OUR MISSION

We support empowerment in individuals and communities to both prevent and respond to sexualized violence. At Avalon we work to understand the root causes of sexualized violence, and are committed to changing the social and political culture that creates and condones it.

ABOUT AVALON

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a non-profit, community-based organization that has been at the forefront of direct service delivery and support for victims and survivors of sexualized violence since 1983. We are the only sexual assault centre in Halifax Regional Municipality and the longest running full-spectrum sexual assault centre in Nova Scotia. While Avalon is mandated to provide direct services within HRM, individuals from across Nova Scotia regularly access our services.

AVALON SERVICES

• THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

Avalon’s specialized therapeutic counselling program is available to women and trans individuals 16 years and older. We also provide information sessions to the non-offending parents of children who have disclosed sexual abuse, and to supportive partners of clients accessing services. Avalon receives hundreds of new counselling requests each year, and last year provided a combined total of 1,910 counselling sessions.

• SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (SANE)

The SANE program provides important health information, medical intervention and forensic evidence collection to people of all genders who have just experienced sexual assault. Our SANE nurses respond to the Emergency Departments of HRM hospitals and health centres to provide medical follow up and/or forensic evidence collection for individuals who have experienced a sexual assault in the past 5 days. Last year SANEs made a total of 242 immediate response calls, including responding to hospital a total of 147 times.

• COMMUNITY EDUCATION, LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Avalon conducts educational community outreach and public awareness campaigns with the goal of effecting social and systemic change. We offer prevention-based workshops in schools and youth-serving organizations, professional training sessions, and community meetings/consultations. Because sexualized violence is a criminal offence, legal education is an important component of Avalon’s educational programs. We provide information and training regarding sexual assault laws, consent, age of consent, mandatory reporting, and the legal process after sexual assault.