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

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program name:

Children Who Witness Abuse

Organization:

Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace

Location:

Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Target Group:

Children and youth ages 3 – 18 and their caregivers.

Contact Name:

Lia Hetherington, Program Coordinator

Phone:

250-626-6057

Email:

cwwa.hgspeace@mhtv.ca

Website:

www.hgpeace.ca

Program Overview
History:

The Children Who Witness Abuse Program at Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace has been in operation since 2004.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To provide a safe and playful setting for young people to discuss their trauma and learn to manage their response to their exposure to women experiencing violence; to break the cycle of intergenerational violence; to develop parental awareness of how violence against women affects their children; and to raise community awareness through violence prevention education.

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

Elders and traditional artists assist the program as needed.

Components of program:

The program offers group and one on one counselling, a youth outreach service and organizes community education campaigns. The services provided also educate clients and the community on how violence impacts children and what the dimensions of a healthy relationship are. Elders and community artists also give of their time to work with the clients of the program.

Services/How they work:

Services are provided on site at the facility.

Funding:

The British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

Clients provide information on their goals, which helps to direct the types of programming that will be offered.

Partners:

School District 50; Haida Health Center; Elder's Center (Old Masset Village Council OMVC); and Northern Health, Haida Gwaii Recreation.

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

An evaluation has not been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

N/A

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success is measured by the levels of trust that are established between clients and staff members, and the continued enrolment of clients in the programs being offered.

Achievements:

Garnering community support, funding and referrals. The running of successful community education campaigns.

Challenges:

The staff's lack of experience and knowledge of the community (they are new to the area). The time it takes to garner funding takes away from time spent with the clients.

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The program is considered replicable. No advice given.

Resources:

Sufficient funding and properly trained staff are required for the program to be a success.