Our Programs

24-Hour Support Line

Call or text
403-652-3311

Rowan House Society’s 24-Hour Support Line provides telephone and texting response to all individuals experiencing domestic violence and abuse seeking crisis support, information or navigation to the program or supports that best suit their needs, including:

  • Trauma-informed crisis and emotional support

  • Safety planning

  • Education and awareness

  • Community referrals and advocacy

  • Support available in multiple languages with CanTalk

If you need support, or you’re worried about someone and want to know how to help, call or text 403-652-3311. You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out.

Rowan House Society’s Emergency Shelter is a short-term (30-day) emergency shelter for women, with or without children, experiencing domestic violence and abuse. The shelter has 7 bedrooms with the capacity to support 24 individuals.

Our Emergency Shelter provides the following:

  • One-to-one support through a case management approach

  • Support with essential needs

  • Safety planning in alignment with the danger assessment

  • Emotional support

  • Goal setting

  • Navigation of community resources and referrals

  • Education and awareness

  • Pet friendly accommodation*

  • Group facilitation

*Some restrictions apply. Please visit our pet information page.

Rowan House Emergency Shelter

Please call our 24-Hour Support Line, 403-652-3311, for a referral to the Emergency Shelter.

Children’s Program

Our Multisensory Room

Dubbed the “Magic Room” by children, the multisensory room is a safe and interactive environment at our emergency shelter for children to explore their senses and the way that they process their thoughts.  This includes stimulating the children’s mental activity, providing a relaxing environment and promoting interaction. Every child and their caregiver accessing our services has access to the multisensory room.

We aim to provide the children living in our shelter with a safe-haven, time to relax, and a chance to enjoy being a child. We offer specialized programming for children that focuses on building self-esteem and developing coping skills for managing anxiety. Caregivers are encouraged to be a part of their child’s learning by utilizing the structure in the childcare area where staff can assist in modelling healthy relationships, positive interactions, and child-centered play to facilitate a healthy parent-child attachment.

Our staff teach children tools they can use to identify and understand feelings, regulate, including strategies for mindfulness, sensory integration, movement, thinking strategies, wellness, and healthy connection with others.

 The Children’s Program provides:

●      Childcare Centre

●      Parenting groups

●      One-to-one support on parenting conversations

You don’t need to move into our shelter, or be in crisis to receive support. Our Outreach Program is designed to address and meet the needs of all individuals (regardless of race, cultural or spiritual background, gender identity or sexual orientation). The program is provided to those affected by domestic violence and abuse through one-to-one contact and support in a community setting for up to six months.

Rowan House Society Outreach Program provides the following:

  • One-to-one support through a case management approach

  • Emotional support

  • Safety planning in alignment with the danger assessment

  • Goal setting

  • Support with essential needs

  • Navigation of community resources and referrals

  • Education and awareness

Outreach Program

Please call our 24-Hour Support Line, 403-652-3311, for a referral to the Outreach Program.

Preventative Education

Our Preventative Education School Program is an evidence-based, interactive approach designed to help break the intergenerational cycle of violence at a young age. The presentations cover what bullying entails and how to stand up to it, teaching friendship and empathy to help foster kinder and safer school environments, helping teens identify healthy relationships and red flags, and teaching strategies to improve one's self-esteem to empower youth to make healthier relationship choices. We also offer digital safety presentations for students in kindergarten to grade 6.

Please note, these presentations can also be modified and presented to various youth groups or at applicable conferences. To learn more or to book any of these presentations, please contact schools@rowanhouse.ca or call 403-652-3311.

School Presentations

Rowan House Society is happy to provide 30-60 minute public presentations to agencies, businesses and other community groups looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of domestic violence and abuse and how to recognize it, to better support the individuals they work with, their colleagues or friends.

Please note, domestic violence and abuse may affect your business or organization in unique ways. We are happy to tailor our presentations to best suit your needs and time allotment.

To learn more or to book any of these presentations, please contact the Community Engagement team at gopurple@rowanhouse.ca. 

Public Presentations

Presentation Topics:

  • About Rowan House Society and the Services Available

  • Understanding Abuse and How to Support Someone Experiencing It

  • Developing Healthy Relationships and Recognizing Abuse

  • Safety Planning and Leaving Abuse

  • Domestic Violence in the Workplace

Healthy Connections Groups

You matter. You are not alone. Love shouldn’t hurt.

No matter what you may have been told in the past or have been led to believe, everyone deserves safe and empowering relationships. If your relationship feels unhealthy, abusive or “off," or if you’re in need of support or just someone to listen, this free, six-week education and support group may be for you.


The following topics will be covered:

  • Healthy Relationships

  • Domestic Abuse and the Cycle of Abuse

  • Effects of Abuse and Coping Skills

  • Effects of Abuse on Children

  • Self-Esteem and Healthy Boundaries

  • Safety Planning and Moving Forward

 
Our Healthy Connections groups run in-person*. Snacks will be provided. Exact location provided once registered.

*Please note, Healthy Connections Groups are for 18+. Some meetings may be held virtually.

Register for upcoming dates in 2026 /2027:

  • High River: Sept 1 - Oct 6, 2026 [5pm-7pm] (women only)

  • Okotoks: Jan 14 - Feb 18, 2027 [5pm-7pm]

  • Vulcan: March 25 - April 29, 2027 [12:30pm - 2:30pm]

  • Claresholm: May 4th - June 8, 2027 [TBD]

  • Nanton: June 1st - July 6th 2027 [10:30am - 12:30pm]

  • Diamond Valley: July 15th - Aug 19th 2027 [9:30am - 11:30am]

If you’re interested in attending, please fill out the registration form below or call 403-652-3311.

Healthy Connections Group Registration Form

Supported By:

Legal Resource Navigator Program

Please call or text our 24-Hour Support Line at 403-652-3311, to begin the referral and consent process.

The Legal Resource Navigator Program can provide:

  • Information about court

  • Navigation and understanding of legal options

  • Emotional support and safety planning

  • Accompaniment to court appearances

  • A debrief of outcomes and next steps

  • Information and referral to community resources if required

The Legal Resource Navigator Program cannot provide:

  • Legal advice*

  • Support in immigration matters*

  • Support in appeals or contests with Children Services or Criminal Law*

*We will provide referrals where you can receive support in these areas

We know how complex, stressful and overwhelming the legal process can be, especially for individuals who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Our Legal Resource Navigator Program offers information and support to assist our clients in developing a better understanding of family law matters and protection orders, while ensuring individuals are provided with wraparound support. The Legal Resource Navigator will discuss the risks and benefits of each type of order to ensure individuals are making the best choice for themselves and their families.

Please note, the demand for our Legal Resource Navigator Program is very high. Emergency and protection order requests will be called back as soon as possible. Other requests may take up to 5 business days to hear back. Every request matters, and our team is working hard to respond as quickly as possible.

The Legal Resource Navigator Program is made possible thanks to funding from the Alberta Law Foundation.

Pathways to Change (formerly called Safe at Home) is designed to be an alternative approach to helping families experiencing domestic violence and abuse. The program provides support to individuals causing harm who want to change behaviours. We provide supportive group education sessions, case planning, goal setting, accountability planning and assessments.  Referrals are open to all individuals and professionals (18+) who want to make changes to abusive or unhealthy behaviours. Register with the form below.‍ ‍

Pathways to Change

formerly, Safe at Home

Pathways to Change - Group Program Sessions

Registration is free, ongoing and can be attended online or in person at our office in Okotoks, AB.  

Healing Group

Participants will explore topics and discuss & reflect on: Defining Abuse, Contributing Factors, Shifting the Blame, Power & Control, Self Intervention & Safety Building, etc. 

Starts Nov. 19 2026 - Feb. 18th 2027 (includes 2 weeks off at Christmas), 6-8pm every Thursday either in person at the Okotoks Pathways location or virtually. 

*Letters of completion will be provided to participants after course ends

Cool Down

A preventative option for individuals who are taking accountability and want to stop intimate partner violence. Pathways to Change can provide those wanting to access the cool down approach with a hotel stay for 2-5 nights, to remove themselves from an unhealthy situation. Participants will work with a Pathways to Change Outreach Worker on accountability planning that is centered on building safety.

For additional information please contact our 24-Hour Support Line 403-652-3311.

Caring Dads Group

Caring Dads exists to change current practice to better include fathers in efforts to enhance the safety and well-being of their children. Click on the link to continue reading below to understand our approach to gender-based violence and child maltreatment.

Starts Jan. 26, 2027. Group will run every Tuesday from 6-8pm for 17 weeks. 

Join virtually or in person at the PTC office.

Learn more about Caring Dads

Pathways to Change Rebrand - FAQs

Our Safe at Home program has a new name: Pathways to Change. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.

The short version: the name is new and some enhancements are being made to the program, but what you are working towards and the time towards that change remains the same.

  • The old name described a goal. The new name describes the work.

    Pathways to Change reflects what the program actually is: an active, chosen path toward accountability and healthier relationships. Change is possible, it takes real effort, and doing that work makes families and communities safer.

  • Just like any program or curriculum, updates are needed every so often. In addition to changing the name, Rowan House Society is implementing some enhancements to further support our program participants. The sessions, the group work, and the way the program runs are all the same. 

  • Not at all. The work you did still stands, and your completion is unchanged. If you ever refer to the program by name, it is simply now known as Pathways to Change.

  • Nothing. Keep attending the same sessions with the same people. You do not need to re-enroll, sign anything new, or change how you take part. If it helps, you can think of it as the same program you started, under its new name.

  • Because it names the journey rather than a single endpoint. There is no one moment where the work is “done” and handed to you, it is a path you choose to walk, step by step. The name is meant to reflect that effort and that choice.

  • No. Your privacy and confidentiality are protected exactly as before. The name change does not alter how your information is kept or who has access to it. Rowan House Society does not share that you are or were part of the program without your consent.

  • We are always glad to talk it through. Reach out to your facilitator directly, or contact Rowan House Society at 403-336-7151. You can also email us at angellad@rowanhouse.ca.

Pathways to Change and Caring Dads Registration Form

The Pathways to Change Program is made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Alberta.