Introduction

How the Workshop Came to Be

The Strengths of Shelter Workers

What is Abuse?

Why Abuse is Happening in Inuit Society

Understanding the Cycle of Violence

Inuit People and Healing

How My Shelter Helps Healing

Counselling 101

The Purpose of Counselling

Building a Counselling Relationship

Confidentiality

Good Listening

Gathering Information

Setting Goals

Taking Action

Suicide Prevention

Children and Abuse

The Impact of Abuse on Children

What Children Need

Helping Children Express Their Feelings

Safety Plans for Children

Working in a Shelter

Creating Physical Safety

Emotional Self-Esteem

Building Self-Esteem

Caring for Yourself

Dealing with Difficult Residents

Dealing with Conflict at the Shelter

Shelter Procedures and Records

Building Links with the Community

References

The Strengths of Shelter Workers

Women who work in shelters have many other roles in their communities such as mother, daughter, friend, wife, teacher, board member, church member and others. The skills they have learned and use in these different roles are also very useful in their job working in the shelter.

Sometimes women don’t feel they have the skills needed to work in a shelter, but in fact they bring many important skills to their job that come from their life experience in their family and community.