Counseling program for Indigenous women and children facing closure

The Aboriginal Counseling Services Association of Alberta office in downtown Edmonton. (Google Street View)

The Indigenous women and children support program Circle of Safety is at risk of closing.

Aboriginal Counseling Services Association of Alberta (ACSA) is pleading for community support and donations.

Unless the ACSA raises $135,000 within 60 days, the program will be shut down after the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Children’s Services cut its funding.

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The Circle of Safety program provides essential support to Indigenous women and children who are fleeing violence, and it offers culturally safe counseling and healing circles.

ACSA says any of the following contribution helps tremendously:

• $50 provides a mother and child a counseling session,
• $250 funds a group healing session,
• $700 funds a months worth of food for a family, and
• $7,000 provides a mother and a child 16 counseling sessions.

Families are currently still enrolled in the program.

With a fundraising target of $150,000, ACSA is hoping to keep all services available.

Donations can be made online.