Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

Goals & Objectives:: To provide 24 hour family violence protection, treatment and prevention services.
Traditional/Indigenous ways:: All services involve customary teachings, Elder leadership and guidance and ceremony. Clients have access to a wide range of traditional teachings.
Components of program:: The program offers protection, safety, shelter and basic life necessities to women and children and outreach services to men. There is a 24 hour crisis support line. Programs include parenting, life skills, safety planning and follow up services such as family based support programs, which is a home based program specializing in parenting education services. The program provides referrals and follow-up social service programs and community education in family violence intervention, treatment and prevention through short and long term shelter stays.
Services/How they work:: Services are provided on site at the facility.
Funding:: Funding is provided by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Involvement of Target Groups:: Clients are consulted through evaluations and feedback forms to help design programming and healing plans.
Partners:: The Family Healing Centre partners with all Mi'kmaq service provider agencies and with provincial agencies that are concerned with domestic violence prevention and intervention.
Other relationships:: N/A

Measures of Success:: Success is measured by the levels of participation in the programs offered and against client feedback and post treatment drop in meetings.
Achievements:: The programs adapt to community needs and desires and have effectively helped families live together in healing ways without violence.
Challenges:: Obtaining funding. The high turnover rate of staff has been a challenge. There has been difficulty in hiring qualified Mi'kmaw personnel.

Replication Advice:: The program is considered replicable. Working collaboratively with Aboriginal justice service providers' helps to create programs that can deliver holistic healing plans that treat the whole family, and are inclusive of both abusers and their victims.
Resources:: Adequate funding, properly trained staff and facility space for the programming would be necessary to ensure the program's success.