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Innovative Approaches to Addressing Family Violence |
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In the 1970s, social advocates began to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of family violence. In part, this involved rallying community and state support to develop crisis shelters and counselling services. Since then, services have become more specialized to respond to the unique needs of various marginalized groups, including Aboriginal peoples, at the same time as becoming increasingly coordinated in recognition of the complexity of the issue. The September edition of the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) E-Bulletin highlights some of the new and innovative approaches to addressing family violence being applied in Canada. The NCFV E-Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter for those interested in family violence prevention. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on behalf of the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada. We want to hear from you! Please send your comments and feedback to our editor at: 
Competition Showcases the World’s Most Innovative Domestic Violence Prevention Programs In January 2007, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) launched the competition No Private Matter! Ending Abuse in Intimate and Family Relations, to find the world’s most innovative programs to prevent domestic violence. The online competition, run through www.changemakers.net, received 242 submissions from organizations in 46 countries world-wide. A panel of judges selected 12 finalists, including two from Canada, who were deemed to be leading, effective and sustainable domestic violence prevention programs. Three organizations were chosen as the official winners of the competition:
More information on the competition, its applicants and finalists is available at: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/endabuse
Three Innovative Approaches to Addressing Family Violence, funded by Status of Women Canada (SWC) Through the Women's Program and its two components, the Women's Community Fund and the Women's Partnership Fund, SWC plays a vital role in supporting the work of women's and other Canadian organizations. Here are three projects that demonstrate how community organizations are developing innovative ways to address family violence. In 2006-07, the Women’s Program funded a project of two partner organizations – Public Legal Education and Information Service in New Brunswick and Gignoo House, the only Aboriginal transition house in the province – to empower New Brunswick Aboriginal women, youth and their families who are dealing with violence in their relationships to identify solutions. To do this, they developed a bilingual toolkit, "The Healing Journey: Family Violence Prevention in Aboriginal Communities", which includes a variety of culturally appropriate prevention and intervention resources. See the toolkit at http://www.thehealingjourney.ca/ The second project also involved creating specialized services, in this case for women who newly immigrated to Canada. The Redwood Shelter of Toronto recently received $180,200, through SWC, for the Women Move Forward project. This project addresses the barriers preventing newcomer/immigrant women and their children from accessing violence against women services and aims to develop transition models that effectively support community reintegration. Links will be made with community agencies to assist women in re-attaining economic and emotional independence, and workshops will be provided to these agencies about the specific needs of newcomer/immigrant women fleeing abuse. An advisory committee will oversee the project and develop culturally appropriate tools and best practice models, which will be shared with other agencies serving immigrant women. The third project involves enhancing coordination and collaboration between existing services, a growing trend in service provision across the country. SWC recently announced funding of $1.1 million over three years to the Edmonton Domestic Violence Centre Initiative, a collaborative initiative with Catholic Social Services, Edmonton Police Services and six other partners comprising the Edmonton Domestic Violence Centre Board. The Centre has also received $6.6 million from other sources to carry out this innovative service delivery pilot project. Partner staff from the City of Edmonton Community Services, Edmonton Police Service, Catholic Social Services, the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Edmonton John Howard Society will co-locate at the Centre when it opens. Their work will be guided by protocols that enable the various organizations to, with the client’s permission, share information and collaborate to provide effective, comprehensive support services for those affected by family violence. These are some of the family violence projects funded by SWC. For more information, please visit: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.
The NCFV offers over 130 publications, including overview papers, reports, discussion papers and handbooks on family violence issues. To preview our most recent publications, please see our What's New page. NCFV publications are available free of charge, in hard copy or online, in English and French and in alternative formats. To order, please visit our Web site or contact us.
The NCFV provides an extensive library reference collection, housed in the Health Canada Departmental Library. The following books may be borrowed through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library: Resources on Innovative Approaches to Addressing Family Violence: Abuse and neglect of vulnerable adult populations, by Joanne Marlatt Otto, Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute, 2005, 464 p. Addressing domestic violence as a barrier to work: Building collaborations between domestic violence service providers and employment services agencies, by Lise McKean, Chicago: Center for Impact Research, 2004, 31 p. Addressing family violence: peace begins at home, by Halte-Femmes Montréal-Nord Best practices: innovative domestic violence programs in health care settings, by the Family Violence Prevention Fund. San Francisco: Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1997, 33 p. Beyond common sense: child welfare, child well-being, and the evidence for policy reform, Childhood maltreatment, by Christine Wekerle, Alec L. Miller, David A. Wolfe and Carrie B. Spindel. Toronto, ON: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers, 2006, 85 p. Commercial sexual exploitation: innovative ideas for working with children and youth, Compendium of promising crime prevention practices in Canada, by Wanda Jamieson and Liz Hart; Caledon Institute of Social Policy, Ottawa: Caledon Institute of Social Policy, 2003, 63 p. Creating healthy personal relationships: an information booklet for Aboriginal women, by Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick. Fredericton: Public Legal Education and Information Services of New Brunswick, 2005, 17 p. Domestic violence and child protection: directions for good practice, by Catherine Humphreys and Nicky Stanley, London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006, 224 p. Domestic violence: guidelines for research-informed practice, by John P. Vincent and Ernest N. Jouriles, London : Jessica Kingsley Pulishers, 2000, 208 p. Effective practices in sheltering women: leaving violence in intimate relationships, by Leslie M. Tutty for the YWCA of Canada, Toronto: YWCA Canada, 2006 Elder abuse prevention: emerging trends and promising strategies, by Lisa Nerenberg, Elder abuse work: best practice in Britain and Canada, edited by Jacki Pritchard, Enhancing the well-being of children and families through effective interventions, edited by Colette McAuley, Peter J. Pecora, and Wendy Rose, London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006, 383 p. Evidence-based practice manual: research and outcome measures in health and human services, by Albert R. Roberts and Kenneth Yeager, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2004, 1050 p. Fifty strategies to prevent violent domestic crimes, by the National Crime Prevention Council (United States), Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council, 1999, 144 p. Helping abused children and their families: towards an evidence-based practice model, by Chris Trotter, Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2004, 188 p. Helping children with aggression and conduct problems: best practices for intervention, by Michael L. Bloomquist, and Steven V. Schnell. New York: Guilford Press, 2002, 418 p. High risk project evaluation report, by Amani El Jack, Toronto: The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto, 2008, 34 p. An overview of differential response models (CECW information sheet 4), by Nico Trocmé, Theresa Knott, and Della Knoke; Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (Canada) Preventing violence against girls: should programs be gender-specific, Collection Réflexions 18, by Sylvie Normandeau, Montréal: Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la violence familiale et la violence faite aux femmes (cri-viff), 2007, 94 p. Preventing crime: what works for children, offenders, victims and places, edited by Brandon Welsh and David P. Farrington, Dordrecht : Springer-Verlag, 2006, 243 p. Preventing violence: research and evidence-based intervention strategies, edited by John R. Lutzker, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006, 331 p. PRISM: Probing Rural Issues - Selecting methods to address abuse of women and girls: evaluating 'better' practices and reflexive approaches, by Elizabeth Blaney, Fredericton : Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research, 2004, 162 p. Promotion of family wellness and prevention of child maltreatment: which programs are effective? (CECW information sheet 17), by Jennifer MacLeod, Geoffrey Brian Nelson and Sonia Desmarais, Montreal : Université de Montréal, École de service social; Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, 2004, 2 p. Spousal violence against women: Preventing recurrence, by Bing Guo and Christa Harstall for the Institute of Health Economics (Alberta), Edmonton: Institute of Health Economics, 2008 Violence prevention toolkit (NWAC Youth Council), by the Native Women's Association of Canada. Ohsweken, ON: Native Women's Association of Canada, 2007 In collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, the NCFV offers a vast collection of videos that address family violence. Videos may be borrowed through NFB partner public libraries across Canada or through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library. To obtain a complete list of videos, libraries and distributors, please contact us or vist our online video catalogue. Recent additions to the Video Collection: Hero In the Shadows The play, Hero In the Shadows, features a high school student, Tallie, in distress as she routinely witnesses domestic violence in her home. Her father harasses and insults her mother – and the abuse becomes physical. Tallie's older brother, Garret, is showing signs he's picking up on his father's abusive tendencies as he becomes increasingly possessive and controlling of his girlfriend. Beyond confiding in her stuffed toy rabbit, Tallie feels she has nowhere to turn. She becomes withdrawn in class, causing her teacher, unaware of Tallie's tough home life, to dismiss her attitude as simply a lack of motivation. In the play's final act, it is the same teacher that once scolded Tallie who consoles her as she reveals she was hit by her father, finding the courage to seek help to break the cycle of abuse in her home. (2007) What everyone should know about woman abuse The Neighbours, Friends and Families video provides critical information about how neighbours, friends and families are impacted by woman abuse. Thoughtful commentary from members of the Neighbours, Friends and Families Expert Panel illustrates the importance of community-based strategies for ending woman abuse. (2006)
September 4 to 7, 2008 – Shaping Tomorrow Today: International Federation on Ageing (IFA) 9th Global Conference on Ageing, Montreal, QC http://www.ageingdesignmontreal.ca/en/intro.php September 6 to 11, 2008 – 46th International Association of Women Police Conference, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia September 7 to 10, 2008 – XVIIth ISPCAN International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect “Towards a Caring and Non-Violent Community: A Child’s Perspective,” Hong Kong, China September 8 to 9, 2008 – The Third International Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference 2008 ‘Building Healthy Communities: North and South’, Auckland, New Zealand September 8 to 11, 2008 – 1st World Conference for Women’s Shelters, Discovering the Common Core: Practical Frameworks for Change, Edmonton, AB September 12 to 13, 2008 – 13th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, San Diego, California September 14 to 17, 2008 – 4th International Conference on Special Needs Offenders, Niagara Falls, ON September 19 to 22, 2008 – “Perspectives on Social Capital and Social Inclusion”, Buggiba, Malta September 29 to October 1, 2008 – The 8th World Indigenous Women & Wellness Conference, Calgary, AB September 29 to October 1, 2008 – World Forum 2008 Early Intervention and Prevention, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom October is Child Abuse Awareness Month. See Canadian Red Cross site at: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=14799&tid=001 October 1 to 3, 2008 – Ending Violence Against Children in Juvenile Justice Systems: From Words to Action, Brussels, Belgium October 4 to 7, 2008 – 18th Annual National Conference on Domestic Violence. San Diego, California October 5 to 8, 2008 – Seventh North American Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome, Vancouver, BC October 11 to 13, 2008 – Waves of Resistance: Pan-Canadian Young Feminist Gathering!, Montreal, QC October 12-18, 2008 – YWCA Week Without Violence: October 16 to 18, 2008 – Ophea’s Kids’ Health Conference—Building Active Healthy School Communities, Alliston, ON October 20 to 23, 2008 – 17th International Safe Communities Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand October 21 to 22, 2008 – 2008 Joint Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse/Ontario Community Support Association (ONPEA/OCSA) Conference, Toronto, ON October 22 to 24, 2008 – Father Involvement Research Conference 2008: Diversity. Visibility. Community, Toronto, ON October 26 to 29, 2008 – 15th Canadian Conference on International Health, Ottawa, ON November 6 to 7, 2008 – RESOLVE National Research Day 2008, Winnipeg, MB November 12 to 14, 2008 – ICPC’s 8th Annual Colloquium on Crime Prevention: Women’s Safety: A Shared Global Concern, Queretaro, Qro. Mexico November 14 to 17, 2008 – The Power of Movements (World YWCA),Cape Town, South Africa November 19 to 20, 2008 – Child Sexual Abuse: Advances in Specialised Interventions, Victoria, BC November 19 to 21, 2008 – 2008 BC Injury Prevention Conference: “Partnering with the Public for Injury Prevention,” Vancouver, BC November 20 to 21, 2008 – Reaching Out to Vulnerable Families: Achieving Better Outcomes for Children, Melbourne, Australia December 3 to 5, 2008 – International conference on homicide: domestic related homicide, Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise, Australia
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) – Family Violence Prevention Program for First Nations The Family Violence Prevention Program provides abuse prevention and protection services for Indian children and their families resident on reserve. The anticipated results are a reduction in family violence and a more secure family environment for children on-reserve. Specifically, INAC provides:
For further information on the First Nations Family Violence Program in your community, contact your nearest regional office.
Introducing Dr. Jane Ursel Dr. Jane Ursel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Manitoba and the Director of RESOLVE, a tri-provincial family violence research network with offices at the Universities of Manitoba, Regina and Calgary. Dr. Ursel has been working on the issue of family violence − both at the academic and community level − for over two decades. During this time, she has played an instrumental role in developing and monitoring Winnipeg’s Family Violence Court, the first of its kind in Canada. Dr. Ursel co-edited, with Leslie Tutty and Janice le Maistre, a book on specialized courts entitled, What's Law Got To Do With It? The Law, Specialized Courts and Domestic Violence in Canada. For the publication date of this book and a list of all the books in the RESOLVE series see: http://www.umanitoba.ca/resolve/publications/index.shtml. Dr. Ursel also authored a piece on the justice response to family violence in Canada, published in RESOLVE’s February 2008 Newsletter, where she noted that ongoing studies of specialized courts suggest that they are a more effective form of intervention than general criminal courts. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator for the Winnipeg Family Violence Court longitudinal study, which is in its 18th year of data collection. Data from this research have been used to enhance training of justice personnel, and to inform provincial criminal justice policy. Dr. Ursel is also the Principal Investigator of The Healing Journey: A Longitudinal Study of Women Who have Experienced Violence in their Intimate Relations (funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada - Community University Research Alliance). Across the three Prairie Provinces, 654 women in 39 cities and towns are participating in this study, which aims to identify effective interventions and to explore the differential roles played by formal and informal interventions. Dr. Ursel has served as an expert witness at two inquiries into domestic murder suicides: the Iles-May Inquest (Toronto, 1998) and the Rhonda and Roy Lavoie Inquiry (Winnipeg, 1996). She has spoken on domestic violence internationally in China, Australia, the U.S. and England as well as across Canada. Dr. Ursel will be presenting at RESOLVE’s annual Research Day, scheduled for November 6th and 7th in Winnipeg. For more information, please visit: http://www.umanitoba.ca/resolve/meetings/researchday/index.html or call (204) 474-8979. Organizational Profile: Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter (CWES) is the largest agency in Western Canada focused on family violence. CWES opened as Calgary’s first emergency shelter in 1974, and assists 12,000 Calgarians each year on their journey to live free of violence. Their goals are to support victims of family violence and to eliminate family violence in the larger community. In The Next Edition: The NCFV’s November E-bulletin will focus on family violence and health. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Content of the NCFV E-Bulletin is provided as an information-sharing service; inclusion does not represent endorsement by the PHAC or FVI member departments. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PASS IT ON: Please feel free to forward this E-Bulletin to a friend or colleague. Past bulletins can be viewed and searched on our website. To subscribe or unsubscribe: |
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