b'SHELTERSIncreasing Access to Safe Housing for Women:BY NIKITA DAYOntario shelters provide critical services and safe spaces for Indigenous women at riskThe NASC team at a strategic planning session. From left to right: Shannon OConnor, Rianna Patterson, Samantha Tennant, Mellissa Gravelle and Kristyn Raine.A ngela Connors, a member[All of our programs] are based onservice coordination to support different of the Saugeen Ojibwayproviding that support, counselling andservices and referrals that may be avail-Nation, is the Executivehealing services, which are a blend ofable to help young people. Director at NiijkiwendidaaAnishinaabe practice, community andNASC offers a wide range of Anishnaabekwewag Services Circleclient-centred approaches, says Connors.programming for a variety of ages and (NASC), an organization supportingNASCs programs include individualsituations. Their Healthy Babies, Healthy Indigenous women and their familiesas well as group counselling. The mainChildren program assists mothers and who have been or are currently at risk ofpriority is definitely children and youth.their children, offering care ranging from experiencing violence. The organization[Were] really trying to create [a] goodpre-natal to age six. Next is their Child will be celebrating its 30th anniversaryfoundation for long-term health pros- Witness to Violence program, which in 2024.pects for children and youth, and provideprovides early intervention for chil-dren 18 and under who have witnessed Photo courtesy of Beendigen. violence against women or related forms Resources of violence. Alongside this is their Youth in Transition program, working with If you or someone you love needs support, youth who are transitioning through the the following resources are available to help: child welfare system. Lastly, their Crisis Support and Counselling for Women Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle Experiencing Violence program helps www.niijki.com/book-an-appointment.htmlthose who are fleeing domestic abuse Main Line: 705-741-0900 and provides emergency safety planning, Toll Free: 1-800-663-2696 advocacy and long-term counselling. Beendigen Meanwhile, NASCs housing support www.beendigen.comprogram connects across allCrisis Line: 1-888-200-9997 programming levels. Thunder Bay: 807-346-HELP (4357) The reason for [our] success is that Red Cedars Shelterall these programs work together to mbq-tmt.org/social-services/rcsprovide wrap-around support for folks Confidential 24/7 Crisis Line: 1-800-672-9515 reaching out to us, stresses Connors.Phone: 613-967-2003 Looking towards the future, NASC Fax: 613-967-5998 has been working on more cultural-based 42l I ssue1 2022C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'