By supporting mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers, Abrigo Centre helps break cycles of family violence, transforms lives, and creates a direct positive impact on society. Services offered in English and Portuguese ensure greater cultural accessibility.
Even in the 21st century, violence against women and children remains a sad and urgent global issue. According to the UN, around 50,000 women and girls were killed in 2022 by intimate partners or family members. In Canada, although the rates are significantly lower, the situation is still serious, making gender-based violence a national priority.
According to Statistics Canada, 34,242 cases of sexual violence were reported in 2021. This concern is reinforced by Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, which estimates that 1 in 3 women in Canada will experience some form of sexual violence during their lifetime. This demonstrates that, even in a country with advanced gender equity policies, violence remains a reality.
In 2022, in response to this situation, the Canadian government launched the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP-GBV). Structured around five strategic pillars — support for victims and families, prevention, responsive justice, Indigenous-led approaches, and strengthening social infrastructure — the NAP-GBV serves as a national guide.
However, it is through the local actions of community organizations and support shelters that real change happens, transforming the lives of women, girls, and families affected by violence. Within this context, Abrigo Centre stands out as a reference point. For more than 30 years, the organization has invested in the quality of its programs and initiatives. Located in Toronto, it works to support, guide, and refer vulnerable women and girls, contributing to a more balanced society.
Abrigo Centre: Transformative Community Action Against Violence
Founded in 1990, Abrigo Centre offers services in English and Portuguese, ensuring greater cultural accessibility. As a result, women and children from the Portuguese-Canadian community represent its largest audience. The organization assists approximately 500 women and children who are victims of domestic abuse every year, operating as a community center for shelter and integration.
Structured through different programs, it offers legal guidance, psychological support, training courses, and referrals to public policies and social programs. In an interview with Wave magazine (2022), Cidalia Pereira, Gender-Based Violence Case Manager, stated: “Domestic violence will not disappear magically. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure that our clients receive the best care possible, as quickly as possible, either in our agency or through one of our partner agencies.”
It is within this effort to prevent domestic violence that the Parenting Program of Abrigo Centre plays a central role. The program strengthens family bonds and helps break cycles of violence. By supporting mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers, the organization transforms lives and projects a direct positive impact on society.
The Parenting Program at Abrigo Centre
The Parenting Program at Abrigo Centre offers ongoing emotional support sessions. It develops parenting skills by supporting those directly involved in a child’s daily care — mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers. The program works to strengthen family relationships and support networks for immigrant families, promoting healthier and more positive coexistence.
Below are four programs offered by Abrigo:
“Success By 6”
Sessions: 8 weeks – The program’s main goal is to support those directly involved in the daily care of children from birth to six years old, strengthening their connection with the child and providing tools to better respond to early childhood needs.
Topics include: stages of child development, play as a form of connection and communication, challenging childhood behaviors, and managing sibling jealousy.
Success By 6 was created in 1988 by United Way in the United States. During the 1990s and 2000s, it expanded across Canada through partnerships between United Way Canada, credit unions, and community organizations, focusing on the holistic development of children in early childhood.
In 1998, with the support of United Way Greater Toronto, Abrigo Centre launched its successful Success By 6 program, mainly aimed at mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers. Through this initiative, the organization invests in improving family relationships, breaking cycles of domestic violence, and helping create healthier environments.
“Children Have Stress Too”
Sessions: 4 weeks – This program helps mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers understand how their own stress can affect their relationships with children. It deepens understanding of childhood stress across different developmental stages and offers strategies to support stress self-management.
Topics include: the impact of parental stress on children, ways children express stress, and self-regulation techniques for adults and children.
“Raising Sexually Healthy Children”
Sessions: 4 weeks – In this workshop, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers have the opportunity to reflect on their own attitudes and beliefs. They are prepared to deal with issues that arise throughout childhood and adolescence. The goal is to encourage open conversations about the body and sexuality from an early age, promoting dialogue, trust, and knowledge.
Topics include: attitudes and beliefs about sexuality; how to talk to young children about their bodies; promoting sexual safety; family and gender diversity; and strategies for dealing with confusing messages received during childhood and adolescence.
“Caring Dads – Mindful Fathering Program”
Sessions: 12 weeks – Developed by Yorktown Family Services in partnership with Abrigo Centre, this program is designed for men who have committed violence against partners and exposed their children to these situations. The goal is to help fathers reflect on the impact of their attitudes and develop safe and positive parenting practices.
Topics include: building a personal vision of change and hope for the future; strategies for dealing with stress and anger; awareness of masculinity and gender roles that contribute to abuse; and understanding the effects of violence on children and the family.
Original text written in Portuguese. Automatically translated by ChatGPT and not human-edited. We apologize for any errors or inaccuracies and disclaim responsibility for the translation.
Advertise with Brazilian Wave Online!
Connect your brand with the vibrant Brazilian and Portuguese community in Canada. Boost your visibility!
An engaged, multilingual audience in constant growth.
Get in touch: [email protected]
