Initiatives

The Creating Communities of Care (CCC)

The CCC project was developed to address “the lack of culturally - competent services or enhanced care for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian women who have experienced violence and who may have come in contact with the criminal justice system as a result” (NSACSW, 2019). The project aims to develop these services and build partnerships among relevant community and government organizations. At the same time, the project partners hope to alleviate the pressure of the systemic barriers faced by women in their communities after they have been victims of gender-based violence.

Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking Supports and Prevention Project

The SVPS Community Mobilization Program is a community-based program designed to mobilize and build stronger community responses to support victims/survivors of sexual violence and to encourage citizens of all ages to take a role in preventing and responding to sexual violence, in a trauma-informed, youth-centered and culturally relevant way. The primary focus of the community mobilization program being implemented by the Association of Black Social Workers is to develop Africentric approaches to the prevention of and response to the sexual exploitation/trafficking of African Nova Scotian children and youth.

African Nova Scotia Youth Development Initiative Program (ANS-YDI)

Our Focus is to pilot an Afrocentric expansion of the Youth Development Initiative Program (YDI) model. In alignment with the Restorative Inquiry Results, and in support of Count Us In: the DPAD Action Plan, the intent is to create a co-designed, but community-led model, that is culturally tailored for African Nova Scotian (ANS) youth to better meet their cultural and collective needs.

Association of Black Social Workers/Department of Community Services Anti-Black Racism

ABSW has partnered with DCS to formulate an Anti-Black Racism policy and action plan, which originated from the “Because We Matter” healing sessions and recommendations. Participants will embark on a journey of unlearning and learning. They will examine their privilege and discover ways to use their privilege to lead change for culturally safe and transformative practices for African Canadians. These sessions consisted of 2-hour workshops on topics of Anti- Black Racism, Allyship and Africentric Perspectives. Simultaneously, ABSW offers private one-on- one check-ins with ANS staff from DCS upon request, and ABSW also hosts ANS check-ins for all DCS staff once a month.