We are here to answer any questions you may have

+ Who can come to the Today Centre?

Any adult who has recently (within the past year) been subjected to family violence. We work with individuals of any gender, sexual orientation, religion, race and culture.

+ How do I access services at the Today Centre?

Contact us by calling our mainline (780-455-6880), reaching out on our LiveChat, or emailing info@thetodaycentre.ca to speak with our Family Violence Intake Specialist.

+ What happens when I call?

Your call will be transferred to our Family Violence Intake Specialist to chat about The Today Centre’s services, ask questions about resources, and/or to book an appointment. If you are interested in booking an appointment, our Family Violence Intake Specialist will complete an intake with you, and this information will be passed to the Family Violence Specialist you will be seeing.

+ What if I need to leave a message?

If our Family Violence Intake Specialist is not available when you call, you may need to leave a message. When leaving a message, we ask that you provide your name and number, and also indicate whether it is safe to leave a message when we return your call. We will not leave a message unless we know it is safe to do so. We strive to return messages within two business days. If you prefer that the Family Violence Intake Specialist text you back, please use the LiveChat feature on our website as we do not have texting capacity at this time.

+ If I am interested in booking an appointment, what are the next steps?

If you are interested in booking a session, things typically begin with completing an intake with our Family Violence Intake Specialist. The intake will include questions on your demographics (age, address, ethnicity, gender, etc.) and questions about the violence you have been experiencing. The intake provides us with information about who accesses services at The Today Centre and about what has been going on for you recently. You do not have to answer anything that you are not comfortable answering. This process is based on your individual needs, and can take anywhere from ten to forty minutes.

Due to COVID-19, we are currently offering services over the phone, over Zoom, or in person (by appointment only).

+ Is there a fee for services?

No, our services are free of charge.

+ What if English is not my first language?

If you are more comfortable accessing services in your first language, The Today Centre can arrange for interpretation during your sessions. Please let us know if this is required.

+ What if I do not have anyone to look after my children?

Due to COVID-19 there is currently no childminding available. You will need to find alternate care for your children as they are not able to be in the session with you due to the potentially traumatizing nature of what is being discussed.

+ Where is The Today Centre located?

The Today Centre’s address is 17724 102 Avenue, NW and we are located in the Westgate Business Park. The Today Centre is located just off of Stony Plain Road, and is across the street from the Westgate Chevrolet dealership. If you are travelling via transit, it is common to transit to West Edmonton Mall and then transfer to Bus Number 122 or 129, and exit on 178 St. & Stony Plain Rd-NB.

+ What can I expect when I arrive at The Today Centre?

There is plenty of parking in the business park and parking is free. The Today Centre is ground level, and we strive to be a scent-free work space. When you arrive, please call our mainline (780-455-6880) and you will speak to our Office Manager who will invite you to come in. When you enter the front door, you will find a second locked door (our doorbell is to the left). Our Office Manager will buzz you into reception, and you will be asked to complete our COVID-19 screening form. The Office Manager will let your Family Violence Specialist know that you have arrived. Your Family Violence Specialist will then come introduce themselves and show you to the room you will be having your session in.
Due to COVID-19, we currently have a washroom designated for staff and a washroom designated for service users. While our bathroom is multi-stalled, we are currently limiting the capacity of each bathroom to one individual. You will see an “occupied and vacant” sign on the bathroom door and we ask that you please slide the sign to the appropriate setting when using the washroom and follow sanitizing instructions when you leave the washroom.

+ What can I expect in my session with the Family Violence Specialist?

The role of the Family Violence Specialist is to provide a non-judgmental, safe space for you to tell your story and provide resource information and support. Family Violence Specialists are able to support with the creation of safety plans, assess for risk associated with physical harm or domestic homicide, provide education on family violence, and connect you to resources. Initial sessions are typically between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the individual’s needs.

The Today Centre keeps your information confidential and will only share other information with other service providers with your written consent, unless a child is at risk or a person is a danger to themselves or others.