PEERS Programs
In all our programs and services, PEERS staff members use their own life experiences to know where and how to connect with sex trade workers.
Elements Program
Elements is a six month program designed for those wanting to transition from the sex trade towards mainstream employment and/or education. Participants attend groups Tuesday through Friday mornings at the PEERS Opportunity Centre in Esquimalt. Mondays are reseved for one-on-one counselling and support work.
The curriculum for this six-month program—funded through a contract with the Ministry of Housing and Social Development—was developed through focus groups with PEERS participants, is continuously revised based on participant input and current research, and features course work on Mental Health and Addiction issues, understanding trauma, family connections, healing, personal growth, communication and employability skills, including basic computer literacy. In the last two months of the program, the focus shifts to preparing for mainstream work, secondary or post-secondary training and features informational interviewing and volunteer or community placement.
Elements participants receive a $5.00 gift card for each day of class attendance, two bus tickets per day, and a hot lunch.
Program Highlights
- Think Straight: Examines thought processes, their origins, validity/usefulness, and provides participants with the skills and tools to change ineffective thinking and related behaviours. The curriculum includes the following topics: recognizing barriers to potential, communication, planning, motivation, relationships, and understanding the self.
- Dare to Dream—Employability and Computer Skills: Includes an examination of the employability issues related to exiting sex work; provides skills and tools for a smoother transition, and includes topics such as self-esteem, intimacy, isolation, independence, budgeting, transferable skills, resume writing, and interview skills.
- Understanding Abuse—Taking our Power Back: A group focused on recognizing abuse, violence and trauma, and their connection to addictions; provides participants with skills and tools for staying safe when trauma responses are triggered. Based on the “Seeking Safety Manual,” by Lisa Najivits.
- Employability and Computer Skills Groups: Includes an examination of the employability issues related to exiting sex work; provides skills and tools for a smoother transition, and includes a mentorship component.
- Counselling: A counsellor is available on site every Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. to assist with addiction and other personal issues.
- One to one individualized support: Individualized service planning to best meet participants particular set of needs and barriers.
- Weekly "Beauty Day": Depending on volunteers available; we often offer free haircuts, massage and manicures. Beauty day is always on Friday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For an intake interview or more information about the Elements Program, please contact Sarah Stewart, Elements Program Support Worker at: 250-388-5325 ext. 107, or Marcela Mrnka, Elements Program Coordinator at: 250-388-5325 ext.104.
Late-night and Daytime Outreach
PEERS Night Outreach serves those active in sex work on the downtown stroll. We work out of an RV that is set up to prepare hot drinks, heat up pots of soup, and refrigerate lunches. We park in two designated areas, Discovery at Government between 8-10pm, and then Rock Bay between 10 and 12 am. We provide a variety of services including support, advocacy, referrals to other services, food, clothing and harm reduction supplies. We are there to listen and support sex workers where they are at, and have built many important relationships. We work closely with Day Outreach, referring people who express a desire to exit sex work, or just need assistance during the day with issues such as housing, ID, health appointments etc... On average, the RV is visited by between 400 and 500 workers over the course of a month, many of whom are homeless or staying in shelters. We circulate a regularly updated “Bad Date Sheet” which keeps sex workers informed about dangerous offenders. We rely on donations of clothing, shoes, gloves, socks, makeup and other health and beauty products. We also rely on donations for extra food and snacks that our limited budget is unable to provide. Every Thursday night, a Street Nurse comes on board the RV to provide access to health care, and every second Wednesday a Doctor is on board to do the same. Night Outreach is in the process of trying to get some weekend coverage to fill the gap created by most services being closed, creating a lack of ability to access food and harm reduction supplies. Although it is our primary aim to support sex workers wherever they are at, we have been privileged to watch many lives improved, and some completely transformed. The ability to continue to do this work is critical and we welcome any and all support in doing so.
PEERS Day Outreach is a vital component of PEERS. It is used as a bridging vehicle between Night Outreach and the rest of PEERS programming. For women not yet ready to leave the streets, Day Outreach offers rides to appointments such as doctors, dentists and lawyers, and will advocate when needed. Day Outreach also offers harm reduction supplies, clothes, personal hygiene products, and help with locating a shelter bed. This is a very flexible program that has the ability to find creative solutions to a multitude of problems.
For clients looking into treatment, Day Outreach offers advice on their options and helps with the necessary paper work. We find solutions for transportation to treatment and send them off with a care package. These packages usually contain most of their needed supplies, such as; shampoo and conditioner, new socks, clean underwear, razors, combs and brushes. When we have donations we also include make-up, lotions and pajamas and other suitable clothing. Clients heading off to treatment are given love, hugs and support. They know that when they come back, PEERS is here for them, waiting with open arms.Once back from treatment, many of the women are ready to think about leaving the sex trade.
For these clients, PEERS offers the Elements program, and Day Outreach is ready to help transition the women into Phase One. Day Outreach helps the clients get stable with housing and other supports. Once these steps are taken, the women enter into Phase Two, ready happy and excited to begin their new life.
Day Outreach is always grateful for donations of women’s clothing and personal supplies—this program especially needs petite sizes.
FASD Collaborative Family Care Homes Project
A 3-Year Demonstration Project funded by the Victoria Foundation
For more information, click here [208 KB PDF]
Scholarships
Dependent upon funding, PEERS offers scholarship awards to past and current sex workers who qualify each year. Applicants must be over 19 years of age and demonstrate financial need. Monies are paid directly to the post-secondary or training institute that the applicant will be attending. Scholarships paid out during 2006 totalled $3000. Inquire at our main office, or call (250) 388-5325.
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