The Elizabeth Fry Society Of Greater Vancouver works with women in conflict with the law. We provide housing, support and counselling for women, children and youth to help them improve their lives. Our program and services help build healthy and safe communities for all.
Our goal is to provide women and youth at risk with the tangible resources they need to rebuild a life for themselves and their children.
Elizabeth Fry Society provides
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Programs for women at risk - who are homeless, in prison or coming from prison, or struggling with addiction.
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Programs for youth at risk in the community and the youth detention center
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Counselling programs for families.
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Community programs for people charged with offences or before the courts.
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Information on community resources and where to turn for help.
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The Elizabeth Fry Society is funded by the Provincial Government, Federal Government and charitable donations. Our programs work to break the cycle of poverty, addiction, mental illness, homelessness, and crime.
If you would like to support our work, we accept monetary and in-kind donations. Gifts and charitable donations are eligible for tax deduction.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver is a member of
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS), which is the national association of Elizabeth Fry Societies in Canada.
Highlights
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The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver is the founding Elizabeth Fry Organization from which was grown a national association of many autonomous, independent, non-profit societies.
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We were instrumental in the acceptance of schooling, addiction counselling and restitution to the community as part of a rehabilitative strategy for offenders.
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We opened the first non-government group home for youth and girls.
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We developed an employment training program for women that was accepted and run as a federal government program.
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We developed a volunteer program to ensure people know their legal rights and responsibilities to enable them to represent themselves. It is now a national model across Canada.
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We opened the first shelter of its kind that enabled homeless women and their children to be housed together. |
Mission
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To improve the lives of those
involved, or at risk of involvement, in the criminal justice or
social services system, with specialization in high-risk women and youth
struggling with multiple issues.
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To develop strategic direction and provide
leadership regarding humane criminal and social justice.
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To
provide services, programs and public education that improve population
health factors which
place women and children/youth at risk of involvement in the criminal
justice system.
Vision
Our vision is a community where people have the knowledge, capabilities, and opportunity to take responsibilty for the decisions affecting their lives so as to build healthy and safe communities. Working and learning together, our integrated programs and services deliver appropriate, effective housing, support, and assistance to those at risk in our society. We balance the interests of all in our continued commitment to enabling women, children, youth to improve their lives.
Goal
Our Goal is to reduce the generational legacy of involvement in the social services and criminal systems and to improve population health outcomes.
Our Objectives are:
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To reduce the population health factors which place women and youth at risk of involvement in the Social Services and Criminal Justice Systems.
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To optimize the health and well being of women, youth and families at risk.
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To promote social policy development and leadership in the humane social and criminal justice of people.
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To reduce gender based inequities in services within the Criminal and Social Services Systems.
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To use the Society's infrastructures to stimulate social and economic actions to improve the lives of at risk populations.
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History
Elizabeth Fry was an English woman born to a wealthy Quaker family in 1780. She
began visiting women imprisoned in London's infamous Newgate Prison in 1812.
Elizabeth Fry was instrumental in initiating many prison reform programs that
are still in place today.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, established in 1939, was the
founding Elizabeth Fry Society in Canada. Now, there are 24 autonomous societies
in Canada that are members of Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
(CAEFS).
