based) communities to create a protocol for responding to domestic abuse. The document will be designed to reflect its unique theology, organizational structure and specific concerns. 

Marriage Preparation Workshops: Communities of faith are in unique positions to take preventative action against family violence.  One of the ways Christian communities can act preventively is by being alert to, and raising the issue of, domestic abuse when providing marriage preparation to couple planning their lives together.  FaithLink assist in this endeavor by offering annual workshops for faith leaders, counselors and sponsoring couples on the issue of domestic violence.

Conferences:  FaithLink sponsors an annual fall conference to: raise awareness of family violence within the religious (spiritually based) communities, raise awareness among secular professionals of the importance of spirituality to believer-clients who seek secular services, facilitate collaborative working relationships between religious/spiritual leaders and secular professionals, and facilitate discussion among faith leaders of theological issues relevant to family violence.

Resource and Activities Manual: To assist religious (spiritually based) communities in taking a preventative stance against domestic violence, FaithLink develops and send to each Christian congregation in the city a Resource and Activities Manual that leaders and congregants can utilize in addressing the issue of domestic violence.  A similar manual is also being developed for the Jewish Community.

Awareness Raising: FaithLink seeks opportunities to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Facilitate Bridge Building: FaithLink seeks opportunities to connect members of faith communities and individuals working with secular agencies offering services to those affected by domestic violence.