Vancouver, Canada

Since 2010 the Genesis Program has been used as the site of the SA Foundation’s World Services Division’s International Internship Centre where national and international leaders are trained to duplicate the program model.

THE GENESIS PROGRAM

The Genesis Program offers second stage services to women aged 18-35 who have a history of sexual exploitation and addiction. Priority placement is given to women with children. A desire for complete abstinence is required, along with a minimum of 30 days clean and sober. Applicants must be detoxed off methadone and any narcotics prior to being approved for entry into the program.

HOUSING – Phase I

This unique house encourages independent living in a roommate environment. Each participant has their own bedroom and can come and go from the house freely, while respecting house rules and curfews. A volunteer house director lives in the home and provides supervision and direction, as the home is intended to be a place of healing for those committed to recovery.

Participants typically live in the front-line house for a period of 1 year to 18 months. There are 4 long-term beds in this level of housing.

HOUSING – Phase II

Once program participants have mastered their basic living skills, have stabilized in their addiction management and are parenting successfully, they may be moved into phase 2 of the front-line housing program.

The objective of this level of housing is to increase participants’ responsibility and freedom within a monitored environment while they continue to participate in the employability skills and recovery programming.

This level of housing typically lasts for 9 months to 1 year (extended as needed).

ASK LEARNING CENTRE

Recovery & Skill Development

As part of the recovery program, the ASK Learning Centre is the daytime program provided to participants from Monday to Friday, 10AM to 4PM. All participants in the Housing programs are required to attend the ASK Learning Centre for the duration they live in the houses. The objectives of the program are that participants will be equipped to:

• Deal with their past issues of abuse
• Deal with any current addiction issues
• Learn to engage in healthy relationships
• Learn to deal with their emotions in a healthy, functioning manner
• Improve their quality of life
• Increase their level of self-esteem
• Learn to parent in a positive manner, breaking the cycle of abuse in the lives of their children
• Increase their level of education
• Learn employability skills to move forward with positive action in their lives

The day is divided into 2 segments:

Morning classes focus on Skill Development and includes training in sewing, handicrafts, employment readiness and academics. A training stipend is paid for this portion of learning.

Afternoon classes are focused on recovery and healing through courses such as relapse prevention, practicing the 12-steps, self-esteem, parenting, anger management, and other classes. This is accomplished through delivery of recovery curriculum in short, interactive classes and recreational and educational outings.

PARENT SUPPORT CENTRE

The onsite parent  support centre is a necessary program component as it fosters a healthy mother and child attachment and provides a loving, non-judgmental environment for mothers and children to grow and heal.

The purpose of the centre is to:

• Provide children whose moms are involved in Phase I housing and day programs with a safe and loving environment to grow and develop.
• Provide gentle and non-judgmental parenting support and guidance to program participants involved in Phase I
• Provide a schedule that stimulates and encourages growth for children to meet their developmental milestones
• Ensure that appropriate behaviour management techniques are used with children are taught to moms as needed

While participating in the ASK Learning Centre, participants can place their children in the onsite parent support centre free of charge for children up to 2 years of age.

THIRD STAGE HOUSING – INDEPENDENT LIVING

This level of housing is not yet available in the Genesis Program. However, in future the SA Foundation would like to build independent apartments where program participants can live at a subsidized rate while they pursue academic upgrading/career preparation or while they work in the community as it will take time for them to reach the financial self-sustainability needed to live in an expensive housing market.

The SA Foundation is currently seeking donations to build independent housing apartments for Third Stage participants and their children.

FOLLOWCARE

The Followcare program is provided to all participants who have graduated from the program and provides the follow-up and care they need to be successful in the community at large. Invitations to events are extended, one-on-one care is provided and opportunities to lead classes and/or sponsor new program participants are created. The Followcare program is ongoing for as long as the participant is in need of extended support.

SERVANT-LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – Extra-Curricular

Once participants have graduated from Phases I and II of the program, they may choose to apply to the organization’s Servant Leadership Program. This level of programming is made available to participants who demonstrate a heart of service and a desire to give back to the program that helped them achieve their goals. This program prepares participants to join the staff of the organization in a paid or unpaid position and may include facilitating classes in the recovery day program and/or sponsoring new participants that are at the beginning stages of their recovery. This program also prepares participants to become Honourary Servants and is the stepping stone for them to become the leaders of tomorrow for the organization, enabling them to be a voice and helping hands to those still sexually exploited/trafficked at national or international levels.

CRITERIA FOR ENTRY The requirements for entry into the Genesis Program are:

• Applicant must have a history of sexual exploitation, be ready to leave it behind, and be committed to the recovery process
• Applicant must have a minimum of 30 days verifiable clean time
• Applicant must be fully detoxed from methadone and all narcotics
• Applicant must be willing to attend the ASK Learning Centre as part of their program

Please have client complete the Application Form and fax to: 604-568-0874 or email: gvprogram@safoundation.com

APPLICATION FORM – CLICK HERE To Download

This program has adopted the SA program model and is entirely funded by the SA Foundation.