Summer is underway!

For the second year, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc welcomes Jill Sullivan & Abby Watson as our summer students.  They will be here for 10 and 8 weeks, respectedly. 

This summer, E. Fry will be taking a short hiatus from some of our regular programming so we can work on making changes to programs & services, volunteer recruitment, and many other things!

Look out for our newsletter in July!  If you'd like to receive one via email or by regular mail, please send your contact information to us at efry@nb.aibn.com

Donations

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc is seeking donations of the following items:

For our clients
-Full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and toothpaste
-Tooth brushes
-Combs & Brushes
-Pads, Tampons & Panty Liners
-Bars of Soap
-Make up or other 'fun' items
 Please, do not donate anything that contains alcohol.

For the office
-Stamps
-Paper (white)
-Storage solutions (bankers boxes, tote bins, etc)
-Envelopes and labels

To make a donation, please send a cheque to: PO Box 23012 Saint John NB E2J 4M1
Or you can check out our link on Canada Helps.org

Summer Students

We're excited to announce that we will be having two summer students again this year!!  Our office hours will be extended over the summer months, which means it'll be accessible from 8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday.  Our first summer student will be starting on June 7th, so stop by to say hello!

Scholarship

The deadline is quickly approaching for the Scholarship.  If you would like to submit an application for the scholarship, please send it in no later than Friday, May 14th by 4:00 p.m.  For more information on the Scholarship, see THIS post.

'Let's invest in people, not prisons'

Joan Laurie | EDMONTON JOURNAL | LETTERS, Page: A15
      
'Let's invest in people, not prisons' 

The federal government's tough on crime position seems to fly in the face of all the information available on effective management of criminals and prison systems. Most of our government's proposed strategies have been tried in the United States, where they have increased costs significantly, with a disproportionate decrease in crime.

Keeping offenders in prison longer, double-bunked, and with little access to rehabilitation will almost certainly cost all of us more money, and is unlikely to help prisoners learn how to contribute to society once they are released.

Yet Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says, "Our government is prepared to pay the cost to keep dangerous offenders in prison."

This is not the government's money: it's our money.

I would rather invest our tax dollars to support people in need, to prevent crime from happening, than to spend much more money building new prisons and dealing with the aftermath of people turning to crime because of a lack of social services before, during and after their incarceration.

Do we want more prisons? Or do we want more affordable housing, early childhood programs, and more help for people wrestling with addictions or chronic health issues.

Let's invest in people, not prisons.

-Joan Laurie, Spruce Grove

For more information contact:
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
151 Slater Street, #701
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3
Phone: 613-238-2422
Email: caefs@web.ca
On the web: http://www.elizabethfry.ca/

Number of Women going to Prison Jumps 50%

OTTAWA —

The number of women starting federal prison sentences in Canada has grown by more than 50 per cent in the past decade — a “troubling trend” that experts say will only get worse as the Conservative government moves toward harsher laws and order measures.

Most concerning, they say, is that the small pool of incarcerated women share many common traits: They are primarily poor or homeless, undereducated and have addictions or mental-health problems such as schizophrenia, depression and anxiety disorders.

Almost all of them — 82 per cent, according to advocacy group Elizabeth Fry Society — have a history of sexual or physical abuse. That figure rises to 91 per cent for aboriginal women.

“Women who are incarcerated have a particular profile,” said Ivan Zinger, executive director and general counsel at the Office for the Correctional Investigator of Canada, the ombudsman for federal offenders.

“There’s a much larger over-representation of aboriginal women and women with mental health issues than men, so they’re being disproportionately impacted by that lack of preventive measures, and social welfare, and appropriate health-care services,” he said.

There are about 500 women — or almost four per cent of the total federal prison population in Canada — currently serving federal sentences of two years or more, compared with more than 13,000 men.

In 2001-02, there were 202 women admitted to federal custody. Consistent with figures from the two previous years, 313 women were admitted to custody in 2008-09 — a 55 per cent increase since the beginning of the decade.

That compares to a 15 per cent increase for men.

Moreover, the number of aboriginal women serving federal time has jumped 90 per cent since 2001, with aboriginal women now representing 33 per cent of women behind bars, although they make up only three per cent of the female population.

While aboriginal men are also over-represented in federal prisons, their figures have grown 17 per cent in that time, according to Zinger.

Women are twice as likely to have a mental-health-problem diagnosis at the time of admission to custody than men — with 30 per cent of women having been admitted to a psychiatric hospital before being incarcerated, compared to 14.5 per cent of men.

“If the mental-health system, for example, is failing, then some of the behaviour linked to symptoms of mental health are now being criminalized, and that can certainly contribute to the rising numbers,” said Zinger.

Zinger said some new Conservative crime laws, such as ending two-for-one sentencing credit for time served in custody awaiting trial, could have an adverse affect on poor women who will have a tougher time getting bail, or paying for a lawyer while in custody.

“The risk is that (the) legislation . . . may actually exacerbate already very troubling trends, like the increase incarceration of women and women aboriginals, the fastest growing segment of the inmate population in Canada,” said Zinger.

Remand facilities are also overcrowded and lack rehabilitative programs, said Kim Pate, executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies.

A spokeswoman for Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews said the small percentage of women offenders in Canada is consistent with international data.

“(Correctional Service of Canada) is recognized as a world leader in the provision of services to women offenders and remains committed to strengthening the system by drawing upon the findings and recommendations of various reviews to enhance services, programs and strategies to meet the specific needs of women offenders,” said spokeswoman Christine Csversko.

She said the Correctional Service of Canada has developed a comprehensive mental-health strategy that includes a computerized screening system to identify earlier and more easily offenders who may require mental-health services, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.

“(The Correctional Service of Canada) also has a recruitment plan in place to find sufficient people in sufficient numbers with the expertise and motivation to work with offenders that have mental-health issues. This can often represent a challenge because many of our institutions and parole districts across Canada are located in smaller or remote communities,” said Csversko, adding that the service is working with aboriginal communities as well.

Some argue the problems start before women get to prison.

Pate, who has worked at Elizabeth Fry for more than 20 years, said the rise in women serving federal sentences is directly related to cuts in social services.

“As we’ve seen cuts to social programs, cuts to health care, cuts to education, those who traditionally had to rely on those for an equal playing field have been most impacted. And that overwhelmingly is, of course, indigenous peoples, women, poor people, and those with mental health issues,” said Pate.

About two-thirds of incarcerated women are mothers, she added.

“Sentencing a woman to prison also sentences her children often to social services. The cost of imprisonment is also the cost of the state care of those children. The potential for abuse in those settings also increases the potential for those children to end up in a crisis situation. Once you’re caught in that system, it’s difficult to extricate yourself,” she said.

Pate argues for better services, such as social and affordable housing, to help women in need.

One former inmate, Joanne, was 48 when she was convicted of drug trafficking in Prescott, Ont., south of Ottawa.

It was her first offence and she was sentenced to two years in prison at Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener, Ont.

Joanne, who has two daughters who were 17 and 27 when she went to prison, said she was in an abusive relationship at the time of her arrest. She has a Grade 10 education and had lost her job at a factory when she began selling cocaine. She pleaded guilty to her charges because she could not afford her lawyer, and was expecting house arrest or a conditional sentence.

“I was scared, hopeless, felt I couldn’t do nothing,” said Joanne, now 50, who suffers from depression. “I was a suicidal person to begin with.”

Upon her early release from prison, Joanne spent several months in a halfway house in Ottawa. Now back in her community, she’s since gone back to school to finish high school and is looking for a job, but hasn’t found one yet.

© Copyright (c) CW Media Inc.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com:80/health/Number+women+going+prison+jumps+cent/3007019/story.html#ixzz0nd3X0A6n

For more information contact:
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
151 Slater Street, #701
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3
Phone: 613-238-2422
Email: caefs@web.ca
On the web: http://www.elizabethfry.ca/

Rebels With A Cause

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc would like to thank everyone who attended our Rebels With A Cause Dinner & Silent Auction on May 6th, 2010 at Lily Lake Pavilion.

The evening was a great success and we are truly happy we could share the evening with all of you!

Scholarship May 14th Deadline

General Information

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc is pleased to be able to offer scholarships to clients, both past and present, to assist in educational plans.   The purpose of the bursary is to assist in the educational efforts of those who have been involved with the Society in some capacity.

Amount

The amount allocated to each recipient will vary depending on need of said applicant.  The amount will also vary based on the number of applications received.

Guidelines/Eligibility

To qualify for a scholarship, you must be a current client of The Society or a past client.  You must demonstrate financial need in order to obtain a scholarship from the Society. 

You must be able to prove that you are enrolled in an educational institution within Canada.  You can do this by providing a copy of your acceptance letter with your application form.

Funds will be dispersed directly to the educational institution.  Should you withdraw from the educational institution, funds will be revoked. 

You must be enrolled in one of the following institutions: community college, trades school, or university.  Consideration can be given to those who are attempting to obtain a G.E.D.

The Society can revoke funds for any reason prior to be released to the educational institution.

You must complete all sections of the application form, and include all necessary documents.

You may be required to meet with a member of the Society to further discuss your application.

You may be required to submit additional forms or information.

You may be required to submit a report of your studies/grades.

Application

Each applicant should complete the application form and send along any information they feel would help outline why they need the application form (ie. Letters of reference, resume, cover letter).  Each applicant is required to include a letter explaining the applications long and short term educational goals.  The more information you provide, the easier it will be for the Committee to select recipients.

Please include the following when applying:

___     Completed Application

___     Acceptance letter from educational institution

___     Supporting documents (resume, reference letters, etc)

___     Letter stating long & short term educational goals

Deadline

All applications are due by May 14^th, 2010.  Applications should be sent to:

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc.

Scholarship Foundation

C/o Erin McLaughlin

PO Box 23012

Saint John NB

E2M 3M1

All applicants will be notified of the Committees decision regarding applications by June 4^th, 2010.

Should you have questions or need assistance filling out your application, please do not hesitate to contact the Society.

To get an application, please call or email our office.  They are available for pick up.

Phone: 506-635-8851

Fax: 506-635-8851

Email: efry@nb.aibn.com

Rebels With A Cause

It is with great pleasure that the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John N.B. Inc. would like to announce its second annual “Rebels With A Cause” dinner and silent auction on May 6^th, at Lily Lake Pavilion, 6:00 p.m.

We hope that this evening will enable us to acknowledge the needs and wants of the community and the women we serve.  Each woman being honored at this dinner has been instrumental in voicing her thoughts, ideas and opinions on what is necessary for our community.  It is for their tireless effort, dedication, and compassion that they are being recognized. The women being honored are: Phyllis Beckingham (Romero House), Elizabeth Weir (Efficiency NB), Sister Arleen Brawley & Sister Mary Beth McCurdy (Sophia Recovery Centre).  Entertainment will be provided by Dr. Kevin Langford and Deantha Edmunds.  The Mistress of Ceremonies is Martha Zed.

Our theme for the evening is the lost children of mothers in prison and how we, The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc., try to bridge the gap in their lives.  During the evening, you can view a PowerPoint Presentation of Programs & Services we offer to keep these families connected.

All the funds raised will go to continue our work with women and their children; particularly the Mother/Child Read Aloud Program which is a very popular program because contact visits between mother and child are no longer permitted in jails, Anti-Shoplifting: The Crime of the Century which is delivered to students in Districts #6 and #8, and Cross Roads to Success, which is a multi-week Program for female teens who are in conflict with the law.  Everything we do, and the services we provide for the women, their children, families and female youth are facilitated by volunteers.

Purchase tickets and come support The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc. and it’s clients!  Tickets are now on sale! 

Tickets: $65/ticket (tax receipt of $35) or a table of 8 for $500.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Christine Brittain at 696-5250 or Marianna Stack at 696-4357.

For further information, please contact our office.

We look forward to seeing you at this event!  See you on May 6^th, 2010.

Around the Office

Things have been busy at E. Fry SJ! 

Erin & Robyn are currently facilitating Cross Roads to Success, and is in her third week of the Program.  All referrals have come from Youth Probation Services.  The Program is going really well!  As a new component, E. Fry is now able to provide the opportunity for all successful participants to apply for a scholarship toward their educational advancements!

The Human Rights in Action Training was greatly successful!  Kim & Candice came from CAEFS to facilitate the full-day training session.  It was educational and informative, and we have received really great feedback from those who attended.

With summer right around the corner, E. Fry is gearing up for summer students.  Our application has been sent in for SEED, and we eagerly anticipate new student workers this year.

Fundraising is still going on.  We're consistently sending out proposals for funding in hopes to be able to keep programs running and Erin in the office.

Rebels With A Cause Dinner & Silent Auction is approaching.  It will be held on May 6th, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.  It will be held at Lily Lake Pavilion.  Tickets are $65 each or $500 for a table of 8.  For more information, contact Berna Critchlow at bernacritchlow@hotmail.com

Human Rights in Action Training

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc will be hosting a Human Rights In Action Training session on Friday, March 19th at Silver Falls United Church (East Side).

This Training session will provide community members who work with women in conflict with the law information on human rights while incarcerated.

Guest Speaker: Kim Pate of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies


When: March 19, 2010
Time: 10:30-3:30
Registration: 10:00
Where: Silver Falls United Church
(Directions can be provided upon request)

A light lunch will be provided.
Free Parking.

Are you a woman who has been incarcerated?
Do you know a woman who is, or has been, incarcerated?
Do you work or volunteer with women who have been incarcerated?

If so, then please come to our informative and educational training session, Human Rights in Action, where you will learn about the rights of Provincially incarcerated women.

Please register no later than MARCH 15 AT 4:00 P.M.

You can register by email or telephone.

efry@nb.aibn.com  Phone/Fax: (506) 635-8851

Announcement!

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc is pleased to announce that it will be offering a scholarship to clients, past and present, who will be pursing an education in Fall 2010.  You must be attending an educational institution in Canada, and be able to provide documentation, as well as fill out an application form.  This scholarship will be available to all clients, past and present, who are between the ages of 17-24!  If you're attending a college,  trade school, or university in the Fall, please contact us for more information and an application.

635-8851 or efry@nb.aibn.com

Volunteer Training

Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at our office (68 Carleton Street), we will be hosting a volunteer training session.  It's not too late to register!

If you're interested in becoming involved, please contact us at efry@nb.aibn.com or at 635-8851.

2010

Well, the holidays are over and the office is back into the swing of things!  We are available in the office Monday-Friday, and should no one be here when you call or drop by, please leave a message for us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Our Christmas party at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre went well and all the women loved their presents!  I'm sure all the kids who received gifts this year from their incarcerated mothers are greatly appreciative as well of what they received.  We would like to thank the Nuns who knitted all the beautiful things, the Salvation Army of Saint John for the donations of toys, and all the private donations made this year, both financial, and via the lovely gift bags dropped off!

On January 12th at 7 p.m. in our office, 68 Carleton Street, we will be hosting a volunteer training session.  Should you be interested in getting involved in the Society, please email us at efry@nb.aibn.com for more information and a volunteer application!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holiday Hours

The office will be closed from December 15th, 2009 to January 4th, 2010 for the holidays.  Should you require assistance, please email efry@nb.aibn.com or call the office (635-8851) and leave a message.  Emails and phone messages will be checked regularly.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Season

We're in the process of organizing the Christmas party, and all the events at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre, and couldn't have done it without the support of many groups and individuals this year.

We received donations of items from:

- The Gideons (fabulous gift bags to distribute to the women incarcerated over the holidays at the SJRCC);

- The Saint John & District Labour Council (money to assist in the Christmas Party);

- Saint John Board of Trade’s Women in Business Forum, Bare Necessities Campaign 2009 (two banker's boxes full of personal hygiene items);

- Colleen Gagnon (two HUGE bags of personal hygiene items).

Over the past few months, we have received many private donations to assist in our Christmas Project, as well as donations of personal hygiene items to distribute at the jail and in the community.

We would like to thank everyone who has donated this year, and in the past.  It is your donations that keep us going!

Volunteer Training

When: Tuesday, January 12th
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: 68 Carleton Street, Uptown Saint John.

We're currently looking for volunteers to asssist in all aspects of our programs and services. If you're interested, please go to our website and get a copy of our volunteer application.  Please fax it or email it to us as soon as possible, with an RSVP for our January training session.

Check out our programs and services listed on our site as well!!

Cross Roads to Success

Cross Roads to Success is our multi-week Program for teen girls who are on probation in the Greater Saint John community.  This Program is generally done in partnership with UNBSJ, as they provide us a co-facilitator who is completing her degree in a related field (psychology, criminology, sociology, education, etc.).  This past session, we had Robyn Jones, a UNBSJ Bachelor of Education student co-facilitate the program.  Robyn has been a volunteer with E. Fry for a little while now, and has assisted in other Programming, but this was her first time working with youth in this capacity.

We began the Program with 6 participants, and on October 7th, we completed it with 6 participants!  It was GREAT!!  Both Robyn and I were ecstatic that we had finished with all the girls we began with.  We are extremely proud of the participants!

About the Program
This is a multi-week Program for female youth in Saint John who are currently in conflict with the law. Each participant is referred to the Society by Youth Probation Services (Department of Public Safety, Government of New Brunswick). The Society, with referrals from Youth Probation Services, has facilitated three sessions of this Program.

Currently, it is the only program in the city that is facilitated by females for females only. All other programming in the city is currently co-ed.

Some of the topics covered in the Program are:


- Youth justice (the consequences of a youth criminal record, the criminal justice system, being on probation, being incarcerated as a youth, reactions to law enforcement and other authority figures).

- Communication styles (assertive, aggressive, passive aggressive; how to communicate properly/successfully).

- Anger & Stress Management (proper techniques for management of anger & stress as well as other emotions, consequences of anger & stress, depression/suicide, etc).

- Problem Solving (assessing situations, dealing with peer pressures, good decision making).

- Women in Society (women’s current and past roles in society, developments in women’s rights, social justices for women, etc).

- Self Esteem (self-worth, self-esteem, empowerment, image manipulation, media, body facts and fiction).

- Relationships (proper & improper relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, relationships with family).
The Program is extremely adaptable, and is often edited to include more materials as needed by the participants. Surveys are taken with each participant in order to figure out the needs and desires of the groups to determine what should be included.

Synopsis of Program
Once per week the session is facilitated by two coordinators (one volunteer, one paid staff). Each participant is given a participant journal which includes all activities and many hand outs.

Each section of the participant’s journal focuses on a different topic, which is predetermined by the facilitators. Each week begins with a discussion about the previous week, a question and answer period, and then the new topics/discussions begin. The sessions are two hours in length, with a short break for supper/snack. The Program consists of group and individual activities, group discussions, individual assignments (to be completed during the two hours), as well as open discussions about the topics and how they relate to the participants current or past situations.

The Program is conducted on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Facilitators meet at 3:00 p.m. to go over the topics, discuss any issues or concerns, and prepare for the session.

Guest speakers have been included in the session, if deemed necessary by the facilitators.

Local agencies are solicited approximately two months in advance of the Program to gather pamphlets and information on the resources available to female youth. This information is distributed to the participants.

Program Evaluation
The Program is evaluated weekly by the facilitators and the participants. Each participant is given an evaluation form at the conclusion of each session. She can, anonymously, evaluate the Program, the content of the session, the facilitators and offer her comments or suggestions. She can also use this time to make suggestions about topics she would like to see in the Program. The facilitators do their best to accommodate all requests.

Goals of Program
- Assist female youth in obtaining the information needed to assist them in completing their education (high school or GED).
- Provide support and mentorship to female youth in the Greater Saint John community.
- The Program’s most important aim is crime prevention. It is the hope of the Society that with the proper knowledge and support, the participants will not become engaged in illegal activity anymore.

Targeted Group
The age of the participants varies. The Program is adaptable to all ages, learning capacities, and needs. The Program has been facilitated for female youth ranging in age from fourteen to sixteen.

Number of attendees expected
The Department of Public Safety, Youth Probation Services, refers ten (10) female participants to the Society. The Society then schedules intake assessments with each potential participant. Thus far, each Program has consisted of approximately six to eight participants.

What is an Outreach Worker?

My name is Erin McLaughlin and since April 2008, I have been on contract (on a month to month basis) with The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc.  I am self-employed, and contract myself to the Society on a month to month basis, which is dependent on funding.  If there's no funding, there is no position for me. 

As an Outreach Worker, I have many tasks.  I assist with women and youth who drop into our office for various reasons (looking for information or assistance, needing hygiene items, needing someone to chat to, etc), I assist women who are currently incarcerated at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre and Nova Institution for Women via the telephone, and I spend a great deal of time seeking funding.

On a daily basis, I assist women and youth who are incarcerated and who live in our community.  I provide them with information, assistance, referrals, someone to talk to, educational materials, put them in touch with other agencies/organizations in our city who can provide assistance for them, and provide them with personal hygiene items should they need them.  I have assisted women in obtaining information on their children (how they're doing, etc), finding information on rehabilitation centres in other provinces, getting them in touch with the Ombudsman or The College of Physcians and Surgeons, providing them with information in regards to future court appearances, or information on where they can get assistance once released into the community.

I also maintain the office, and can be found there Monday to Friday.  Where I'm self-employed, I do not keep regular office hours, but am there about 30 hours per week, and am available by email (efry@nb.aibn.com) and telephone at all times!  Most recently, I have included a package on our door for women to write their names and telephone numbers on, which they can slide under the door, if I'm not in the office when they drop in.  This way, even if I'm not in the office when they get there, I can return their call as soon as I'm back.  Typically, I am in  the office 4 days a week.

Some of the other things I'm involved in:
- The Rebels Committee 2009.  I was the Chair of this committee and did the organizing and planning of the event, which was great!  The 2010 Rebels Committee is well underway.  If you want to volunteer, please call our office at 506-635-8851 or shoot me an email at efry@nb.aibn.com.
- Cross Roads to Success.  This is the multi-week all-female program for teenage girls who are currently on probation.  I have facilitated this Program twice now, with great results.  This past session had a 100% success rate so congrats to the girls!
- Court Work Program.  For the past year, I have facilitated the Court Work Program.  I attend Provincial Court, when requested, to assist women who are appearing before a Judge.  I also do all the paper work for the Program, as well as meet with women who will be facing charges to assist them in preparing for what appearing in Court will entail.  I also created our training manual for this Program and have facilitated the training of our volunteers (as well as summer students).
- Anti-Shoplifting Program.  Currently, I am assisting in the Anti-Shoplifting Program.  Our volunteer, Wanda Cosman, goes into grade five classrooms in school districts 6 & 8, and delivers this Program to the students.  This Program is incredibly successful and has been facilitated by our Society for eight years!
- Summer Student Supervisor.  For the past two summers, I have supervised our Summer Students, provided to us by SEED.  It has been great to have the extra help around the office!
- Seeking funding.  I spend a lot of time writing proposals for funding.  The Society is in desperate need of sustainable funding!  We have been granted funds for many of our Programs, but are now in need of funding to keep the Society operational.

Some other things I've been involved in:
 Facilitated social programming, Mother/Child Read Aloud and mentorship programming at The Saint John Regional Correctional Centre to assist women in need.


 Supervisor of Fine Option Program in partnership with Department of Public Safety- Adult Probation. This included supervising adults on probation while they completed community service hours.

 Worked in partnership with Nova Institution and Canadian Families & Corrections Network in assisting women who are federally incarcerated with their pre-release plans and follow up once released in the community.

 Completed safeTalk Suicide Intervention training through Mental Health.


 Completed week long Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Training.

 Completed week long Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Training for Facilitators (qualifications to train others).

 Attended two day conference on Mental Health, Housing and Homelessness in Ottawa as the Atlantic Elizabeth Fry Representative.

 Worked with local IT group to create and design the Society’s website and now have moved on to create this blog.

 Made a presentation to Government of New Brunswick Officials on Legal Aid reform. The information I provided was later used in their published report.


 Basic office work (word, excel, outlook, internet, fax, phone, filing, etc).

 Created the annual newsletter for 2006 & 2007.

So in a (very large) nutshell, that is what I do as an Outreach Worker!

Christmas Party at the SJRCC

The Elizabeth Fry Society will be hosting a Christmas Party at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre in a few short weeks.  We are in need of donations of the following items:

- Face cloths

- Shampoo

- Conditioner

- Body Wash

- Bars of Soap

- Tooth paste

- Tooth brushes

We cannot accept items that contain alcohol (ie- mouth wash, perfume, etc), baby powder, or things that can be used as a weapon (ie- mirrors in make up compacts, strings, laces, etc).

Should you have a donation, please contact us at (506) 635-8851 or efry@nb.aibn.com to set up a drop off time.

Want to make a donation but can't make it to our office?  Check out www.canadahelps.org and search The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc.

November Appeal

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc is a non-profit, charitable organization assisting women and girls who are in conflict, or at risk of coming into conflict, with the law.  We assist on a daily basis through the provision of programs and services offered in communities throughout the Province, at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre, and Nova Institution for Women.

This is our annual appeal for financial assistance.  We have minimum operating expenses, so the monies received go directed to assist women and their children and youth who are incarcerated and or living in the community.

For over twenty years, The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc has been an advocate for criminalized, marginalized victimized and incarcerated women.  We have become more aware of the plight of the children of incarcerated mothers.  These children are invisible, not only from policy makers, service providers and researchers, but also from communities.  They are the silent victims of imprisonment.

We have been busy as usual with our programs at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.  On the social side, we offer a monthly Bingo with prizes that consist of personal hygiene items, and we conduct a monthly Craft night.  The one – on- one Mentoring Program is an ongoing weekly commitment.  This is a time when women can unburden themselves, discuss innermost feelings, or they may want information about the welfare of their children, how to seek legal assistance or simply need help sorting out the many forms required. 

The weekly Mother/Child Read Aloud Program is dear to the women’s hearts.  A mother may choose two books for each of her children and read the books on tape. 

Volunteers then mail the books, tapes, batteries and a walkman to the children so they can listen to their mother’s voice.  The results are magic.  While a mother reads and relates intimately with her child, the child is reassured that mom has not forgotten him or her.

Recently, we have been granted funding by The United Way of Greater Saint John and The New Brunswick Children’s Foundation, and The Rothesay Police Force to continue to facilitate the Anti-Shoplifting Program, which will begin shortly in grade 5 classrooms throughout School Districts 6 and 8.  The Program includes a video depicting a youth shoplifting and the consequences thereafter, as well as a work book that contains information and quizzes which the student may share with parents and siblings. Our volunteer then responds to questions and has a discussion about the film.

Also in the community, E. Fry has successfully completed two intakes of our Cross Roads Program for female youth who are currently on Probation.  The last session had a 100% success rate, in that each participant attended all sessions and successfully completed the program .We are incredibly proud of our young women and the Program.  We look forward to holding additional programming for female youth in the New Year, with funding received from The Greater Saint John Community Foundation.

The signs of Christmas are upon us once again, with thoughts of happy times spent with family and friends.  They are not so joyful to those with little or no funds for food, let alone the buying of gifts. It would be difficult to imagine such a situation, judging by the glowing commercials on television showing impossibly impressive houses, food laden tables and gift-sated children.  This can be a very sad season for those who have lost loved ones, or are for one reason or another alone.  It is no wonder that this is a very emotional time for the women in jail, especially those who are mothers (almost all) and are separated from their children.  We try our best to mitigate their obvious distress.

Three weeks before Christmas, having obtained the age and size of their children, and with the help of donations, we buy gifts to suit each child.  One night is set aside for each mother to view and wrap the gifts which we mail the following day.  The pleasure the women derive from this is evident by tears of thankfulness.

Unfortunately due to the present financial situation and the decline in the Canadian economy, we have fallen short of our goal.  In order to continue to provide all of these services and programs, we desperately need your assistance.

We have very limited funding from the government and most of what we do get is designated funds.  In the past, we have gracious support from our donors, and it is our hope that you continue to assist us in our many endeavors.

We would like to thank you in advance for any donation, large or small, that you are able to make this year, as well as thank you for any past donations you have made.  It all makes a difference. Tax receipts are provided for all donations.

Sincerely,

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc

Women on the inside need friends on the outside.

Want to make a safe, online donation?  Check out our page at CanadaHelps.org.

(www.canadahelps.org, search The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John)

Brand New!

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc is pleased to now offer a blog to our readers and followers.  We've decided to start a blog as a means to keep everyone updated as things happens.  With our blog, we're able to provide news and information on an ongoing basis and as up to date as possible.  We're able to include stories and letters from our volunteers, clients and fellow agencies in the community.

We hope that you all enjoy our blog!  If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to email us at efry@nb.aibn.com or simply leave a comment on our blog!


To make a donation to E. Fry, please go to www.canadahelps.org and search "The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John NB Inc."