Karis Support Society was born out of a heart felt desire to fill the gaps within the local community that particularly affected women who had been struggling with addiction and had a desire to change their lifestyle in a safe environment.
With a trauma-informed, women centered, relational approach, Karis’ support staff provide custom support to assist participants in meeting their recovery goals including participant-centered advocacy and care. With a focus on Recovery Capital and a strengths-based approach, Karis Support Society supports women (and their children) to walk through the obstacle of their addiction to live their fullest lives.
By providing psychosocial supports including but not limited to life skills and specialized programming; and by utilizing an individualized approach to care, Karis provides a foundation that ensures the overall wellness of the women and children in our program.
The Karis Structure (policies and procedures) strives to provide a person-centered approach to participant care. The foundation of the Karis structure includes a strong emphasis on client empowerment with the goals of personal and economic self-sufficiency in addition to an emphasis on choice.
Key workers walk alongside participants, engaging in case management to address personal and environmental obstacles to recovery. The development of a strengths-based recovery-focused approach is built on the foundation of a Recovery Capital model.
PROGRAMS
FIRST STAGE SINGLES PROGRAM
Karis’ first stage recovery for single women includes daily group facilitation (5 days a week). Facilitators create a safe and interactive environment where respectful dialogue is encouraged among the participants and facilitators. Participants are required to complete daily chores as well as weekly chores and are responsible for cooking their own meals. Participants work directly with their key worker on individualized goal setting, recovery planning and relapse prevention. In this stage of programming, staff support participants in filling their toolboxes with transferrable skills that they will eventually take into the community as a long-term strategy for life.
Participants in first stage programming are encouraged to focus solely on their recovery, as such engaging in school and work is not promoted while at this stage. However, key workers will work to support participants in building the foundational skills and tools required to pursue work and school after transitioning to the Semi-Independent Program or community.
FIRST STAGE PARENTING PROGRAM
Expectant women and moms with babies are supported with teachings and tools for parenting through recovery. The recovery-focused Parenting Program offers life skill development opportunities for women who are pregnant, parenting, or in process of having their children returned to their care. As a support-based program, by providing these opportunities, participants are able to confidently strive towards self-sufficiency and independence.
Participants in first stage programming are encouraged to focus solely on their recovery, as such engaging in school and work is not promoted while at this stage. However, key workers will work to support participants in building the foundational skills and tools required to pursue work and school at transition to the Semi-Independent Program or community.
SEMI-INDEPENDENT PROGRAM (SINGLES & PARENTING)
When participants have made strides in building their foundation for their Recovery Capital and have achieved personal and recovery goals suitable for supporting themselves and other participants in recovery, they have the option of moving onto the third floor into our semi-independent single suites. Single women’s suites include individual bedrooms with shared bathroom and living area. Mothers and their children move to their own two-bedroom suites where a parent and their child each have their own bedroom, as well as their own bathroom and living area. In this stage of programming, in addition to still receiving support through group facilitation and on-site counselling, participants are supported by their key worker/aftercare worker in pursuit of part-time work or school and their transition towards independent living in the community.
AFTERCARE
Karis offers offsite aftercare for participants, both single women and mothers with their children, who have completed all the requirements and have successfully transitioned into the community. An aftercare worker serves as an advocate and a support during this transition process. By assisting the participant in setting up support systems outside Karis, the aftercare worker ensures the participant is able to build on the foundation of their recovery capital built while at Karis.
RESIDENTIAL GOALS
Every participant will develop a self-directed Care Plan (including short and long terms goals) and will meet with a designated key worker who will assist you to follow through with the plan. The Program will facilitate the building of Recovery Capital, this will include self-directed goals of relapse prevention, effective interpersonal and relationship skills, recreational therapy, financial literacy and more. Through collaboration with community partners Karis is able to provide secondary education and employment training. The Parenting Program will also include positive parenting and attachment programs.