Lurana Shelter is a high security, first-stage emergency shelter for women with or without children fleeing domestic violence and abuse. The shelter provides safe, temporary accommodation in a confidential and secure location, immediate crisis intervention, food, clothing, transportation and child support. Length of stay is normally twenty-one days.

At Lurana Shelter, our main objective is to facilitate empowerment of the women and children we serve by:

· encouraging information based decision-making;

· increasing awareness of the cycle of violence and the effects of abuse;

· working to reduce the problematic symptoms experienced by child witnesses;

· strengthening the relationship between the child and the non-abusive parent;

· encouraging positive behaviour patterns and attitudes in the children; and

· helping mothers attain the tools that will enable them to build a safe, nurturing environment for their children.

Additional emergency services are provided according to the specified needs of the individuals. Lurana Shelter makes available the following (some services are possible through community partnerships/collaborations):

• VON nurse (Victorian Order of Nurses) and Health for Two Nurse (Capital Health)

• Psychologists (YWCA)

• Spousal Abuse Team (EPS & Edmonton Community Sources)

• Interpreters

• University of Alberta Faculty of Law Student Legal Services

• Referrals to medical, housing and employment agencies

• Development of a safety plan

Child Support Programming includes a space for younger children and moms to play. Another space is designed for teen-agers. Attention and support is provided by workers specializing and understanding impact of domestic violence on children. Free Play, Educational Play, Groups are offered. A drop-in Child Care program is available to moms for respite time or to attend business appointments Monday through Friday. Programming is available to families seven days a week.

Child Support Programming also makes available the following: (some services are possible through community partnerships/collaborations

• referrals to child care programs, schools,

• development of a safety plan

Outreach provides follow-up to women and children after they leave the emergency shelter program. Generally, service is provided for up to three months. Outreach encourages women and children to become informed of community supports available in the neighborhood. Support is provided to review and revise safety plan. Outreach may act as a liaison for women and children when working with other agencies.