The Abuse Response and Prevention programs offers trainings and workshops on topics such as: healthy boundaries, domestic violence, clergy sexual misconduct, and trauma-informed ministries. We also have workshops geared for specifically for youth, leaders, and the general public.
*Please note that the following lists of workshops are offered by the Abuse Response and Prevention Program in Manitoba. Please contact a provincial coordinator to learn which of these workshops can be offered in your province.
We are also very willing to create a workshop that is suitable to your needs and concerns, in terms of length, setting, and audience. Contact our Manitoba office, and we will happily explore what might best fit your circumstance or organization.
How the church can respond to #MeToo and #ChurchToo
Over the last many years the prevalence of sexual harm against women, children, and other vulnerable populations has been amplified through the #metoo and #churchtoo movements. Statistically we know that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. The church is not immune to these realities. This workshop unpacks myths associated with sexual harm, explores ways for churches to both actively prevent and respond to situations of abuse, and suggests ways for faith communities to become healing-centered spaces.
Healthy Pastoral Boundaries
For church-leaders to maintain a life-giving ministry which honors both the needs of self and other, appropriate, and ethical boundaries are essential. This training covers a host of important topics such as: understanding power and vulnerability, the responsibility and challenges of boundary-setting, clergy sexual misconduct, self-care, and self- awareness. It touches on difficult areas such as: dual relationships, friendships, and dating.
Domestic Violence in Christian Homes
The church isn’t often a place where we learn about abuse or how it can occur in dating relationships or marriages. We tend to assume that it doesn’t occur in Christian homes. Physical, emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual, and sexual abuse are forms of harm that impact many individuals in their relationships, including those in our pews.
This workshop helps us understand the prevalence of intimate partner abuse, why it occurs, what it looks like, why people don’t talk about it, and how churches can walk with both victims and harm-doers on healing paths.
Pastoral Care and Domestic Violence
This training is geared for spiritual care providers, faith-leaders, and pastors. The first half of the training explores the realities of intimate partner violence: prevalence, forms, impact on families, and barriers to help. The second half unpacks how leaders and
care-givers can compassionately respond to both victims and offenders and looks at the types of theological and spiritual responses that can cause harm or foster restoration.
Walking Together: Supporting victim-survivors of sexual abuse
This training is for faith-leaders, family members, or friends who are caring for someone who has experienced sexual abuse. The response a victim receives when they come forward can be a turning point in their lives. How we respond matters greatly - it can further shame and or create possibilities for healing. This workshop will discuss how to respond and walk with brothers and sisters who are seeking healing and justice from the trauma of sexual harm.
Power, Vulnerability, and Healthy Boundaries
This workshop is geared for who hold positions of power with either adults or children (teachers, professors, camp counsellors, Sunday-school teachers, youth-leaders) . It focuses on what it means to hold power and how to use a position of trust to relate with those in our care in appropriate and positive ways. Different types of boundaries and important guidelines will be explored pertaining to issues such as: touch, social media, emotional intimacy, friendship, personal safeguarding, and confidentiality.
Trauma Informed Organizations and Ministries
This training is geared for organizations and ministries working with children, youth, or marginalized populations who want to integrate trauma-aware practices into their programs and workplace culture. Staff will leave with a deeper understanding of trauma, its effects, and why it matters in their role. Significant time will be given to help teams apply trauma-informed principles into the work they are currently doing.
*This training uses principles from STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience), which is an educational model developed and taught through Eastern Mennonite University. Its goal is to expand individuals’ and communities’ capacities to understand, identify, and respond to trauma in healing and integrative ways.
Prevention and Response to Sexual Harm
This workshop explores myths and misconceptions about sexual violence and discusses how everyone plays a part in preventing and responding to situations of sexual harm amongst staff or program participants. Staff will leave with strategies for responding to violent or disrespectful interactions and for fostering a workplace culture of dignity and respect.
Understanding Pornography effects on Healthy Relationships
Consuming pornography is a common activity in both youth and adults. This workshop examines types of pornography, and the ways in which particularly some types of pornography socialize youth and young adults into attitudes toward sexual relationship that are harmful to the self and others. These harmful attitudes and behaviours can have long-term effects, and create potential abuse patterns in their relationships.
Bullying and Abuse in the Online World
Most youth locate much of their identity in their online social world, and much of their social worlds is experienced via various social media, messaging, and gaming platforms. This makes youth inordinately vulnerable to potential abuse either from 1) people they know and care about or, 2) online predators who pose as harmless, potential friends or romantic partners. This workshop explores the very real risks of the online social world, and healthy habits of media consumption.
Recognizing and Understanding Abuse
Children and Youth are particularly vulnerable to abuse at the same time that they are the least likely to disclose they are being abused. This workshop provides information about abuse types and the consequences of abuse in order to provide greater understanding. It is often the case that hearing abuse talked about helps children and youth to break the silence of either witnessing abuse or being a victim of abuse themselves, potentially ending the abuse and beginning the healing process.
Dating Myths and Healthy Romantic Relationships
This workshop explores ideas and expectations youth have about dating that are often inaccurate and unhealthy, and occasionally lead to significant harm and abuse, suggesting healthier approaches to the possibility of romantic relationships. The workshops also exposes and debunks many of the unrealistic and harmful relational expectations and pressures that youth pick up from popular movies and sit-coms.
Understanding Pornography effects on Healthy Relationships
Consuming pornography is a common activity in both youth and adults. This workshop examines types of pornography, and the ways in which particularly some types of pornography socialize youth and young adults into attitudes toward sexual relationship that are harmful to the self and others. These harmful attitudes and behaviours can have long-term effects, and create potential abuse patterns in their relationships.
Bullying and Abuse in the Online World
Most youth locate much of their identity in their online social world, and much of their social worlds is experienced via various social media, messaging, and gaming platforms. This makes youth inordinately vulnerable to potential abuse either from 1) people they know and care about or, 2) online predators who pose as harmless, potential friends or romantic partners. This workshop explores the very real risks of the online social world, and healthy habits of media consumption.
Recognizing and Understanding Abuse
Children and Youth are particularly vulnerable to abuse at the same time that they are the least likely to disclose they are being abused. This workshop provides information about abuse types and the consequences of abuse in order to provide greater understanding. It is often the case that hearing abuse talked about helps children and youth to break the silence of either witnessing abuse or being a victim of abuse themselves, potentially ending the abuse and beginning the healing process.
Media and Gender Stereotypes
The media and culture at large bombards us with messages around what it means to be a male or a female and how to be in relationships with one another. Many of these messages do not lay foundations for healthy sexual identity and diversity, or healthy relationships for youth (or adults). The goal of this workshop is to help young people intelligently analyze media messages rather than unthinkingly internalize them.
