Programs and services – Surrey Women's Centre

Our Programs & Services

SMART PROGRAM

The Surrey Mobile Assault Response Team responds within minutes of an assault and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The team provides comprehensive crisis response: safe transportation; urgent medical care, collection of evidence; filing of the police report; a comfort package; relocation to a safe place.

FORENSIC MEDICAL SUPPORT

Survivors of assault are immediately accompanied to the hospital to ensure they are supported through the process of treatment and forensics. A SMART team member offers compassionate comfort through the examination process, and then assists women afterwards with subsequent legal procedures.

LEGAL ADVOCACY

Surrey Women’s Centre connects women with the legal and justice community to safeguard that no women falls through the cracks of the system. Police are involved either at the scene, or at the hospital, and a team member is available to help with the police reports.

The Court Support Team assists in explaining a survivor’s legal rights and helps them navigate the criminal justice system with free legal information, orientation, and moral support at court proceedings.

HEALING AND INTEGRATIVE COUNSELING

The ultimate goal of SWC is to assist women leaving a life of violence and fear behind to begin anew. One-to-one and group counseling is available for women who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or childhood abuse.

Feelings of isolation are common, and by sharing stories with other survivors in a safe haven, women feel less alone in their experience. Women are free to access emotional support services at any stage of their healing process.

Women sometimes show up at the centre with little clothing. They have access to clothes, shoes, and toiletries, and we ensure they have a safe place to warm up with a cup of coffee or tea. If they need to make a phone call, or use the computer, they can drop in Monday to Friday.

A group conducted by an Indigenous Elder and Registered Clinical Counselor, this is the first trauma informed support group for indigenous mothers with children at risk of being removed from their care.

An eight week program, it was designed to empower indigenous mothers to help them discover their own power and inner resilience.