To help keep you and your loved ones safe, creating a safety plan could be the right option for you.

A safety plan is a personalized written plan that will help keep you, your children, and your pets safe. You can use a safety plan whether you plan to stay in the relationship, are thinking of leaving, or have left the relationship.
Some examples are:
- Telling neighbours to call the police if they hear frightening or loud noises
- Memorizing the telephone number of an agency that can help
- Planning where you can go if you decide to leave
- Putting ID, passports and other important papers for you and your children in a safe place

We can help you create a safety plan

Safety planning involves conversations that build on safety strategies and support networks

Safety planning helps individuals evaluate their situation by discussing the potential risks and how to keep themselves safe. In these conversations, our Family Violence Specialists will explore your concerns and offer strategies and resources to increase safety.

in 2020 The Today Centre’s Family Specialists worked together with their clients to create 220 safety plans.

In a Client’s Words

“I am so glad that I contacted The Today Centre when I needed advice on the situation at home. I received excellent advice, safety plans and other resources that have been helping me to be prepared to handle the situation better.”

The Today Centre strives to provide a safe, trauma-informed space for individuals to discuss their current concerns and explore options for increasing safety.

All Programs & Services

Steps to book an appointment with a Family Violence Specialist

1. Contact Us

Contact The Today Centre through **email** (info@thetodaycentre.ca), **phone** (780.455.6880), or the **live chat** (located on bottom left corner of every page on our website) to speak with our Intake Specialist.

Contact Us

Any adult who has recently (within the past year) been subjected to family violence. We work with individuals of any gender, sexual orientation, religion, race and culture.
We serve those in Edmonton and surrounding area.
Your call will be transferred to our Family Violence Intake Specialist to chat about The Today Centre’s services, ask questions about resources, and/or to book an appointment. If you are interested in booking an appointment, our Family Violence Intake Specialist will complete an intake with you, and this information will be passed to the Family Violence Specialist you will be seeing.
If our Family Violence Intake Specialist is not available when you call, you may need to leave a message. When leaving a message, we ask that you: provide your name and number, and also indicate whether it is safe to leave a message when we return your call. We will not leave a message unless we know it is safe to do so. We strive to return messages in one to two business days.

2. Complete Intake

Our Intake Specialist will complete an assessment with you to determine if you are eligible for our services and if we are the best service to meet your needs.
The Intake Specialist can also refer you to more appropriate supports if The Today Centre does not best suit your needs.

The intake will include questions on your demographics (age, address, ethnicity, gender, etc.) and questions about the violence you have been experiencing. The intake provides us with information about who accesses services at The Today Centre and about what has been going on for you recently. You do not have to answer anything you are not comfortable answering. This process is based on your individual needs, and can take anywhere from ten to forty minutes.

**3. Book an Appointment**

If you are eligible for our services, the Intake Specialist will book you an appointment with one of our Family Violence Specialists. Appointments are typically booked within a week or two of the intake date depending on availability.

The Today Centre offers services over the phone, over Zoom (a link will be provided), or in-person during office hours Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. For in-person sessions, you will be asked about your vaccination status, however proof of vaccination is not required.
The role of the Family Violence Specialist is to provide a non-judgmental, safe space for you to tell your story and provide resource information and support. The work conducted by Family Violence Specialists is guided by the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice.
Family Violence Specialists are able to support with the creation of safety plans, assess for risk associated with physical harm or domestic homicide, provide education on family violence, and connect you to resources. Initial sessions are typically between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the individual’s needs.
The Today Centre offers short-term support. Our clients typically spend 4-5 sessions with a Family Violence Specialist.

Appointment FAQ’s

Answers to some of the additional questions you may have about your appointment at The Today Centre.

No, our services are free of charge.
No problem. If you are more comfortable accessing services in your first language, The Today Centre can arrange for interpretation during your sessions. Please let us know if this is required.
Childminding services are normally available, but due to COVID-19 these services have been put on hold. You will need to find alternate care for your children as they are not able to be in the session with you due to the potentially traumatizing nature of what is being discussed. If alternative care barriers exist, contact us as options may be available.