The portion of the grant that goes to member agencies is evenly distributed among the five regions. It is specifically designated for the work that they do with and for CAEFS, and the agencies are accountable to CAEFS for that grant.

The Corporate and individual donations remains an important part of our budget and the Executive Director continues to work hard to seek other funding. On behalf of CAEFS, I am also pleased to be working with the “Women’s Future Fund”, a group of National Women’s organizations seeking secure funding through payroll deductions.

While our resources are continuously stretched to cover ever- expanding expectations, we look forward to new challenges as we fulfill our mandate to work with and on behalf of women who come into conflict with the law.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Priority Issues and Law Reform Initiatives

As we open this century, we continue to work with and on behalf of criminalized women in our efforts to realize our vision. We look forward to the closure of the Prison for Women in Kingston as well as the segregated maximum security units in men’s prisons, the development of community resources for women and the outflux of women from the regional prisons home to their children and communities of support.

While we closed the year, decade, century and millennium with the ever-present and persistent challenge of ensuring that women behind prison walls have access to justice, we nevertheless face the coming year with new hope, energy, ideas and enthusiasm. As the economic, social and political climate continues to produce ever more daunting challenges to the women with and on behalf of whom we work, we too find ourselves struggling at times to remain clear, united, strong and focussed on our mission and objectives.