Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto
Providing Programs And Services To Women In Conflict With The Law Since 1952
Annual Report
2004
(April 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004)
Officers
| President | Breese Davies |
| Vice President | Jaki Freeman |
| Chair Person | Kathleen Lapointe |
| Treasurer | Annamie Paul |
Directors
| Florence Chung | Joanne Prince |
| Jill Copeland | Nita Selby* |
| Harriett Grant | Sheila Snyder |
| Mara Beth Greene | Nicole Sookhai* |
| Paula Needham | Alex Vamos |
Staff 2001/2002
| Executive Director | Leslie Kelman |
| Financial Administrator | Elly Vlietman |
| Office Manager | Camella Jones-Phillip |
| Receptionist | Nancy Pimentel |
| Community Programs Manager | Martha Arbuthnot |
| Parenting Program Counsellor | Sherrette Thomas |
| Partner Intervention Counsellors | Natasha Williams |
| Jennifer Olenewa | |
| Drug and Alcohol Counsellor | Laurie Charlton |
| Sexual Abuse Counsellor | Elizabeth Amerongen |
| Shoplifting /Fraud Counsellors | Gillian Crawford |
| Eugenia Messner | |
| Diversion Courtworker (College Park Court) | Kristina Petricevic |
| Volunteer Programs Coordinator | Marsha RayDragan |
| Residential Supervisor | Nzinga Walker |
| Residential Asst. Supervisor | Andrea Slack |
| Residential Counsellors | Margaret Arnason |
| Dorrette Barnes | |
| Tegeste Emiru | |
| Kerrie Foster | |
| Maryam Salad | |
| Catherine Wiggan | |
| Coordinator of Community Relations and Fundraising | Nancy Webb |
| Director of Development | Jonathan Rudin/Barbara Yip*/Anne McGouran |
* resigned during the year
History And Mission
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto is a woman-centred, non-profit organization that represents and fosters the community's interest in and responsibility to women who are, have been, or may come into conflict with the law. Founded in the early 1950s, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto was named after the nineteenth century English reformer of the penal system whose work among the women and children of Newgate prison began a long tradition of addressing the special needs of incarcerated women.
The agency offers transitional accommodation, counselling services, a court program at College Park Court, and facilities for research and education. Our volunteers and staff regularly visit the Metro West Detention Centre, Vanier Centre for Women and Grand Valley Institute.
Our mission is to facilitate the empowerment of women and to address the reasons why women come into conflict with the law by:
- facilitating choices and opportunities for individual women;
- affecting systemic change of social conditions, laws and structures;
- promoting a system of justice that leads to the healing of society and responds to the needs of all women involved in and affected by crime;
- ensuring that in all its operations, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto embraces the diverse racial and cultural backgrounds of the people it represents and serves.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto is a member of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) and of the Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario. There are currently 24 Elizabeth Fry Societies across Canada including nine in Ontario.
Executive Director's Report
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto, I would like to thank every stakeholder for another outstanding year.
This year the agency turned its attention to strategic planning and the introduction of a capital campaign for the renovation of our building. The new strategic initiative entitled: Rekindling the Vision for our Future, consisted of several phases of planning with a focus on re-examining our mission and the strategic direction of the agency. In the summer of 2003 two consultants were hired to lead Board, staff, volunteers and clients through this process. Two consultants were hired and began by surveying all of our stakeholders. They then conducted a day and a half workshop with us to review the surveys, gather our feedback and organize our input. An updated Mission Statement was created and new Vision and Value statements are in development.
In the winter of 2004 a new fundraiser was hired to help us start an aggressive capital campaign for the renovation of our building. Except for minor repairs the building has not been refurbished in any way in over 30 years and although it has held up remarkably well there are now pressing concerns about its safety. In the coming year we will be soliciting many prospective donors to raise the funds necessary to accomplish this challenging goal.
This year also saw the launch of the agency's new website. We will now be able to keep our supporters and the general public up to date on the ongoing work of the agency.
At the conclusion of the United Way Campaign this year the agency received the United Way's "Agency Employee Campaign Award". The agency had a 100% participation during the campaign and increased their donations by 39%.
Our work in the prisons continues. The lack of counselling and programming for sexual abuse survivors inside Grand Valley federal prison prompted us to work with the prison to come up with long term solutions to this issue. This was not a good year for visiting incarcerated women as the SARS epidemic meant that no visitors were allowed to enter the institutions for an extended period of time.
The Parole Board is interested in increasing the number of temporary absence passes it issues and would like to connect with E. Fry for support and supervision. Additionally, a two day Elizabeth Fry workshop for the Parole Board is in development.
During the year representatives from E. Fry along with approximately 50 correctional service and community partners met to discuss a variety of issues relating to women in the criminal justice system including mental health, community partnerships, mother-child issues, and accommodations.
As this fiscal year comes to a close we would like to once again offer a special thank you to our ongoing funders, the United Way, Correctional Service Canada, and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, for their generous and continued support of the agency.
Our donors who contribute significantly to our private fundraising initiatives have been steadfast in their support over many years. Community support is always important in the continuing objective to provide awareness of the many issues faced by women in the criminal justice system. Without the support of these different sectors, we would be unable to provide our many services and programs. This is also true of our dedicated volunteers who contribute hundreds of volunteer hours each year, including the full staffing of our Court Support Program at College Park Court.
The year ahead will be full of many challenges for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto. We will also see the emergence of two new Elizabeth Fry Societies in Thunder Bay and London, Ontario to help with the ongoing service to women in the criminal justice system.
Community Programs Report
Community Programs provides comprehensive, therapeutic group and individual services for women in conflict with the law. We have programs for women living in the community and women who are incarcerated.
It was a particularly difficult year regarding our work with incarcerated women. For a very long time we were unable to go into the prisons firstly because the SARS epidemic restricted us from entry, and secondly the women were moved to the new Vanier Centre in Milton. We provided support to the women by accepting their collect telephone calls until we were able to return to the prison to work which was many months later in late fall. The challenges within the new institution are plentiful as women are much further away from their families and support systems.
In addition to our direct service work, we also have continued to engage the interest of our community colleagues and are pleased to report the following activities:
We responded to requests for consultation: a) from Neil Howard, York Region Diversion Program Manager regarding the creation of a shoplifting and fraud group program at the York Region Court; b) from staff at Stop 86 shelter to speak with staff about the Sexual Abuse Program and to assist the staff in their efforts to offer support to clients; c) a round table consultation regarding mental health issues sponsored by Citizens for Mental Health, a Federally funded project focussed on creating a National Policy on Mental Health.
Through our partnership with the Toronto Drug Treatment Court our Agency was selected to host a visit with Antonio Costa, Executive Director with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime. Mr. Costa requested a visit to a community agency and was particularly interested in learning about our harm reduction approach as it pertains to women's substance use and conflict with the law. In attendance was an associate from Mr. Costa's office, Beth Peterson, Director General, Canada's Drug Strategy, Health Canada, and Mike Naymark, Manager of the Cocaine Program and Drug Treatment Court Program, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, Elizabeth Fry staff Laurie Charlton, Drug and Alcohol Program, Nzinga Walker, Residential Program Manager and Martha Arbuthnot, Community Programs Manager.
Our Agency was a co-sponsor of the movie "FIX, the story of an addicted city". We were part of the planning committee and worked closely together with other community agencies and the producers of the movie. During the 8-week screening we participated in a forum discussion and had our harm reduction material displayed in the lobby of the movie theatre. Our logo was displayed on all the pamphlets and posters of the movie. We were involved in an official meeting concerning the issues presented in the movie with Mayor Larry Campbell of Vancouver and others who participated in the planning committee. City Councillor Joe Mihevc facilitated the meeting.
Two of our team staff presented at the Athena Conference in celebration of International Women's Day; an event hosted by United Nations Association of Canada, Toronto Region Branch.
We are grateful to have received financial support from: a) the Canadian Women's Foundation for the Sexual Abuse Program b) the City of Toronto Drug Prevention Grant Program which recognized the good work of the harm reduction group and outreach program with the approval of multi-year funding.
Thelma and Louize Harm Reduction Group clients within the Drug and Alcohol Program attended the "Rendezvous with Madness" Film Festival at CAMH. Women viewed films about depression, schizophrenia and substance use within a creatively informative, personal and hopeful perspective.
Professional development events included some staff attending a conference on Adult Attachment theory and on another occasion, the team had a guest speaker from Stella, a Montreal agency; Valerie Boucher provided information about the rights and safety of sex trade workers.
Residential Program Report
The residence has experienced a very transitory year. We have seen an increase in the number of federally sentenced women being classified as "maximum security" sent to the regional institution in Montreal, Quebec. In addition, there is an increase in the number of women with various psychiatric and mental illnesses being incarcerated. At times the institution is unable to house these women in the general population, and, as a result, they are transferred to the psychiatric facility in Saskatchewan.
This transition of women being sent to these institutions has had an impact on the residence in that the staff has less contact with them before they are released into the community. For most of these women, the circumstances that brought them into conflict with the law are often the focus of their treatment. However, although they receive some psychiatric care within the institution, the institutional programs and facilities are often not properly equipped to meet their needs. The residence has implemented 24-hour double staffing in order to meet the needs and facilitate the transition of these women once in the community.
Women who are sent to the regional psychiatric facility and the maximum facility tend to serve longer time in the institution and are more alienated from residential staff and community resources. Women who have been convicted of committing a federal crime and who are not Canadian citizens are subject to detainment and deportation under the new Canadian Immigration Act. This Act has reduced the number of women who are admitted to our Residential program.
These changes have placed more pressure on our staff to keep up with the new demands of the job. Staff receive continual training in mental health and other pertinent issues in order to keep us abreast of the key issues affecting our client population. The Residential program will continue to work with other agencies, Correctional Service of Canada, Ministry of Correctional Services, prison staff, and incarcerated women, to identify and eliminate systemic barriers that bring women into conflict with the law.
Volunteer Programs
At Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto, our volunteers continue to assist us in providing programs and services to our clients. In this report, I will focus primarily on our court support program and the ideas being developed to enhance this program. Overall, there are many positive things that are occurring in the volunteer program that will serve our clients better, and many aspects that require volunteers to go even further.
Currently we have 66 volunteers. We have added 13 from the volunteer training and orientation session held in July 2003. During this period, we have added four new board members. At our last Annual General Meeting held in Sept 2003, we paid tribute to volunteers such as Sue Nador, who served 10 years on the Board, and Lesley Crisp who celebrated 25 years of service. Lesley started out as a West Detention Centre volunteer, then joined the Board of Directors. She continued visiting the detention centre with E. Fry's social program during her time as a Board member and after her terms on the Board. As well, Agnes Fitzgerald resigned her position as assistant office administrator after more than 17 years of service. These members deserved and received our gratitude and deep appreciation.
The court support program continues to be successful. We have been made aware by some members of the Board, and by some court volunteers, that many women are being denied bail. Subsequently, many women will be awaiting decisions on their court cases while they are held at the Vanier Center for Women in Milton. As an agency, we realize that this is not a reasonable solution. Volunteers are forming closer working relationships with the Duty Counsel's office, in the hopes that together, we can assist women in being granted bail. We are also discussing having volunteers at court in the afternoons when many women are being released.
Volunteers continue to support our goal to run the E. Fry Social and Recreation Program at the Vanier Centre in Milton. Working closely with E.Fry Peel/Halton and E.Fry Hamilton, we were able to provide the women at this facility with a Christmas party. We were able to provide 70 women with Christmas gifs that included face cloths, bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner, and puzzle books, items not easily obtained at Vanier. Along with the success of this event, we can anticipate running our social and recreation program in the summer of 2004.
Our 1 to 1 program is close to completion. We were fortunate to have two volunteers work closely with a client who needed and benefited from this kind of program. As this was a pilot project, much was learned, such as the importance of working closely with the client's counselors, and the significance of on-going dialogue between the volunteers and the Volunteer Coordinator. Program and training manuals for volunteers and counselors interested in the 1 to 1 program are being developed, and it is hopeful that we will have this program fully operational in the upcoming year.
For the significant contribution that our volunteers make to our clients, and their continued support and encouragement for the work we do, we will always remain grateful.
Resource Development Report
Individual donors continue to be a lifeline for Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto's Community Programs which do not receive adequate funding from other sources. In 2003/04, a core group of loyal Direct Mail supporters donated over $45,000 to our direct client services. Also, several thoughtful individuals contributed to our long-term stability with a charitable bequest in their will.
We would like to make special mention of several "legacy foundations" who have funded our work for more than 10 years. In a time of increasingly restrictive corporate giving policies, the Bennett Family Foundation and the Nelson Arthur Hyland Foundation have continued to invest in programs for women re-entering the community after incarceration. Their sustaining support has greatly enhanced our client-centered services including parenting/life management skills, coping strategies, and relapse prevention.
Our charitable gaming activities are based on our participation in bingos held at the Delta Bingo Hall. The sessions that we hold are run by conscientious volunteers whose many volunteer hours, day and night, bring us much needed funds for our work. This year the agency raised $67,018.35.
The issue of women newly released from the criminal justice system is one which still lacks broad public appeal. Our key fundraising challenge in the year ahead will be: (1) to raise public awareness of the far-reaching social benefits of our work; and (2) to generate momentum for an emergency renovations appeal. This focused "mini-campaign" has a target of $300,000 to be followed by Stage II ($500,000) of the campaign for completion of the building retrogrades and renovations. All donations earmarked for the Elizabeth Fry Emergency Renovations Fund will be used to refurbish sleeping quarters and common areas in our halfway house at 215 Wellesley Street East, and to reconfigure our program and office space to accommodate more clients.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our many supporters for their monetary support over the past year. Without your help we would be unable to provide the consistent service that has been one of our ongoing goals since 1952. Due to space limitations we are unable to list everyone who donated to us during our past fiscal year but for each and every donation we received we are extremely grateful. Listed below are those who donated $100 or more between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.
BEQUESTS
Estate of Phyllis Haslam
Estate of Marguerite Marrs
FOUNDATIONS
Bennett Family Foundation
CHUM Charitable Foundation
Henry White Kinnear Foundation
Nancy's Very Own Foundation
CORPORATIONS
Caley Wray
Concertmasters Inc.
Dower Consulting
Leidra Lands Ltd.
Leon's Furniture
M.C. Atkinson Enterprises Ltd.
Mad Hatter Toys and Games Inc.
Metasoft Systems Inc.
R. Kidd Fuels Corp.
GROUPS
Fairbank United Church
Fairlawn Heights UCW
Metropolitan Preparatory Academy
MONTHLY DONORS
Joanne Bacon
Mary Beam
Susan Hoyle-Howieson
Mary Lou Jorgensen
Yezdi Antia
Ralph Bertram
Paul Connelly
Susan Davey
Caroline Frei
John Fruhwirth
Doug and Yvonne Greig
Penelope M. Holeton
Barbara Kilbourn
Nancy Kleer
Marilyn Legge
Sandra Leonard
Arlene Levin
Marilyn Lightstone
Michael Madden
George Milbrandt
Carol McPhail
Rosemary Oliver
Ron Philipp
Lynne Remigio
Gillian Sandeman
Sharon Silver
Sonja Smits
Antje Tyedmers
Helen Parrish
Paula Rochman
IN KIND DONATIONS
Elliott and Boyko Inc.
Irving Posluns
INDIVIDUALS
See Excel file
FINANCIAL REPORT
(See Excel File)