Email CCSD or Vis-à-vis | CCSD Home Page| Table of Contents (current issue)Family violence has many tragic and sometimes hidden effects on young girls' lives. Research has shown that, far too often, abuse is a factor in the development of eating disorders. The non-profit BC Eating Disorders Association is committed to raising awareness and understanding about eating disorders. Through our School Outreach Program, survivors of eating disorders visit schools to speak to students and peer counsellors about their experiences, the dangers of dieting, media myths and how to get help. During the 1994-95 school year, about 50 presentations were made reaching over 1,200 students. We believe our success in the schools is due to our efforts to integrate the topic into a core curriculum, our flexibility in meeting the schools' needs and our ongoing support to the schools after the presentations. Unfortunately, a lack of funding may force us to cancel this program in the spring of 1996. We would appreciate any tax-deductible donations to help keep this needed service going. For more information, contact:
Shaleen Jones
BC Eating Disorders Association
841 Fairfield Road, Suite 5
Victoria, BC, V8V 3B6
Tel. and fax: (604) 383-2755
The National Youth in Care Network received funding from the Family Violence Prevention Division of Health Canada for a project entitled, "Back Into the Hands of Youth: Youth in and from Care Identify Healing Needs". In this project, youth facilitators talked with 100 young people to develop community-based, peer-led strategies that will help youth heal from abuse. The participants talked at length about how their abuse had resulted in suicide attempts, drug and alcohol addictions and lack of self-esteem. Repeatedly, young people expressed the need to regain control by bringing the healing to the individual, peer and community level. For more information and a copy of the final report, contact:
Martha Kirby, National Director
National Youth in Care Network
251 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON, K2P 1X3
Tel: (613) 230-8945, fax: 232-7130
Sexual violence by teenagers is a crucial problem. The Centre d'intervention en violence et abus sexuels (CIVAS) de l'Estrie is working to prevent such violence. In February 1995, they established a unique phone help line for sexual offenders. It is aimed at young and adult men who are thinking about committing sexual violence. The crisis worker tries to defuse the situation by calming down the caller in the hope of stopping him from committing the act. They let him know that support and treatment are available from CIVAS and other organizations. The phone line is publicized at high schools, youth agencies and recreation facilities. A hopeful sign is that of the 100 calls received to date, many are from young men. For more information, contact:
Josée Rioux, Director
Centre d'intervention en violence et abus sexuels de l'Estrie
P.O. Box 161
Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5H8
Tel: (819) 564-5127, fax: 564-5049
Help line: (819) 823-4433
Email CCSD or Vis-à-vis | CCSD Home Page| Table of Contents (current issue)