The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton was started as a volunteer organization over 46 years ago. The Society has since expanded, and although still relies heavily on volunteers, has over fifty full-time staff members and a number of contract staff. The Society’s head office is in Brampton, with satellite offices in Mississauga and Milton. E-Fry Peel-Halton also operates two residential facilities and the only two women only Attendance Centers in the Province.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton is a member agency of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, (C.A.E.F.S.), and there are twenty-six such sister agencies across Canada. Each one is completely autonomous with individual Board of Directors, Constitution, By-Laws and slate of programs.

We believe in:

• providing equality of opportunity
• the value of diversity
• the inherent right of individuals to make their own choices
• providing a non-judgmental environment that values every individual
• collaborative decision-making at all levels
• an integrated approach in working with our clients, their support systems and communities, using the least restrictive options
• active community participation

The way we work

As a social services agency, we have defined our “community” as being at several levels – 1, our client base; 2, the Peel and Halton communities; 3, the provincial judicial/correctional systems; and 4, the federal judicial/correctional systems. We have corresponding strategies in place to be relevant for each stakeholder group.

At Elizabeth Fry Society we recognize that each of our clients has very different needs, which are addressed by one or more of the Agency’s 18 programs.

These programs are designed to assist clients in developing:

• Responsibility for their own lives
• Respect for self and others
• Positive relations with family, friends and community
• Pro-social values
• Positive problem-solving and life skills

Our primary focus in all areas of endeavour is pro-active crime prevention, lower recidivism rates, and successful integration into the community as demonstrated through more socially-congruent behaviour.

Implicit in the concept of “community corrections” is the shaping of local response to crime. Anticipated is that communities, inclusive of criminal and social justice professionals, will work together to increase the use of effective and timely responses for those involved in criminal behaviours.

Funders

As a not-for-profit organization we are dependent on funding from a number of sources. Below are some of our key funders.