Annual Shelter Data Releases

ACWS prepares yearly data releases of aggregate shelter data.

Brochures & Fact Sheets

Position Statements & Briefs

Research Brief: Intimate Partner Violence in the Courtroom (2022)
Advancing the National Action Plan in Alberta: ACWS’ Response to the NAP to End Gender-Based Violence (2021)
An Opportunity to Create Safer Workplaces and Empower Survivors of Violence (2017): A brief discussing the renewal of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety System.
Measuring Progress: After the Roundtable (2009): Report assesses how Alberta measures up with respect to international conventions and uses the recommendations coming out of the Premier’s Roundtable and the Women’s Shelter Program Review as indicators to assist in measuring improvements that have been made from a shelter perspective.
Child Welfare Brief (2017)
A Safe Path Home: Solving Homelessness and Domestic Violence in Alberta (2017)
Position Statement: Naming of Women Killed by Their Intimate Partner (2019)
Position Statement: Salaries For Shelter Workers (2023)
Position Statement: Government of Alberta’s Proposed Policies on Transgender Youth, Gender-Affirming Care, and Sexuality Education (2024)

The Blueprint Project

News and Resources from the Blueprint Project

Reports

COVID-19

“When Other Doors Were Closed, Ours Were Open”: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Domestic Abuse Survivors and the Shelters and Staff that Support Them

Lift Her Up

Lift Her Up: Power and Control Wheel for Women in Political Office (2021)

Children

Walking The Path Together

Using a wholistic approach, Eagle Feather Workers from shelters in Alberta provide one-on-one and group support to children and their families who have lived with violence.

The Guide: Walk Proud, Dance Proud: Footprints on a Healing Journey: A discussion guide to Walking the Path Together to reclaim the teachings of our First Nations Children 2014. Walking the Path Together (WTPT) is a shelter-based programme developed collaboratively by a Project Guidance Circle and delivered initially in five Alberta First Nations communities, in partnership with families who use shelter services. It is a voluntary programme developed in a First Nations context to be in harmony with the gifts, history and vision of First Nations peoples.
Walking the Path Together Tools: Appreciative Inquiry: In 2008, the Shelter Directors used an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) framework to visualize a shared goal of helping families live in peace and harmony, free from violence and abuse.
Evaluation Report – Phases I & II
Social Return on Investment Case Study: Phase I: Social Return on Investment (SROI) Case Study for the first phase of Walking the Path Together.
Business Case: Project background and description, business strategy, rationale for support, operational requirements and fund development strategy.

Safety From Domestic Violence Initiative

Inventory of Promising Practices

Briefly, Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General have worked to address the issue of domestic violence through its policing initiatives, victim services, community corrections, prosecution services, civil protection services and specialized domestic violence courts. While these efforts as well as the efforts of other government agencies and community partners have made a difference in keeping women safe, a significant number of women continue to call the police, flee to women’s shelters, or are injured or killed by their abusive partners. Alberta Justice and Solicitor General initiated this project recognizing the need for further evidence informed practices and evolving collaboration between shelters, police, other government agencies and key stakeholders.

Shelters

Strength in Numbers: A Ten-Year Trend Analysis of Women’s Shelters in Alberta: A report based on ten years of aggregated data from Alberta member domestic violence shelters.
Practical Frameworks for Change: Supporting Women and Children in Alberta Emergency Shelters: ACWS and eight member shelters conceived and implemented the Practical Frameworks for Change project, introducing and evaluating promising practices learned at the conference to better support women in areas of Safety, Health and Culture. Participating shelters contributed their expertise, time and ingenuity to ensure successful project implementation over a two year period.

Second-Stage Shelters

Second-Stage Shelter Report: Building Informed Service Delivery in Second-Stage Shelters: This 2017 Project Report compiles research and analyzes data collected by participating Second-Stage Shelters across Alberta.

Surveys

Alberta Shelter Workforce Survey

Alberta Men’s Attitudes about Violence Against Women

ACWS, Leger Marketing and the White Ribbon Campaign worked together to inform a Gender Equity Score used as a benchmark for attitudes, informed by a similar Australian survey. The survey is trending toward positive social change.

2019 Alberta Men’s Attitudes Survey
2016 Men’s Attitudes and Behaviors toward Violence Against Women Report
2012 Men’s Attitudes and Behaviors toward Violence Against Women Report
- Men’s Attitudes Presentation (2012): Powerpoint presentation

Violence in the Workplace (2009): Leger Marketing was contracted by Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters to measure several aspects concerning Violence in the Workplace and Family Violence that Impacts the Workplace. The survey was conducted with 800 Albertans, including 300 in Edmonton and surrounding areas, 300 Calgary and surrounding areas, and 200 in other areas of Alberta.

Research Library

Table of Contents