CIAFV

Building safer communities takes shared knowledge, strong connections, and people working together.

Become a CIAFV member by August 30 and join a network committed to strengthening the community response to family and intimate partner violence.

Anyone who signs up during the summer membership drive will also be entered into a draw to win a three-day ticket to the Diverse Voices Family Violence Conference, valued at $500.

The conference offers opportunities to learn from professionals, researchers, and subject matter experts, explore practical strategies, and build connections across the family, domestic, and sexual violence sectors.

Visit the CIAFV website to learn more and become a member.

📅 Upcoming events and learning opportunities from August 16 to 22

This week’s events include sessions on family violence in the workplace, trauma-informed approaches, nonprofit board development, human trafficking in Alberta, and the impacts of trauma.

Upcoming events include:

Family Violence Impacts at Work: What Workplace Leaders Need to Know | The Today Family Violence Help Centre
August 17 | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM MDT
A one-hour session for executive staff and senior management exploring how family violence can affect workplace safety, employee wellbeing, productivity, and organizational risk.
🔗 Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/4fERUKg

Working with People When It Feels Hard: Staying Curious | Compassionate Leeds Programme Team
August 19 | 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM MDT | Online
An interactive introduction to mentalizing, or “holding minds in mind,” with practical ways to stay curious, understand behaviour in context, and respond thoughtfully when situations feel complex or uncertain.
🔗 Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/4pTAuNo

Committees and Meetings: Board Development Program | Government of Alberta, Community Engagement Branch
August 19 | 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM MDT | Online
A webinar exploring committee structure, scope, and reporting, along with practical ways to create engaging meetings that support a board’s work and decision-making.
🔗 Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/4heyZY4

Human Trafficking 101: Community Member Essentials | ACT Alberta
August 20 | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM MDT | Online
A one-hour training for community members to learn about human trafficking in Alberta through guided group case studies. Completion certificates will be available upon request.
🔗 Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/4w25dt7

WCHD & ICOY CARES Virtual Event: Impact of Trauma | ICOY
August 21 | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM MDT | Online
A free trauma-informed care training exploring the effects of trauma on youth and clients, including ACEs, brain development, childhood trauma responses, resilience, and supportive response strategies.
🔗 Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/4pZMPQj

This summer, become part of a collaborative network working to strengthen the community response to family and intimate partner violence.

Become a CIAFV member by August 30 and you will be entered into a draw to win a three-day ticket to the Diverse Voices Family Violence Conference, valued at $500.

Taking place from October 28 to 30, 2026, at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton, Diverse Voices brings together front-line professionals, researchers, and subject matter experts to share emerging research, practical strategies, and best practices related to family, domestic, and sexual violence. Attendees can build knowledge, strengthen their practice, and create connections across sectors.

By becoming a CIAFV member, you can also connect with professionals working in the family violence sector, participate in monthly member meetings and collaborative opportunities, receive sector information and resources, and access discounted CIAFV training and events.

🔗 Learn more and register here: https://www.ciafv.com/become-a-member

📅 Upcoming events and learning opportunities from August 8 to 15

This week’s events include learning opportunities focused on trauma-informed practice, family violence services, technology-facilitated abuse, responses to child sexual abuse, and board development.

Upcoming events include:

Beyond the Buzzword: A Shared Understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice | Compassionate Leeds Programme Team
August 07 | 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM | Online
A 60-minute introduction to trauma-informed practice, with a focus on shared language, key principles, practical steps, and how trauma-informed approaches may show up in day-to-day work.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4pPQWOU

Today Centre Information Session and Tour | The Today Family Violence Help Centre
August 11 | 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM MDT | Edmonton
An opportunity for service providers and front-line agency staff to learn about client referrals, the intake process, available supports and programs, community partnerships, educational services, and print resources.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3RTAK2q

Using Supervision and Team Meetings When Responding to Child Sexual Abuse | The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse
August 12 | 2:30 AM to 3:30 AM MDT | Online
A free webinar introducing a guide designed to help supervisors use individual and group supervision sessions and team meetings to support reflection and improve responses to child sexual abuse.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4yIXPWe

Building Strong Teams & Effective Relationships: Board Development | Government of Alberta, Community Engagement Branch
August 12 | 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM MDT | Online
An interactive webinar offering information and practical ideas to help boards strengthen teamwork, address challenges, and build effective relationships within their organizations.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4gTYPQS

Family Violence: Spotlight on Technology-Facilitated Abuse | The Today Family Violence Help Centre
August 13 | 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM MDT | Online
A workshop for service providers focused on recognizing technology-facilitated tactics such as monitoring, stalking, coercion, and financial abuse, along with strategies to support those experiencing technology-facilitated abuse in reducing risk.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4yHgr8X

Non-fatal strangulation can be difficult to recognize, but understanding the signs, medical implications, and appropriate response is critical for professionals supporting those impacted by family violence.

CIAFV is pleased to offer a Virtual Two-Day Strangulation Prevention Training on November 19 and 20, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM MST.

This online training will provide practical information on recognizing and documenting non-fatal strangulation, collecting evidence, understanding legal considerations, and responding through trauma-informed approaches.

Registration is included with an active CIAFV membership of $200. Each member organization may register up to three participants as part of its membership. Additional participants may register for $100 each. CIAFV will also reserve 25 spaces for professionals from sectors such as health care, education, legal services, government, housing, and more.

📅 Upcoming events and learning opportunities from August 1 to 7

This week’s events include online sessions on trauma-informed practice, child sexual abuse prevention, family violence safety planning, and nonprofit board leadership.

Upcoming events include:

✨ Language Matters: Trauma-Informed Writing in Work with Children & Families
August 3 | 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM MDT
Hosted by the Compassionate Leeds Programme Team
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4hobmMx

✨ Foundations of Safety Planning in Family Violence: Online Workshop
August 5 | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM MDT
Hosted by The Today Family Violence Help Centre
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4wY0JF0

✨ Top 5 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
August 5 | 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM MDT
Hosted by Saprea
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4pDYiF6

✨ The Role of the Board Chair
August 5 | 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM MDT
Hosted by the Government of Alberta, Community Engagement Branch
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4yxOJeC

✨ Beyond the Buzzword: A Shared Understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice
August 7 | 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM MDT
Hosted by the Compassionate Leeds Programme Team
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4fbkId8

What does a CIAFV membership look like?

CIAFV membership connects organizations and individuals with a strong network of helping professionals working to prevent and respond to family and intimate partner violence.

Membership benefits include access to new information and ideas, referrals and assistance from CIAFV staff, monthly member meetings, opportunities to participate in project teams and committees, and connections with Edmonton and area professionals focused on family violence issues. Members are also included on CIAFV’s newsletter distribution list and receive a discount on registration fees for CIAFV events and training opportunities.

Membership is open to non-profits, government departments, committees, for-profit organizations, and individuals who agree to CIAFV’s Principles of Involvement. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Learn more about CIAFV membership through our website.

The Today Centre is hiring a full-time Family Violence Education Specialist.

This position will help develop and deliver public education workshops on family violence prevention, provide healthy relationships workshops for youth, coordinate educational opportunities, support awareness initiatives, and work collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders.

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

Learn more about the role, qualifications, and how to apply here: https://bit.ly/3RoqnDo