Family Violence Initiative
COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS
INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES
Raising Awareness in Broader Community
- Program name:
Violence Prevention Labrador
- Organization:
Violence Prevention Labrador
- Location:
Fortreau, Newfoundland
- Target Group:
Social Service Providers
- Contact Name:
Carmen Hancock
- Phone:
709-931-2600
- Email:
- Website:
Program Overview
- History:
The program began in 2000. The mandate established at the time was to be one of ten regional coordinating committees serving all of Labrador, and this has not changed. However, the outreach to the communities to be served in the mandate has evolved. As a result the coalition has become much more reflective of the profile of Labrador, covering many remote communities as well as the two major centres, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Labrador City.
Program Description
- Goals & Objectives:
To establish a communications network among organizations and communities in all regions of Labrador that provides advocacy, service and education on issues of violence.
- Traditional/Indigenous ways:
This coalition does not have a deliberate indigenous focus. Therefore, this aspect is not specifically addressed. There are members of the coalition who represent indigenous organizations. Through regional consultations, Violence Prevention Labrador established clear regional priorities that were identified within multiple communities. The need for Elder role models in communities has been identified, the need to educate community with regard to violence, translation of resource materials, the use of local radio and media to build awareness, etc. Key materials, such as 'Photo Voices Project', which is stories of victims affected by violence translated into three Indigenous languages. This is a direct result from a request by Innu and Inuit communities during consultations. If specific traditional and Indigenous ways of healing are used, it happens with activities funded through outreach grants.
- Components of program:
It offers service providers programming such as: one day training sessions regarding the root causes of violence, stereotyping, and gender issues. Group facilitated sessions are also made available to the RCMP, government departments, shelter workers, youth oriented programmes and others. The program offers virtual access and support in the form of a Virtual Conversation Cafe where experts can be asked for advice and mentoring online which helps remove geographic barriers to learning. There is also a network created to help grass roots organizations obtain funding for their programs.
- Services/How they work:
Services are offered on site in participating communities.
- Funding:
Funding is provided by the province's Violence Prevention initiative; the Department of Justice; Canadian Women's Foundation; the National Chapter of Canada IODE 100th Anniversary Grant to Alleviate Child Abuse & Neglect; National Victims of Crime Awareness Week Funding; Rural Partnership Development Program; the Department of the Status of Women Canada; the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Grants Program; IGA Grenfell funding; New Horizons for Seniors; and Northern Regional Wellness Coalition Grants.
Relationships and Stakeholders
- Involvement of Target Groups:
The outreach to remote and rural parts of Labrador has allowed the coordinator to establish more direct relationships with communities. It has developed stronger working relationships with key members of the various communities, enabling an understanding of the individual issues of each community and support of the local community organizations. The coalition is focusing on capacity building, drawing on regional consultation with service providers, enabling identification of what has happened in the community for violence prevention locally. There are representatives from each of the Aboriginal Governments as part of the Coalition Membership.
- Partners:
the Department of Education, Department of Health and Community Services, Child, Youth, and Family Services, Churchill Falls Health Centre, Department of Justice Victim Services, RCMP, RNC, Human Resources and Labour Employment, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Nunatsiavut Health and Social Development, Libra House, Hope Haven (Women's Shelter), Labrador Legal Services, Community Youth Network, Labrador Métis Nation
- Other relationships:
Local community partners.
Details of Program Evaluation
- Evaluation:
No evaluation has been completed. This is the last year of the second 6 year strategy with the Violence Prevention Initiative. In 2012 evaluations will take place throughout the province with all stakeholders and community partners, including the 10 Regional Coordinating Committees. The Violence Prevention Initiative has conducted an in-depth provincial household attitudinal survey to measure public awareness and attitudes toward violence and abuse in the province. The information collected will help improve the provincial government's violence prevention efforts throughout NL. Individual grants have specific evaluation expectations. There is a plan to do a small survey with youth about the Yes means Yes campaign once it is in place in schools.
- Highlights of Evaluation Findings:
N/A
Program Outcomes
- Measures of Success:
Success is measured based upon the target populations' understanding of the key messages focused on. For example, the Yes Means Yes youth program seeks to provide youth with an understanding of how to communicate to get consent, and their understanding of what that means, and the right to sexuality without violence.
- Achievements:
Reaching farther into the remote communities in Labrador. The work of the coalition was initially focused on central Labrador. The coalition is now connecting with more remote communities. Collaborating more with Aboriginal community based organizations.
- Challenges:
Geography – the north coast has many fly-in remote communities within the Nunatsiavut Land Claim area; a diverse demographic make-up; a transient population.
Things to Know to Replicate
- Replication Advice:
The program is considered replicable. It is very important for coalition work to be visibly connected with all communities, including the most remote. The travel grants have enabled this, and have facilitated the success of broadening the reach of the coalition. It is important to identify both the unique aspects, and the common presences in all communities. The RCMP is present in all communities. Nunatsiavut has Department of Health and Social Development Offices, and then also access schools, Government service offices, Health clinics, Family Resource Centers, and Community Youth Networks. That is, as a regional coalition, representation to the coalition must come from upper levels of the regional organizations. People who can make things happen need to be present at the coalition.
- Resources:
Adequate funding will need to be acquired to make the project feasible considering the amount of travel needed to reach outlying communities effectively.
- Date modified: