HISTORY
Elizabeth Fry Toronto was started by a community group in 1951 and incorporated in 1952.
Phyllis Haslam was the Executive Director of Elizabeth Fry Toronto from 1953 until 1978. A tireless advocate for the welfare of women, Phyllis Haslam presided over Elizabeth Fry Toronto and played an integral role in the organization’s considerable growth. The principles by which she led the organization continue to guide Elizabeth Fry Toronto today.
Before her death in 1991, Phyllis Haslam witnessed the building of 215 Wellesley Street House which was the realization of her most profound dreams: caring and professional residential services, counselling programs designed to meet client needs in a sensitive and timely fashion, and community outreach.
DESCRIPTION
Elizabeth Fry Toronto consists of a four storey building located at Sherbourne and Wellesley Sts. south of St. Jamestown. Public transportation, local agencies, downtown Toronto, and recreational facilities are within walking distance. The agency consists of a residence, a recreation room, a living and dining room and balcony. The agency also operates a bachelor satellite apartment and a two-bedroom satellite apartment for federal offenders and their children.
RESIDENTS ACCEPTED
Elizabeth Fry Toronto offers programs for women who are, have been, or are at risk of being in conflict with the law. The organization operates a residential program plus a federal mother/child program. The target group of women served by the program includes any resident who:
· is on parole, probation or long-term supervision order,
· is referred from Correctional Services Canada or Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services,
· wants to make changes in her life and
· can benefit from the approach to service, support, and structure offered.
Residents and staff work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity to develop a caring and supportive living environment. House rules are in place to foster a safe and peaceful living space for all residents.
Aboriginal women are welcome and the residential staff will accommodate their cultural requirements including connections to Aboriginal agencies in the area.
EXCLUSIONS
Admission is not restricted unless the needs of the woman exceed the services offered.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Elizabeth Fry Toronto conducts institutional interviews to assess a woman's ability and willingness to participate in programs. Institutional visits take place bi-weekly at the Grand Valley Institution for Women. Staff can accommodate interviews at other locations either in person or through teleconferencing. A Community Assessment Strategy follows the institutional interview.
STAFF
Elizabeth Fry Toronto has a staff complement of 45: including an Executive Director, Residential Manager, Residential staff and a range of program staff
PROGRAM
Elizabeth Fry Toronto –Phyllis Haslam Residence is based on an Integrative Model of support. The goal of the program is re-integration of residents into family and society while recognizing the role of family and society sometimes plays in women’s criminalization.
Taking a consciously integrative approach is important because the residential program itself consists of a number of components (housing, case management, conditions of release, residential plans, chores, communal activities, one-on-one counselling, and external involvements). An integrative approach is also important because the women themselves -especially those who have experienced trauma and have used substances are experiencing varying degrees of disintegration and fragmentation in their lives.
We use Gender-Informed Anti-Oppression Framework at Elizabeth Fry Toronto because we acknowledge the intersection of personal and structural in women’s lives. The Integrative Model addresses personal safety and introduces an asset-based approach to re-integration work in the congregant living setting which recognizes that women learning to identify and leverage their own assets will be their key to success.
Elizabeth Fry Toronto offers a range of other programs including:
Financial Literacy
Criminalized women face unique barriers to developing financial literacy that are tied to their identity as a criminalized woman and gender inequity that exists in most of our systems. This project will adapt existing tools and approaches to take into account criminalized women’s gendered experiences, their unique relational needs and using their body as currency. This ‘toolbox’ will be supported by an approach that addresses the socio-emotional barriers that further restrict women from ‘taking up’ financial strategies such as exploring personal worth, self-esteem, deserving and hope.
Community Programs in 2010 added 'active development of financial literacy educational components' to the organizational work plan to address the specific financial literacy challenges that women in the criminal justice system face. While the insertion of elements of financial literacy into other curriculums is a start it is not sufficient giving the complex challenges our clients face. Women have expressed interest in the financial literacy components of existing programs. Some women have been 'behind bars' for over 10 years and have not been exposed to on-line banking for instance.
A financial literacy educator will develop population-appropriate curriculum and carrying out ‘pilot’ sessions from a women-centered approach. The educator will carry out a series of 8-week groups that focus on financial literacy in the institution/s, the half-way house and within the community.
Incredible Years
Elizabeth Fry Toronto in partnership with Child Development Institute will host parenting groups under the framework of the Incredible Years Program. This program is designed to reach caregivers who are at risk of, or have had previous contact with the justice system.
Incredible Years is a research tested method of delivering parenting information to families of children from the ages of 0 to 12 years of age. It has been used internationally as both preventative and as a treatment modality for parents and children.
Basic – 18 weeks of programming for caregivers, combination of group and individual sessions
Advanced – 18 weeks of programming for caregivers, combination of group and individual sessions
Dina Dinosaur – 20 weeks of group sessions for children with behavioral challenges
All clients will begin with the Basic program. Caregivers who have completed the Basic will have the option of additional Advanced training, which will enhance skills taught in the initial program.
Child care and assistance with transportation will be provided.
Please contact the facilitator at (416) 603-1827 x2283 for an intake.
Intakes occur throughout the year, and assessments will be done 2-4 weeks prior to the beginning of each cycle. Session times will be held in accordance to best fit with client needs
Substance Abuse Assessment & Treatment Program:
Providing group and individual support for woman with substance use issues.
Theft & Fraud Program:
Offered for women referred by probation parole offices in Toronto or with recent experience of shoplifting and fraud. This program provides individual and group counselling for women to address shoplifting & fraud behaviours, coping mechanisms, relapse prevention, life skills, isolation and shame. A similar program is run for self referred women in the community. It’s a one-day workshop run several times throughout the year where women acknowledge their conflict with the law and begin to understand the underlying issues;
Anger Management:
Designed for women with anger issues, this program provides individual and group counselling.
Healing from Abuse:
Provides ongoing individual and group counselling and advocacy for women in conflict with the law who have experienced abuse of any sort including domestic assault, childhood abuse, sexual abuse and abuse in the context of cults and child pornography and prostitution rings. This is an opportunity for women to speak about the impact of abuse, to notice where the impact is interfering with reaching goals, and to gain support and skills to overcome the obstacles they are presently facing. Program supports women to constructively participate in society, which also helps reduce recidivism rates and increases community safety.
This program partners with Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment program to provide services to women with concurrent disorders at Vanier Centre for Women and as well as at the agency for women in the community.
Community General Counselling:
Offered for women who are at risk or in conflict with the law but whose needs would not be met by the other programs. They are not mandated to take part in programming by any government body, probation or parole. Majority are self referrals, referrals by other programs, lawyers or the courts. Most often the women are marginalized, impoverished, with histories of family violence and adult trauma.
For group schedule see
http://www.efrytoronto.org/n/sites/default/files/files/Community%20Program%20Schedule%202011-2012.pdf or call 1-855-924-3708 for intake and information.
Pre- Employment Program (Believing in Employment Successes Training: B.E.S.T)
A program that assesses strengths and employment readiness, as well as exploring pathways to employment goals that is unique to homeless women with a criminal record.
Post Incarceration Housing Program
Offers help to homeless women, who have been released from prison in accessing adequate, affordable housing. In addition, support is provided to enable women maintain their housing.
Project OWN (opportunities for women now)
An education program that focuses on prevention and changing public awareness of issues related to women and the law. A unique feature of this program is the use of peer educators who educate the public on the Canadian legal system and the impact of that system on the lives of marginalized women.
Newcomer Program
This program provides counselling, support, education and referral to women ages 16+ who are new to Canada or who may have a precarious immigration status in Canada and who are in conflict or are at risk of being in conflict with the law.
Work Safe Program
The program is designed to provide counselling, support, education and referral to sex workers in regards to health and legal concerns/issues.
Volunteer Program Court Services
College Park Provincial Court
Room 287
416-598-3135
If you are a woman appearing at College Park Provincial Court, a trained volunteer Court Worker can assist you through the court experience. We are available Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Volunteer office, Room 287, is located outside Court Room No. 506.
We offer:
