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

Family Violence Interventions

Program name:

Family Violence Program

Organization:

Prince Albert Grand Council Woman's Commission

Location:

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Target Group:

Women, their families and women's partners

Contact Name:

Candace Constant, Family Violence Coordinator

Phone:

306-765-5305

Email:

cmcleod@pagc.sk.ca

Website:

www.pagc.sk.ca

Program Overview
History:

The program was founded in 2003 and has been ongoing since that time. The program seeks to assist and support First Nation families; with a particular focus on women and children.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To deliver a community based wellness program to assist families from the twelve First Nation communities of the Prince Albert Grand Council; to provide support services to the whole family unit including parents, partners and extended family members in a non-threatening manner; to work with First Nation communities to increase their capacity to address domestic violence issues; and to work with community members to develop domestic violence prevention policies and procedures.

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

These are provided upon request from individual clients. They are not mandatory for the program but made available if requested.

Components of program:

The program seeks to increase the public's awareness of the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal people. The program organizes an annual walk that honours the memory of those murdered or missing. It seeks to provide support services and advocacy to victims' families and to work with community members to develop domestic violence prevention policies and procedures. The program assists women in escaping violent relationships. Another activity of the program is to make presentations in the Saskatchewan River School Division and at the twelve First Nations communities.

Services/How they work:

Services are offered in the community at events that are organized and on the internet as a forum base.

Funding:

Funding is received from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice.

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

The program works directly with the twelve surrounding FN communities at the request of those communities.

Partners:

N/A

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

No evaluation has been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

N/A

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success is measured against monthly statistics and the number of requests for services that a staff member receives to provide to communities. Success is also measured based upon participant feedback and whether the program was able to provide them with relevant services.

Achievements:

The program organizes an annual Honouring Our Sisters and Brothers Walk. Originally, it started with a walk for the missing and murdered Aboriginal women, but last year it was for all missing Aboriginal women and men. A call goes out to First Nations communities for names of who they want honoured in the walk, which occurs every June in the city of Prince Albert. The Walk has been ongoing since 2004.

Challenges:

The lack of referrals to the program limits the amount of clients the program is able to help.

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

If program is replicated the cultural component must be considered very carefully as every community has its own unique cultural identity. Any program must respect this fact and tailor its services toward the community's needs. Community involvement would be essential to success of such a program.

Resources:

Funding and qualified staffing would be essential to program success.