English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

Provide extended family with financial assistance to support the family
(e.g. child care, clothing)
> > Allow extended family supervision and access visits
> > Explore other avenues to keep families together, if they want to be
together, rather than not allowing the father access to the family
WHY ABORIGINAL WOMEN STAY
1. Fear of another beating or of being murdered.
2. Can’t stop the threats, stalking or harassment upon leaving the home.
3. Nowhere safe to go.
4. No money, food or transportation.
5. Fear of losing children.
6. Fear of retaliation by his family and friends.
7. Can’t get protection order or custody order enforced.
8. The “system” believes him or does not hold him accountable.
9. Would lose job, home, family and community.
10. Negative response from the community, police, court or social services.
11. Afraid of the impact on the children; they need a father.
12. Fear of the partner doing something to cause trouble for her with the law or
social services.
13. Need time to prepare and plan to leave.
14. Guilt about what happened and her role in the violence.
15. Cultural, spiritual or religious beliefs.
16. Some services are not available if the woman is still living with her abusive
partner. These services are predicated on the woman separating from her
abusive partner in order to be eligible to receive services.
17. Believed things would get better after the arrest and it did not — ​lost
confidence in the system.
18. Know what to expect if they stay.
19. Fear of being alone.
20. “I still care about him.”
21. Too exhausted and not healed from the abuse.
22. Education deprivation.
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