IFSSA Family

Vision

Healthy Muslim Families and Community

Mission

To meet the basic physical and emotional needs of the community within an Islamic context.


Fostering Healthy Families Program

Non Judgmental and Confidential:

  • Outreach worker
  • Culturally Sensitive counseling: marrital discord, family mediation, depression, healthy relationships
  • Support Groups for sisters
  • Resource Referals : Housing and Shelter, legal, programs to help
  • Transportation
  • Esential needs for victims
  • Risk managment/Saftey planning
  • Education

This was an exciting year for Islamic and Family Social Services Association, as it birthed a new program to better help meet the needs of the Edmonton community. The focus of this project is to promote Peaceful Familes and the prevention of Family Violence and Victim Assistance in our Communities. IFSSA recognizes that the prevention of any unhealthy behaviour is challenging. However, a key measure and initial step in the prevention of violence is educating the population to firstly recognize and acknowledge abusive behaviours exists in many forms. This is often a difficult and painful topic to address in the community. However, with the right supports Family Violence can be prevented initially or from happening again. IFSSA is committed to helping keep familes together and healthy and free from abuse. Also to guide those that have been
affected by Violence in the Family to heal, regain control and to feel safe in having a place to come to for help. IFSSA is and will contine to inform and educate the community and to bridge gaps in services for Immigrant and Muslim Families:

FACT

  1. Violence against women can occur in any country, including Canada
  2. Being Abused cannot be justified and it is never the victims fault. Using Violence to solve problems is a * choice
  3. Familes can heal and the cycle of abuse can be broken.
  4. Police will charge those that choose to paticipate in Domestic Abuse
  5. A man who hits his wife has chosen to break the law and must be prepared to accept the consequences.
  6. A Man or Women can get counselling to stop being violent or mistreating his wife.

About the Family Violence Outreach Worker at IFSSA:

Our Family Violence Outreach Worker is a graduate from the University of Victoria, British Columbia. With a B.A in Human and Social Development, she has dedicated her life to helping those in need. She has traveled Abroad to Educate herself on different cultures and for the purpose of Education. she is able to provide not only culturally sensitive services to IFSSA clients and community members. She has over 6 years of experience in the field of Human and Social Development and has successfully managed several Intensive Treatment programs in and around the Edmonton area helping bring individuals and families from the brink of destruction to working together towards peaceful, loving and understanding relationships.

No one deserves abuse. If you are a victim of abuse, please seek help or to get away from the person who abuses you.

Source: http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000662

Abuse is defined as:

  • Physical Abuse includes hitting, pinching, slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, burning, stabbing or shooting. It may also include threats to cause harm.
  • Psychological Abuse (sometimes referred to as emotional or verbal abuse) includes put-downs, name calling, jealousy, isolation from family and friends, and threats to leave the relationship or to commit suicide if the victim does not co-operate. 
  • Sexual Abuse includes unwanted touching or sexual activity. It may include control over birth control, forced pregnancies or abortions and transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). 
  • Financial Abuse occurs when an individual uses finances to control another individual. This could include forcing a person to hand over all or part of their salary or by denying someone access to their own finances.
  • Spiritual Abuse occurs when an individual uses religious or spiritual matters to control another, such as forcing another to follow a particular faith or give up their religion.

Source: http://www.troussenb.ca/emain.asp?477

Common Misconceptions

  1. Family Violence is nobody’s business except the family and they are protected by the right of privacy. Although, a person’s human rights are being violated ever since humans have protection from deprivation, suffering, and violence. Human rights apply to every person regardless of their race, religion, culture, and ideologies. Hence the matters are not private and should be addressed to family violence organizations and services.
  2. Physical abuse is defined as being the most severe violence in a family violence. As mentioned above, abuse comes in many forms and an abuse such as psychological abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse and can both have a long term effect on a person.
  3. There is a myth that family violence only pertains to woman. Men also experience abuse but they are more reserve about coming forward and expressing the issue and seeking help. Although, in society, men do not tend to see their plight as seriously as a woman does.
  4. The abuser will change and so the victim should try to work on things on their own and continue to accept the abuse- Without seeking professional help, the victim will continue to being abuse mentally and physically until they step forward. The abuser will not change their behaviour but will tend to normalize to keep the victim from escaping their control.
  5. Cultural or societal norms see the issue of family violence as taboo therefore it should not be publicly addressed, but not addressing the root of the problem has led to bigger issue that have become misunderstood without proper solutions being provided. By not facing the reality of the problem, we are trying to hide it which is creating dire consequences for communities and families to face.

What are your rights

Go to Family Violence Act

Family Violence: Organizations & Resources

Child Abuse

Kids Help Line: 1-800-551-8000

Family Violence Info Line: 310-1818 Toll Free 24/7. Interpreters are available for non-english speakers.

Violence against domestic partners

Services for women

  • A Safe Place 24 Hour Crisis/Support Line: 780-464-7233
  • Local women’s shelters can provide information to help women abused by their male partners. Even if you don’t plan to stay in a shelter, you can call for information about abuse in families. Visit www.familyviolence.gov.ab.ca or call the 24-hour Family Violence Info Line at 780-310-1818 to find a shelter near you.

Services for men

  • The Men’s Alternative Temporary Housing and Supports Program (MATHS) (780-421-7355) is a shelter for men who are offenders in family violence situations. Admissions must be voluntary; support and follow up are requirements.

Violence against older persons

  • Seniors Abuse Help Line (23 hours): 780-454-8888
  • Edmonton Seniors Safe Housing: 780-702-1520
  • Temporary safe housing for those 60 years or older needing to leave an abusive situation

Contact us:

IFSSA Family Violence Outreach Coordinator family_violence@telus.net Tel: 780-430-9220