Thank you for attending the 2021 Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region Annual General Meeting. This past year we had incredible support from our community and from the government. A full year working within a pandemic and having to navigate this within two shelters presented many challenges. WCSWR staff rose to each and every one of these challenges. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you.

Halina (Lin) Haag is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is exploring the gendered experiences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the barriers and facilitating factors influencing mental health, return to work, and social integration encountered by brain injured women survivors of IPV. Ms Haag is committed to improving outcomes through direct practice, innovative research, and professional education, believing that increased knowledge and understanding in the community is key. As someone with lived experience of TBI, she has been a guest speaker addressing issues of disability, brain injury, and marginalization for a variety of international academic, professional, and community-based organizations. Her work is generously funded by the Ontario Women’s Health Scholar Award.

Discussion Topic

Over 90% of episodes of physical IPV include battery to the face, head, and neck, and/or strangulation, a pattern leaving at least 75% of survivors with probable brain injuries. Unfortunately, very little has been done to examine this unique and complex condition and the implications for support providers and their clients, leaving women survivors vulnerable to repeat violence, permanent disability, criminal justice system engagement, unemployment, homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges. In an effort to raise awareness and provide some education and resources to help the frontline address this gap, they’ve developed the Abused & Brain Injured Toolkit

Congratulations to Jenna Mayne, the 2nd recipient of the Annual Jo Horner Award. 

Jo Horner was a long-time supporter, past Board member and Honourary Life Member of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.  Jo’s leadership helped to lay the groundwork for the organization that we have today.

The Jo Horner award will be presented annually to a volunteer or staff member of Women’s Crisis Services who exhibits the following traits:

• Determination
• A strong desire for positive change and to serve others
• Is a genuine active listener
• Has a strong sense of community spirit