Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is one of twelve sexual assault centres in Canada participating in the LINKS research project. This is a five-year research project of the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (CASAC) and funded by the Department of Justice Canada.

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre participates in a national research study conducted by the Department of Justice Canada that looks at women’s experiences with the criminal justice system after sexual assault (Released in 2000).

Sexual Assault Facilitation Drugs Awareness Campaign: we held three community meetings to address concerns regarding “date rape drugs”. Partnered with Dalhousie Women’s Centre and the Dalhousie Students Union to develop and distribute a brochure. This was later revised and redistributed in partnership with the Nova Scotia Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, Drug Dependency Services, the RCMP and SANE.

Began the conceptualization and development of our group program for survivors based in a “Stepping Stone” model, in order to address earlier, mid, and later stage themes in the healing process. Presently the three groups and two workshops include “Strengthening Present Life Coping”; “Embracing Emotions in Healing”; “Impacts of Sexual Abuse”; “Deepening Healing Through Self-Parenting”; “Sexual Healing and Re-embodiment Workshop”; and “Celebrating Our Lives Workshop”.

As a result of numerous complaints from victims, their families, and other service providers about the way that police were dealing with victims of sexual assault, Avalon requested a meeting with the Halifax Regional Police. A similar meeting was also held between HRP and other community agencies in the HRM. This meeting marked the beginning of a number of joint initiatives between Avalon and HRP.

The Community Education Program develops a number of professional training programs for services providers and begins promotion of the custom designed professional training program.