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Strategic Plan 2022-2025

INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE

WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe Muskoka first opened its doors in 1989. Since that time, we have strived to, and continue to, serve and support those in our community. Our staff, volunteers, and Board members are dedicated to to preventing and reducing homelessness and criminalization through services and advocacy.

 

We have experienced dramatic growth and continuous change over the past few years. This has helped to clarify and prioritize our purpose and define how we want to contribute to those we serve. These changes are also the impetus for updating our Strategic Plan.

 

We brought together staff, Board members, community stakeholders, funders, and service users to create a Strategic Plan that is inclusive, impactful, and sets the foundation for our organization for years to come.

 

We have learned from our experience, specifically during the past two years of a world-wide pandemic, the importance of community and collaboration. With increases in marginalization, victimization, and criminalization, our services continue to be needed for so many.

 

We hope that you see in this Strategic Plan a committed organization working to ensure people have access to the supports and services they need to live a healthy and healing life.

 

Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director

Christina Garisto, President of the Board of Directors

Who was elizabeth fry

Elizabeth Fry (Gurney) was born into a family of Quakers in 1780 in England. Her mother’s
father, the Scottish theologian Robert Barclay, played an important role in defining early Quaker beliefs.

 

It was fortunate for all concerned that Quakers believed in the equality of women (250 years
before women won the vote), otherwise Elizabeth Fry’s unusual talents in the area of prison reform might never have been realized.

 

Her insight, persistence, organizational ability and her willingness to see a “divine light” in
every person resulted in striking reforms taking place in the manner in which women and
children were treated in London’s Newgate Prison.

 

She was a strong proponent of humane treatment for prisoners and regarded by many as a
leading expert in prison reform. Elizabeth Fry also helped the homeless, establishing a “nightly shelter” in London after seeing a body of a young boy in the winter of 1819-20. She also promoted the idea of rehabilitation instead of harsh punishment which was taken on by the city authorities in London as well as many other authorities and prisons. Most of her life was spent in England, although she did visit Ireland and continental Europe. She also offered advice to the Americas, Russia and Australia. She died in 1845 at the age of 66 years.

 

The first Canadian Elizabeth Fry Society was established in Vancouver in 1939. The
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) was originally conceived of in 1969 and
was incorporated as a voluntary non-profit organization in 1978.

 

Today there are 24 local member societies located across this land known as Canada and offer
critical front-line services to their communities. Each organization is self-governing, with its own
board of directors, executive director, staff, and volunteer team. Local societies collaborate on key issues, best practices, and funding proposals.

 

Before her death, Elizabeth Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the
treatment of prisoners, including the need to protect incarcerated women from sexual violence and exploitation. Societies today remain inspired by her work and continue to advocate for prison abolition and decarceration of women, girls, lgbtq2sia+, indigenous and other overrepresented and marginalized populations.

who we serve

​Serves youth and adults accessing services and supports in Simcoe County and Muskoka who are at risk of or experiencing criminalization and homelessness, with expertise is service delivery for women and gender diverse individuals.

Our approach

Solution focused organization that operates services that are inclusive, client centered and trauma informed delivered through harm reduction, justice reform and housing focused approaches

Our IMpact 2021-2022

JOYCE KOPE HOUSE: PROVIDED SHELTER

AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO 457

WOMEN AND GENDER DIVERSE

INDIVIDUALS

 

CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 26

INDIVIDUALS

 

GROUP PROGRAM SESSIONS AND GUIDED

INDEPENDENT LEARNING TO 338 WOMEN

AT CENTRAL NORTH CORRECTIONAL

CENTRE

 

RURAL AND REMOTE PROGRAMMING

DELIVERED TO 227 PARTICIPANTS

 

SAFE INDEPENDENT CHOICES PROGRAM

DELIVERED TO 195 PARTICIPANTS IN 1:1,

GROUP AND WORKSHOPS

 

DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM

HAD 310 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAMS:

EXTRAJUDICIAL MEASURES: 102

EXTRAJUDICIAL SANCTIONS: 57

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: 16

 

COLLECTED $45, 744 AND DISTRIBUTED IN

RESTITUTION

 

REPORTING CENTRE PROVIDED PROGRAMS AND

SERVICES TO 33 INDIVIDUALS ON PAROLE.

 

POST INCARCERATION PROGRAM DELIVERED

TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO 45 INDIVIDUALS

DISCHARGED FROM CENTRAL NORTH

CORRECTIONAL CENTRE WITH WHO WERE

EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

 

SIMCOE YOUTH TRUSTEE PROGRAM: 101

 

MUSKOKA YOUTH TRUSTEE PROGRAM: 14

 

ALEX PLACE, YOUTH TRANSITIONAL HOME: 6

TOTAL UNIQUE INDEVIDUALS SERVED 1,927
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History of events

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