Illuminating Invisibilities: Working with Women whose Lives have been Impacted by Homelessness, Violence, Mental Health Issues and Substance Use

International Women’s Day Event – March 8, 2013

The Health Equity Office and Human Resources at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto is hosting a 90 minute International Women’s Day educational event: Illuminating Invisibilities: Working with Women whose Lives have been Impacted by Homelessness, Violence, Mental Health Issues and Substance Use.

The forum will bring together addiction and mental health service providers, allied professionals, community members and women with lived experience to:

• Identify populations of women that are invisible and have been impacted by homelessness, violence, trauma, mental health issues and substance use including newcomers and women from diverse communities
• Highlight barriers to access to the mental health, addictions and social service system for women that have been impacted by homelessness, violence, mental health issues and substance use
• Identify strategies for creating connection with all of these communities of women that are not accessing services

Presenters include:

• Rani Srivastava, Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice at CAMH – Opening Remarks
• Eva Scott, Community Outreach Worker, Peer Support Program, Sistering
• Sheryl Lindsay, Executive Director – Sistering 
• Mirna Paz, Interpreter, Barbra Schlifer Clinic
• Amanda Dale, Executive Director, Barbra Schlifer Clinic
• Ann Pottinger, Discipline Chief, Nursing with Professional Practice and Acting Director of Teaching Excellence and Innovation – Moderator

Eva Scott and Sheryl Lindsay are from Sistering, a women’s agency serving homeless, marginalized and low-income women in Toronto. Mirna Paz and Amanda Dale are from the Barbara Schlifer Clinic in Toronto which offers legal help, counselling and language interpretation to women who have experienced violence.

The event will be held on March 8, 2013 – 11 am to 12:30 pm in Toronto, Ontario. View the flyer here.

For more on homelessness and FASD prevention, see earlier posts:

• Oh Sh*t, I’m Pregnant…Your Guide to Being Pregnant on the Street (January 3, 2012)
• Women, Homelessness and FASD Prevention (June 15, 2011)

For more on violence against women and FASD prevention, see recent post:

• FORSAKEN: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (January 1, 2013)