Family Violence Initiative

Lessons Learned from Projects Funded Through the Family Violence Initiative 1998/99 to 2002/03

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APPENDIX B: Profiles of Selected Projects 1998/99-2002/03

Overview

This Appendix provides a descriptive overview of each project that was reviewed for this study. The projects are presented according to their topic areas, in the following order:

Children and Youth:

Eight projects that address topics related to child abuse and to the abuse of youth and related impacts.

Women, and Women and Children:

Five projects that address topics related to domestic violence against women, and violence against women and their children.

Men:

One project that addresses the treatment of men who batter.

Elders:

Two projects that address the topic of elder abuse.

A Note on Information Sources

The information contained in each field is based on the following sources:

Project Sponsors:

Project Sponsors are the organizations that received DOJ FVI funding to carry out the Project. In cases where individuals who were responsible for leading the project had left the organization, we spoke with their replacement.

Project Description:

The Project Description information is primarily based on information contained in the DOJ Project Control System (PCS), supplemented with information obtained from a review of the Project file and final report and, where possible, confirmed through interviews with the Project Sponsor and Project Partners.

Funding:

DOJ FVI funding information is based on information contained in PCS. Information on other funding sources is typically identified at the proposal stage. It is sometimes challenging to determine from the project file (beyond the DOJ FVI funding) the amounts of other funding actually secured by the project. Where possible, we have confirmed the funding information through interviews with Project Sponsors, however it was difficult to recall this information precisely. While we are relatively confident of the accuracy of this information, the figures should be treated as estimates.

Project Partners:

We have tried to distinguish Project Funders (above) from Project Partners, which are defined as organizations that actively participated in some aspect(s) of the planning and implementation of the Project. Typically, Project Partners are identified at the proposal stage, however who they are, and the nature of their participation may change once a project is approved and implemented. Where possible we have identified Project Partners and confirmed the nature of their participation through our interviews.

Project Results:

This field includes information on the immediate results of the project, as contained in Project final reports (and, where available, evaluations). Where possible, we have clarified and/or confirmed the key results through interviews with Project Sponsors.

Project Status:

This field includes an update on what has happened since the Project was brought to a conclusion. It is based on information that was provided through Project Sponsor and Project Partner interviews, in some cases supplemented with further documentation provided by the Project Sponsor or contained on the organization's website.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination:

This field includes information on whether (and if so how and to whom) the final products of the Project were disseminated. It also notes if the products are currently available (for example, through websites).

Contribution to Practice:

This information is based on information provided in the DOJ analysis of Project reports and evaluations, and on information provided by key informants.

Lessons Learned:

This information is based on lessons learned information provided in Project reports and evaluations and through key informant interviews.

Contact:

Contact information includes the current director of the organization sponsoring the project, and contact information as of April 2004.

A.S.A.P. Project (A School-Based Anti-Violence Program)
Project Sponsor: The Kingston Learning Centre (KLC)
Year: FY 2001/02

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI supported a pilot project to train and certify Educational Assistants as family violence facilitators in their school communities.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to train and certify Educational Assistants located in Eastern Ontario as family violence facilitators who could then act as resource persons and provide workshops on family violence prevention in their school communities. KLC conducted a three-day training workshop at each of its six campuses, in Belleville, Brockville, Kingston, Renfrew, Russell and Smith Falls, Ontario.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $23,637. There were no other funders.

Project Partners: There were no formal partners in this initiative, although after starting this initiative, KLC partnered with E.V.A.C. (End Violence Against Children).

Project Results: A total of 102 Education Assistants were trained and certified. The participant workshop evaluations indicated that the workshops were highly successful.

Project Status: KLC was unable to secure funding to expand delivery beyond the pilot project. Since then, it has integrated certain aspects of the workshop curriculum into a unit within its Educational Assistant diploma program. An estimated 300 individuals have been trained in this unit, however they do not receive a specialized certification as family violence facilitators.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: KLC has integrated some of the original workshop materials into its Educational Assistant Curriculum.

Contribution to Practice: This project has made Educational Assistants more aware of family violence issues as they affect children, and better prepared them to deal with family violence related matters, which they may encounter within the school environment. It has informed them about how to access resources in their area.

Lessons Learned: An interactive curriculum is a very appropriate way to impart knowledge and information about family violence. Participants are not immune from family violence in their own personal lives and a key lesson is the importance of having support available for those participating in the training.

Contact:
Director
Kingston Learning Centre
Tel: 613-384-6194
Fax: 613-384-9459
Website: www.kingstonlearningcentre.ca

Let's Talk About Touching (LTAT): An Inclusive Sexual Abuse Prevention Program for Children Ages 3.5 – 6 Years
Project Sponsor:Vancouver School Board (School District #39)
Year: FY 2000/2001

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI supported the development of the second edition of "Let's Talk about Touching" (LTAT), a child sexual abuse prevention educational resource that was initially developed in 1986.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to revise the "Let's Talk About Touching" (LTAT) curriculum and related train-the-trainer materials in accordance with the recommendations from a 1992 evaluation of the program. LTAT is a community-based child sexual abuse prevention program that is designed to teach young children (age 3.5 to 6 years) basic safety concepts and skills that can help protect them from sexual abuse. It also educates parents and caregivers to enhance their ability to keep children safe. The development of the second edition of the curriculum was a project within the first phase of a larger initiative to expand delivery of this training throughout British Columbia. The initiative is now in its third phase.

The second edition of the curriculum was published in 2001. It reflects current educational practice and legislation regarding child abuse, and is designed to be more responsive to the need of a diverse population of children and families. The curriculum is designed for use in early childhood education centres and kindergarten classrooms. It is part of a larger LTAT kit, which includes other teaching tools, including a CD. Educators must participate in the LTAT training program before delivering the program.

Funding: The DOJ FVI contributed $15,000 towards revising and updating the curriculum and train-the-trainer components. Other funders included: the National Crime Prevention Centre ($50,000 towards research and resource production); the Vancouver School Board (in-kind human resources and administrative support and printing and warehousing of materials); the British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General ($13,000, which included resources to produce a CD); the Vancouver Police Union Charitable Foundation ($5,000); and the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia (in-kind resources).

Project Partners: A range of organizations worked on this project in an advisory capacity, including: the Child Care Resource and Referral Program; B.C. Association of Child Care Services; Westcoast Multicultural and Diversity Services; Western Canada Family Child Care Association of B.C; and the Vancouver Police Union Charitable Foundation. In addition, a number of professionals working with children and families in educational and health settings contributed their insights to the project.

Project Results: The LTAT has become revitalized through the production of a comprehensive, up-to-date curriculum and train-the-trainer materials. The LTAT program manual now includes nine lesson plans and a variety of resource materials in English, French, Chinese, Serbo-Croatian, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese that can be photocopied for family members.

Project Status: In Phase II of this initiative, the curriculum and training materials were pilot tested and refined. Phase III, which is currently underway, is focused on training trainers to expand the program to the early childhood education community in other parts of the province. It is being administered by the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia (ECBC). Recently, within the provincial school districts, a partnership has formed with Options for Sexual Health to have its educators provide classroom support, with training beginning in May 2004. The project advisory group is no longer active, however a smaller interagency steering committee to oversee program implementation has been created and consults with other players as needed.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The LTAT curriculum is only available to individuals who undertake the training. Information about the LTAT has been published in various early childhood education journals and newsletters and has been presented at education and child abuse prevention conferences.

Contribution to Practice: This project rekindled interest in addressing child sexual abuse prevention by creating a state-of-the-art resource that is inclusive of all children. It helped to strength awareness within the early childhood education field about sexual abuse prevention and its impacts on children's health and to ensure that educators are aware of legislation related to this issue, and have a better sense of community resources to address it.

Lessons Learned: Having a broad, high-profile advisory group was particularly well worth the effort as it enabled the project to consider a variety of perspectives on a topic that has widespread implications. It also provided an opportunity for organizations to become better informed about the issues and to share that information within their own organizations. There are, however, timing and logistics challenges in bringing together such a large group.

Contact:
District Learning Services
School District # 39 (Vancouver)
Tel: 604-713-5000 ext 5204
Fax: 604-713-5244

Coordinator
Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia
Tel: 604-709-6063
Fax: 604-709-5662
Toll free: 800-797-5602
Website: www.cfc-efc.ca

Keeping Kids Safe: A Victim-Centered Approach for Managing Child Sexual Offenders
Project Sponsor: Yukon Justice, Keeping Kids Safe Working Group
Year: FY 1996/97

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI supported the development of components of the "Keeping Kids Safe" Master Plan for the Yukon.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to support a community consultation and profile process to assess the specific needs and unique strengths of each Yukon community in relation to the territory's Keeping Kids Safe Strategy, a multidisciplinary strategy for responding to and preventing child sexual abuse in the Yukon. The Keeping Kids Safe Strategy focused on creating safer environments for children, and included: a plan for a Community Safety Program to encourage communities to incorporate prevention and intervention strategies into educational and recreational programs for children; a Risk Management Teams Program to addresses risk posed by known offenders under justice system authority; and a Family Based Monitoring Program to identify families with children most at risk.

Funding: The DOJ FVI contributed $6,484 to this project to defray the costs of the consultations associated with the development of community profiles. Other funders contributing to the overall initiative included: Yukon Justice (amount not specified); Correctional Service of Canada ($20,000); RCMP ($10,000); and the Keeping Kids Safe Working Group ($4,500).[12]

Partners: Representatives from the Yukon Territorial Government, Mental Health Services and the Council for Yukon First Nations were represented on the working committee for the initiative, and hence for this Project.

Project Results: Consultations were held with front-line resource providers in the following fourteen communities: Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson, Faro, Haines Junction, Kwanlin Dun, Mayo, Old Crow, Ross River, Pelly Crossing, Ta'an Kwach'an, Teslin, Two Mile and Watson Lake. The project provided community profiles and identified community-level training needs related to each area.

Project Status: DOJ FVI funded a specific project within a broader initiative. It appears that the overall initiative was not implemented as originally envisioned, although elements of this strategy are reported to have been integrated into other activities within the territory.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The project results were designed to inform further development of the Strategy.

Contribution to Practice: This project provided information about community capacity, to feed into the broader initiative.

Lessons Learned: We were unable to interview the original project contact and therefore we did not identify any specific lessons learned.

Contact:
Director
Community and Correctional Services
Department of Justice, Yukon Government
Tel: 867-667-8293
Fax: 867-667-8293
Website: www.gov.yk.ca

Giving Children Hope
Project Sponsor: The Family Centre of Winnipeg
Year: FY 1998/1999 and 1999/00

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI supported a pilot project to provide a specialized counselling program to meet the needs of children and parents involved in high conflict divorce situations.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to determine if a therapeutic intervention for children and parents involved in high conflict divorce situations could reduce the negative impacts of these situations that put children at risk and that result in long-term legal, social and economic burdens on both family members and the community. The program was based on a treatment model developed by Dr. Janet Johnston.[13] The parents' component of the project was designed to increase parents' understanding of the effects of their disputes on their children and assist them to help their children develop positive emotional attitudes and coping mechanisms.[14] The children's component was designed to help them deal with the issues related to: witnessing — and being caught in the middle of — their parents' conflicts; parent-child conflicts; and dealing with sadness, anxiety, withdrawal, acting-out behaviours and peer disruptions related to the family situation.[15]

Funding: The DOJ provided approximately $20,000 towards this pilot. The United Way of Winnipeg and the Sill Foundation ($10,000) also contributed to this project. The total cost of the project over two years was estimated at $100,000.

Project Partners: The Family Service Centre of Winnipeg administered the project, with clinical consultation/advice from the Winnipeg Divorce Service Providers Committee, comprised of individuals from five to six key agencies in the City of Winnipeg that offer family and child-oriented services.

Project Results: Between 1998 and 2000, the "Giving Children Hope" pilot project provided treatment for a total of 24 children and their families, and found that the treatment model was effective with clients meeting the program criteria. There was significant co-parenting improvement, resulting in positive outcomes for the children in 16 of the 20 families participating in the group program (work was continuing with two families, and two families had been referred to other services as their needs were beyond the scope and resources of this program). The children's groups were also reported to have provided a helpful and positive therapeutic experience for the children.

A formative evaluation, which was based on case studies of ten families involved in the program, also identified positive program outcomes and benefits, and lends support to the treatment model. A summative evaluation of a full-scale trial of the program was recommended.

Project Status: This program is now in its third year of operation. An estimated 108 families have participated in this program since its inception. The project has remained temporary and experimental. It continues to operate on the basis of project funding[16] and its future is uncertain. The committee linked to this project, which started out as an informal group, has become somewhat more formalized (although membership is still voluntary and individuals participate with the approval of their agencies, but aren't officially appointed to the committee). Further research on this model is nearing completion.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The program has been promoted at the community level and the formative evaluation research reports were disseminated to funders.

Contribution to Practice: This project has helped to raise awareness of the issues facing families in high-conflict divorce situations within the community of service providers. It has contributed to the identification and testing of appropriately structured intervention strategies to address the needs of both parents and children (and, it is hoped, reduce the negative impacts and prevent conflict from escalating). There remains a large gap in the delivery of services to this specific population. Giving Children Hope is believed to be one of the only Canadian intervention programs to deal with families experiencing problems in high-conflict divorce situations.

Lessons Learned: The project experienced a number of challenges at the outset, including requiring sufficient time to implement the project, establish an appropriate referral and screening process, and promote it within the community (it took until the second year of operation to achieve the goal of treating 20 families but, by the end of the pilot project, there were 60 families on the waiting list). Having a community committee involved helped to establish connections and obtain appropriate referrals, and has contributed to the ongoing development of the program. As a program such as this evolves over time, it is important to have clarity about the role of, and expectations for, such a committee. Sustainability remains an ongoing issue.

Contact:
Coordinator
Tel: 204-947-1401
Fax: 204-947-2128
Website: n/a

Network Buffet Manual and Video
Project Sponsor: National Youth in Care Network
Year: FY 1998/99

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided support for the development of two resources — a video and a manual — designed to help young people who are or have been in care to establish networks in their own communities.

Project Description: The purpose of the project was to develop two resources — a video and manual — to be used as a follow-up resource to the NYICN's Network Buffet Workshop series, a five-day event, which was held in Cape Breton in June 1998. The purpose of the resources was to capture the expertise of youth who participated in the Buffet; to share this experience with other youth in care who did not attend the event; and to motivate and inspire others to undertake innovative, proactive and youth-driven work in their own communities.

This project was initially designed to help start and strengthen local and provincial networks of youth in care. These networks are peer support mechanisms for youth in care, many of whom need to heal from trauma and/or abuse and regain control over their lives. Through the networks, youth learn how to advocate for themselves and how to access community resources. They can encourage opportunities for healing, skills building, education and employment, and they can provide a sense of family.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $45,000 towards this project. Several foundations (J.W. McConnell Family Foundation ($6,000); Laidlaw Foundation ($15,000); and the Atkinson Foundation ($20,000.00) also supported this event.

Project Partners: The NYICN supports the development of youth in care networks throughout Canada. The Network Buffet Workshop brought together 80 youth in care from across Canada who are involved in networking. Funders played a supportive role in carrying out the project.

Project Results: This project resulted in a professionally edited and produced 15-minute videotape, titled "Coast 2 Coast: A Nation of Youth United". This video features six youth in and from care who are leaders in the networking movement as they talk about what networking means to them, how it affects their lives, and how the organization provides a trusting environment in which young people can safely challenge themselves and their peers to achieve realistic purposes. A manual titled, "The Network Connection — A Network Development Manual" accompanies the video.

By 1999, over 100 copies of the video had been distributed. Anecdotally, there has been much positive feedback on the video, which is seen to communicate in a positive way with a hopeful message.

Project Status: As of 2004, NYICN continues to use the video in a variety of ways, including presentations to foster parents, child welfare agencies, community organizations and governments about youth in care issues. It has been found to be a particularly useful tool in raising adults' awareness of the issues, concerns and strengths of youth in care, and as a promotional tool for the work of the NYICN. It has also been presented in educational settings and camps to sensitize students to these issues. It continues to be used with youth in care and to inspire youth network activities. The video offers insight and connects and energizes youth. There are approximately 70 local and provincial Youth in Care Networks across Canada which offer support, advocacy and education programs. Sustaining the capacity to create and support networks is an ongoing challenge. There is not as much demand for the Manual, and it appears to be used as a resource, rather than as a "how-to" guide.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The NYICN continues to show and distribute the video, however statistics on dissemination are not available. As noted above, there has been less demand and consequently less dissemination of the Manual.

Contribution to Practice: These products — in particular the video — have contributed to raising awareness of the issues and concerns of youth in care, as well as their strengths and resiliency. Many of the issues and themes covered in the video are (sadly) still relevant today. However, some of the statistics presented in the video are getting out of date, as it is now six years old.

Lessons Learned: Video stories about and images of young people working in collaboration to support each other have proven to be a powerful way to show the resilience of young people who have experienced trauma — including family violence. It reminds people of the importance of nurturing their positive strengths. At the same time, more than awareness is required. There is an ongoing need to reach out to more youth and to build more capacity to do that in a variety of settings within communities (for example, in youth correctional settings and in schools).

Contact:
Executive Director
National Youth in Care Network
Tel: 613-230-8945
Fax: 613-230-4383
Youth Only Phone: 1-800-790-7074
Website: www.youthincare.ca

Educating on Family Violence — Website
Project Sponsor: Law Courts Education Society of B.C.
Year: FY 2001/02

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided support for the development and launch of an interactive web-based program on family and dating violence designed for use by senior high school students.

Project Description: The goal of this project was to design an interactive web-based program, titled "Relationship Violence Case Studies", to be made available on the Law Courts Education Society of B.C.'s website. The program was designed as an educational tool for senior high school students taking Law, Family Studies, and Career & Personal Planning (CAPP) classes. Teachers can assign the program to students, and then follow up with in-class discussion or group projects on the subject of relationship violence. The program consists of two interactive case studies: one an adult relationship where the two people live together and the other a teenage dating relationship. Four incidents are acted out (in shadow) in each case study, with each incident becoming more violent than the last. After each incident, the user is asked to make a decision about what they think the woman should do. Based on the user's response, he or she is guided to a new section of the program where additional decisions, information, or research questions lead to further exploration of the issue. The program includes pre- and post-study quizzes to evaluate the degree to which the content meets the learning outcomes.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $35,000 for the first phase of this project (the development and launch of the website).

Project Partners: Experts from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the B.C. Justice Institute, the Legal Services Society and the B.C. Institute on Family Violence were involved in an advisory capacity. Teachers and various organizations were involved in reviewing the program materials.

Project Results: This project resulted in the creation of an interactive educational tool that accommodates a variety of learning styles and enables end users to learn about issues related to family violence and dating violence, and to learn about the legal process associated with family and dating violence.

Project Status: Overall, the Law Courts Education Society of B.C.'s website continues to develop as an educational site. It is continuing to look at ways to promote access and actively engage users in on-line learning. One of the challenges in reaching the youth/student target audience is that not all classrooms have computers. Anecdotally, a lot of teachers assign the program as homework.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The program continues to be an active component of the organization's website and is profiled in catalogues and at workshops conducted by the Law Courts Education Society of B.C. Each year, the Society provides information to over 35,000 youth from 1500 schools, and provides handouts on its programs (including this one) to teachers.

Contribution to Practice: This program has made available another education tool on a challenging topic.

Lessons Learned: Developing on-line learning tools in the family violence area is challenging, due to the nature of the issue and also the fact that computer capacity may be limited in some settings (such as schools). The depiction of this issue on an interactive web site must be developed with sensitivity. Because of resource limitations as well as concerns about end user computer capacity, it was not possible to use techniques such as animation and narrative voice over. Engaging the end user (as with all on-line learning tools) remains the key challenge. Promoting the program with educators, and providing educators with instructions on how best to use the site is important. Providing more opportunity to reflect youths' point of view on this topic may require some specific resources.

Contact:
Executive Director
Law Courts Education Society of B.C.
Tel: 604-660-9870
Fax: 604-775-3476
Website: www.lawcourtsed.ca

Street Exit Program (STEP)
Project Sponsor: Street Outreach Services (SOS)
Year: FY 1996/97 and 1997/98

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI supported the piloting of the "Street Exit Program" (STEP), which is a program designed to provide specialized support and options for street youth who are ready to make significant changes in their lives.

Project Description: The goals of this project were: to pilot a program of specialized services for street youth involved in prostitution: to assist them in taking control of their lives, getting out of prostitution and becoming productive members of society; and to reduce or eliminate criminal charge convictions. Street Outreach Services, a program of Anglican Houses[17] developed the program based on consultations with youth and the organization's service delivery experiences. Youth who arrive at SOS ready to make substantial changes, as well as those who, after experiencing several years of ambivalence, denial or brief change, were ready for active change were eligible to participate in STEP. It included individual and group counselling, practical assistance and referrals to appropriate services and supports, and adventure and retreat programming to foster team-building, build self-esteem and enhance motivation to change.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $86,406 over two years (FY 1996/97 - $22,073 and FY 1997/98 - 64,333). Anglican Houses provided $80,000 over the same period.

Project Partners: This project was informally linked with other programs and services (e.g. Peer Support Program) of SOS and Ontario Anglican Houses. There were no specific partners for this project.

Project Results: Within the first eighteen months of the Program, 19 clients (10 women and 9 men) had participated in the program. Of these 19 clients, none had incurred any further criminal chargers or convictions (prior to participation there were 31 convictions combined); 17 were in stable housing; two were staying with friends; 13 were no longer working as prostitutes; and five reported a dramatic reduction in time spent working in prostitution. Clients also reported a marked decrease in substance abuse. In addition, all were focused on improving their chances of securing full-time employment by either: returning to school, attending training programs, meeting with an employment training worker, or completing high school. As of March 31, 1998, STEP had an individual counselling caseload of 26 youth wishing to exit prostitution. Some refinements to the program had been introduced, and STEP had also opened the program to youth whom it previously would have considered less "ready" to make changes, on the basis of observations that membership in STEP helped to create an atmosphere of support for clients' efforts to change. As of March 2004, it is estimated that 75% of STEP clients are doing well. For example, one individual is currently entering law school. Others are completing college or are employed.

Project Status: SOS sought funding from various public, private, and other charitable sources, but was unable to secure funding to continue. However, there is a firm belief that programs like STEP are needed to end the sexual exploitation of youth, and that the STEP program concept is a valid community-based alternative to police/justice-based approaches.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: Information about the STEP program was disseminated within the community. In addition, the STEP coordinator and two clients participated in an international conference on child sexual exploitation ("Out of the Shadows: International Summit of Sexually Exploited Youth").

Contribution to Practice: Although STEP had a small client base and limited outcome data, its success with clients suggests that this particular approach to motivating and creating opportunities for clients to get out of prostitution and make positive changes in their lives is a promising community-based alternative consistent with the philosophy of the Youth Justice Act.

Lessons Learned: Specialized, one-to-one contact is particularly important to deal with the isolation that youth experience, and to build trust. Peer support within group sessions is also a positive aspect. A key issue is the need for continuity in the provision of supportive, community-based programming for sexually exploited youth. However, it takes time to develop, implement, deliver and test new programming. It is difficult to accomplish this, and to develop sustainable programming approaches, under short-term project funding arrangements.

Contact:
Chief Executive Officer
LOFT Community Services
Tel: 416-979-1994
Fax: 416-979-3028
Website: sminer@sosloftcs.org

Walking the Prevention Circle — National Pilot Project
Project Sponsor: Canadian Red Cross
Year: FY 2000/01

DOJ FVI: The DOJ FVI provided support to update an existing abuse-prevention training program for Aboriginal communities titled, "Walking the Prevention Circle" and to conduct a five-day train-the-trainer pilot for Aboriginal Prevention Educators.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to update the 1997 abuse prevention resource, "Walking the Prevention Circle" (WTPC), and to train Prevention Educators in its use. This project is part of a larger, national Red Cross initiative on abuse prevention (RespectEd[18]) that has educated young people and adults who work with youth about abuse and violence issues since 1984.[19] WTPC is a specific RespectEd program that addresses abuse prevention in Aboriginal communities. It explores family violence and abuse from a cultural, familial and societal framework, and also addresses abuse issues related to the residential schooling experience. WPTC aims to: educate Aboriginal communities on ways of understanding maltreatment and family violence; facilitate the development of safety and prevention plans; enable communities to take initial steps to restore balance; and enable communities to name and understand problems; and, thus, begin healing. In response to the growing demand for WTPC in Aboriginal communities across Canada — and in response to the lack of trained delivery people — RespectEd initiated a national pilot project to provide Prevention Educators from several parts of Canada with updated tools and training.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $36,926 for updating the curriculum and training, and Health Canada provided $20,000. The Minerva Foundation also supported the pilot program in FY 2000/01.

Project Partners: The manual was produced by a team of writers, and published under the auspices of the Red Cross. Partnership with communities has been a key element of this program since its inception and this continues to the present day (see Project Status). There is also a national advisory committee for this program.

Project Results: This project resulted in the second edition of the WTPC manual (with an initial print run of 2,000) and a related training curriculum and resource guide. A total of 14 Aboriginal prevention educators from five provinces and one territory participated in a five-day training based on these materials. Feedback from this training was very positive.

Project Status: The Red Cross has continued to expand implementation of the training, including a mentorship training dimension for Prevention Educators, which was supported with funding from the Canadian Rural Partnership. In 2002/03, a complementary video resource, "Out of the Shadows of Silence" was produced with funding assistance from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. The WTPC is active in several places in Canada, particularly in communities in Nunavut, New Brunswick, Northern Manitoba and Yukon. Communities are actively engaged in the implementation of the training. These advisory groups serve as a resource and a source of support for the local Prevention Educators. Typically, the process is to first develop a community advisory group, to ensure that the program is brought into the community in a safe way. For example, in one northern community, the training was linked to a broader community wellness plan. In Nunavut and Northern Manitoba, school districts have partnered to support and facilitate implementation. The evaluation feedback from communities that have participated in the training has been very positive in terms of increasing understanding of family violence issues and enhancing community capacity to address this issue. In particular, there is a sense that, as a result of this training, support services are working together more collectively.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The curriculum is available to Red Cross Prevention Educators, and workshop materials are made available to participants. Information about the program, and how communities and individuals can participate in it, is available on the Red Cross website. Communities pay the Red Cross a service fee of $2,400 plus travel expenses for the training. There is some communication among communities that have implemented the program, however funding to share success (for example, through success stories) with other communities to foster hope and inspire action would be beneficial.

Contribution to Practice: This project has made steady progress in raising awareness of family violence and has played a part in the healing process in communities where it has been delivered. It has educated participants on the criminal justice aspects of family violence. It has contributed to building the human and social capital within a community (by building knowledge and contributing to networks and collective action). At the same time, it must be recognized that raising awareness of family violence issues can also stress the existing capacity of support services. Strategies to link and build capacity for further prevention and response to family violence are important.

Lessons Learned: It is important to work with local communities to build community support and commitment for the training, and to ensure that supports are in place to introduce the training in a safe way that will facilitate community action/planning. Having local committees in charge of the planning and implementation helps to build an appropriate safety net. Educating the adults first, before they begin working with youth, is also good strategy. Having strategies in place to support Prevention Educators (such as mentoring and co-facilitation, and having support available to them, should they need it) is also key. Finding the best ways to translate and adapt the program so that it is aligned with local cultures and languages is an ongoing challenge.

Contact:
Aboriginal Consultant
Canadian Red Cross
Tel: 250-382-2043
Fax: 250-382-3420
Website: www.redcross.ca

Sur le dos de l'amour
Project Sponsor: Théâtre Parminou
Year: FY 1997/98 and 1998/99

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI funded the development of a play about people who sexually abuse children.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to research and write a script for a play about child sexual abusers. The play presents four profiles of abusers and their situations (for example, a hockey coach, who was also abused as a child, and a father who "loves" his children). It seeks to provide insight into the past history, thinking, and behaviours of abusers and why they abuse, while never condoning their behaviour.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $8,000 (FY 1997/98) and $2,000 (FY 1998/99) for research and script writing. Having secured funding for the script, Théâtre Parminou was able to access other sources of funding for staging the production. It received support to stage this production from a variety of sources, including various ministries of the Province of Quebec, the private sector and non-profit organizations.

Project Partners: There were no direct partners involved in writing this script.

Project Results: Based on demand, the Théâtre Parminou presented 35 performances to 8,935 spectators across the province of Quebec. It was presented in high schools and colleges, cultural centres and correctional settings. Overall, the play produced a strong audience reaction, and encouraged thinking, debate and discussion about victim/offender issues on this topic.

Project Status: The play is no longer active in Théâtre Parminou's repertoire and there are no plans to mount it again, as there have been no further demands for it. Moreover, if the play were to be revived, it would need to be revised and updated to today's social reality.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: As noted above, the play reached out to almost 9,000 people.

Contribution to Practice: There is a long-standing tradition of activist theatre in Canada. Théâtre Parminou, which has a long history as one of Quebec's key activist theatre companies, has produced a range of productions that have been found to be good tools to create awareness, and engage audiences in discussions about important social issues. In this case, the production addressed a challenging issue, by focussing on the lives of individuals who sexually abuse children. This production helped to raise public awareness of the issue of child sexual abuse, and opened discussion and debate in a public forum.

Lessons Learned: Activist theatre has a direct impact on the audience that sees the production, and therefore targeting is an important element that can shape impact. Activist theatre productions have and can be used to address other aspects of family violence. Activist theatre responds to current social realities and the actual plays may have a limited "shelf life", unless there is a way to keep the scripts and productions current and up to date with social realities, issues and concerns.

Contact:
Théâtre Parminou
Tel: 819-758-0577
Fax: 819-758-7080
Website: www.parminou.com/

Why Do Female Victims of Domestic Violence Recant After Accusing Their Abusers?
Project Sponsor: Victim Services of Peel (VSP)
Year: FY 2001/02

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided support for a research project to explore why female victims of domestic violence recant after accusing their abusers.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of women's experiences of the judicial process when a criminal charge is laid in the area of domestic violence, by comparing the experiences of women who had co-operated with the judicial system with those women who did not co-operate fully or withdrew from the judicial process. It also sought to identify the other barriers (such as systemic barriers) within the police, judicial system and social service agencies that either impeded or failed to facilitate a woman's engagement in the judicial process. Six focus groups were conducted, with a total of 20 women participants,. Of these participants, 75% (15) had co-operated with the judicial process until its conclusion and 25% (5) had withdrawn from the judicial process before its completion.

Funding: The DOJ FVI contributed $15,730 to this project.

Project Partners: Victim Services of Peel's partners for this project were the University of Toronto (OISE) (which undertook the research) and the Social Planning Council of Peel (who has been a collaborative partner of the VSP for many years and participated at various stages in the research, in an advisory capacity).

Project Results: The researchers identified several themes as important barriers to women's participation in the judicial process in domestic violence cases. They identified reasons for women's ambivalence and/or reluctance regarding charging their partner, as well as issues concerning women's lack of legal knowledge and of the judicial process in particular. They identified the need for greater sensitivity on the part of the criminal justice system and victim services agencies to address the needs of women (including the need for cultural competencies). Many of the study participants did not speak English as their native language or had emigrated from other countries and did not have much legal knowledge or familiarity with the judicial process. The key factors in the differences between women who chose to co-operate with the judicial process versus those who withdrew appeared to be: the nature of their initial experiences with the police; the existence of social support in their lives; and their degree of emotional and financial dependence on their abuser. The researchers found that many of the women who cooperated with the judicial process would be reluctant to do so in the future. The primary reasons identified were the secondary victimization they experienced in their dealings with the system and their perceptions that sentencing was lenient. Women participants also reported that even after they had cooperated with the judicial process, they still feared for their safety and that of their children, and they had made lifestyle changes to avoid their abusers. Their emotional trauma had also not been resolved.

Project Status: The project has been completed and the results were shared with local agencies.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The report was shared with community organizations. The report is also available on the Victim Services of Peel website. The researchers have also made various presentations at meetings and conferences and intend to submit an article to an academic journal.

Contribution to Practice: This report provided useful, candid information about women's views, along with an analytical critique from a policy perspective. However, given the small sample size it is difficult to generalize its findings. Further follow-up suggested by the researchers would include a longitudinal research to follow women throughout the court process and to examine their experience in terms of outcomes.

Lessons Learned: There were a number of challenges in this project. These included differences in the research and organizational cultures of the project partners and various community players, and the need for more time to fully plan the research and invest in building relationships to recruit and secure focus group participants (particularly given the multi-cultural dimension of the target population in the Peel region and the initial intent to include participants beyond VSP clients). There is also a sense that project implementation could have benefited from more communication amongst key players.

Contact:
Executive Director
Victim Services of Peel
Tel: 905-568-1068
Fax: 905-568-0774
Website: www.vspeel.org

Community Safety Strategy Protocol
Project Sponsor: Stuart Lake Community Services Society
Year: FY 2002/03

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided support for the development of a community safety protocol as a safety tool for agencies, professionals, workers and volunteers to use in responding to women and children in Fort St. James area who are victims of domestic violence.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to consult with community stakeholders to develop a community protocol that social agencies, professionals, workers and volunteers could use when dealing with victims of domestic violence in Fort St. James. This project was the first part of a larger, phased initiative to establish a safe haven for women and children who are victims of abuse. A review of local statistics, along with discussions with other agencies in the community, identified the need to establish a community protocol and training program for those who would work and/or volunteer in the safe haven.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $8,286 towards the development of the protocol.

Project Partners: The Stuart Lake Community Services Society, which was founded in January 1999, partners with various community players, including: the local RCMP; Nak'azdli Bank; Nak'azdi Health Unit; Nechako Valley Community Services Society; District of Fort St. James; Northern Interior Health Unit; Omineca Safe Home Society; Fort Alcohol and Drug Society and Stuart Lake Hospital. A group of twelve individuals from community agencies advised on the development of the protocol.

Project Results: The protocol was drafted over a five-week period. Forty-seven (47) community and regional organizations/agencies were identified as stakeholders, and it was possible to consult with 37 of these organizations in the drafting of the protocol during this period. The consultations were particularly helpful in raising awareness, identifying current practices and gaps, and obtaining community "buy-in" for the community protocol.

Project Status: The Stuart Lake Community Services Society continued its efforts to finalize the protocol and with further funding support, trained those who would be working at the safe haven.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The protocol is a way to ensure that community agencies are informed about each other's services and processes, and it is regarded as a valuable tool to bring community agencies together to address this issue. Due to confidentiality considerations, protocol information is not publicly available.

Contribution to Practice: The development of the community safety protocol helped to raise awareness and mobilize the community effort (agencies, professionals, workers and volunteers) to improve safety for victims of domestic abuse in the Fort St. James area. This project allowed the community to develop a practical working model and process, tailored to the needs of their community and (accompanied by the training conducted after Phase I) facilitated the smooth implementation of the safe haven. There are, however ongoing community-level challenges related to domestic violence that include an ongoing need for: interagency communication and coordination; advocacy; education and awareness; training; and strategies to address gaps in outreach to, and service delivery within, the Fort St. James area, which includes various communities spread out over a large geographic area. It remains particularly challenging to advance efforts, given the tight resource environment, shifts in government priorities, and a service delivery community that has to multi-task and feels stretched to - and beyond - capacity.

Lessons Learned: The development of the protocol was part of a larger initiative (the creation of the safe haven) and it was possible to focus community efforts on this task in a relatively short time period (five weeks). This short time frame was challenging (in terms of completing the consultation process, drafting and reviewing the protocol), however it was possible to make good progress, due to good will, cooperation and collaboration from many parts of the community (including the project advisory group). Having human resources available to coordinate this effort (through the project funding and volunteer effort) was key to its success. Having an ongoing committee to foster ownership, and to provide opportunities to dialogue on what's working and what could be improved is an important element to continued success.

Contact:
Coordinator
Fireweed Safe Haven
Tel: 250-996-8081
Fax: 250-996-6747
Website: n/a

"Women in Abusive Relationships"
Project Sponsor: Community Legal Education Association (Manitoba), Inc.
Year: FY 1999/2000

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided funding to revise and update two public legal education tools, which are designed to increase awareness of family violence issues and provide women with basic information about protection plans, police intervention, emergency housing, financial assistance and legal protections in situations of family violence.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to revise and update the Association's well-received plain-language publications for women, titled, "Women in Abusive Relationships" (a handbook) and "Court Orders for your Protection" (a pamphlet based on a chapter within the handbook). Due to extensive substantive and procedural changes in the laws, both publications required extensive revision to remain up-to-date and legally accurate.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $9,298 for this project, and the Community Legal Education Association (Manitoba), Inc. provided $7,800 towards the printing of these revised products.

Project Partners: There were no formal partners in this project. A legal aid lawyer, a Crown attorney and a representative from Manitoba Justice (family law) participated as reviewers.

Project Results: A revised handbook titled, "Women in Abusive Relationships: A Guide to the Law" and a revised pamphlet, based on chapter four of the booklet, titled, "Court Orders for Your Protection" were produced in English.[20] These publications are designed to increase public understanding of and discussion about domestic violence in the areas of legal reform and restorative justice, and how these issues relate to women's rights. They are written in an accessible format for both service providers and clients. It was expected that CLEA would publish 9,000 copies of the revised handbook (8,000 English, 1,000 French) and 11,000 copies of the revised pamphlet (10,000 English, 1,000 French).

Project Status: As of March 2004, CLEA has practically depleted its store of printed copies (it estimated that it has only about 300 remaining copies of the handbook). It has applied to another funding source for funds to reprint. While there is clearly a demand for these products, it is difficult to assess the impact of this publication as the majority of orders are for bulk orders from other service providers. Materials are used to provide information and training.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The publications were distributed through a network of agencies to a variety of audiences in Manitoba, including women's shelters, advocacy organizations, transition houses, public libraries, women's/family resource centers, immigrant services, Aboriginal organizations, YM/YWCAs, Legal Aid Manitoba, hospitals, police services, counseling services, and social work departments. They have also been distributed at various conferences and displays, such as a local adolescent parents interagency network, on Law day, the Manitoba Child Care Association Conference, university career days, the United Way Day of Caring and at a 2002 series of workshops on the Youth Justice Act. They have also been distributed in family law information kits. It is estimated that half of the distribution is done on a proactive basis and half is in response to demand. The publications are also available on the organization's website.

Contribution to Practice: Public legal information products on abuse are necessary, as they provide individuals (who may be in crisis) with a useful, written resource that is also a helpful adjunct to in-person or telephone-based contact.

Lessons Learned: It is important that public legal education materials are accurate, written in plain language, and designed to be easily read. There are gaps in terms of publications in other languages (for example, Aboriginal languages).

Contact:
Executive Director
Community Legal Education Association
Tel: 204-943-2382
Fax: 204-943-3600
Website: www.communitylegal.mb.ca

Family Violence Information Brochure Project
Funding Recipient: Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan
Year: FY 2001/02

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided funding to support the development and distribution of a safety "checklist" for women involved in a violent relationship.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to provide women living in violent relationships with a safety checklist, which is provided in a safe, inconspicuous manner. The safety checklist was innovatively packaged so as not to alert an abuser to its existence and contents. The resource was developed in consultation with Saskatchewan's women's shelters, advocacy organizations, other service delivery organizations and government agencies that deal with victims of abuse.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $16,800 for the development of this resource.

Project Partners: The Provincial Association of Transition Houses (PATHS), Saskatchewan Battered Women's Advocacy Network (SBWAN) and Saskatchewan Towards Offering Partnership Solutions to Violence (STOPS to Violence — formerly the Provincial Partnership Committee on Family Violence) participated in an advisory capacity in the development of the resource and also participated in disseminating the final resource to women.

Project Results: A total of 22,000 resources were produced and distributed to over 30 women's shelters, women's advocacy organizations, other service delivery agencies, police services, health centers, and government offices within Saskatchewan communities for dissemination to clients. Feedback from organizations indicates that clients have found the information useful. At a minimum, it is believed that the resource has contributed to raising awareness of personal safety-related issues related to abusive relationships, and provided practical information on topics such as safely leaving a relationship.

Project Status: All of the resources have been distributed[21] and the project is no longer active. The Project Sponsor periodically receives further requests for more resources.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: As noted above, the resources produced in this project have been distributed. Promotion of this resource beyond the distribution partners has been low key, in order not to give away information about the packaging format (for fear of escalating trouble in a relationship, if a woman's possession of this resource were to come to the attention of an abuser).

Contribution to Practice: This project represented a novel way to provide women in abusive relationships with personal safety information. As such, it is an innovative information/awareness tool that may also lead to further innovation on safe ways to impart information to women in abusive relationships.

Lessons Learned: Generally, all of the participants in this project were supportive and the development and distribution processes worked well. The project could have benefited from better communication/coordination with participating organizations, to ensure that a shared understanding as to the content of the resource was maintained as the resources was developed (for example, that it was understood that it would not include emergency numbers, as they would be different for each community). There were a number of unforeseen practical challenges in this project relating to the costs of, and packaging process for, the resource (as a result the original intention to produce 50,000 resources was reduced to 22,000).

Contact:
Co-Director
Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan
Tel: 306-653-1868
Fax: 306-653-1869
Website: www.plea.org

Men's Track of the First Charge Intervention Process
Project Sponsor:Grey Bruce Court Coordination Committee (now called the Grey Bruce Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee).
Year: FY 1999/00

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI provided funding to develop two components of a coordinated intervention model (the First Charge Intervention Process - FCIP) that was being developed in a rural area of Ontario.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to develop a men's mentoring program component (Men Mentoring Men) for the Men's Track of the First Charge Intervention Process, along with a plan to integrate this program within the overall FCIP model. The FCIP model is comprised of a parallel men's and women's track of coordinated, but separate and different, information and support options from a number of services. FCIP was designed for use in situations where a man has been formally charged for the first time in a domestic assault, and its purpose is to deter further violence. FCIP was based on local consultation and research that indicated that a charging intervention alone appeared to make women less, rather than more, safe from their violent partners. It was set within, rather than as a diversion to, the charging process. The Women's Track included: immediate police referral to victim services; safety planning; input into release conditions; and an opportunity to provide a statement about the pattern and impact of their partner's violence on themselves and their children. The Men's Track consisted of: a formal application to the process; participation in a three-evening adult education program about the effects of the violence; mentoring by volunteer men; and the opportunity to create and begin a change plan. The change plan could include attendance in the Men's Program, a twenty-one week psycho-educational program for assaultive men, and other appropriate referrals to agencies such as addictions services, prior to disposition of the charges. FCIP also included a Domestic Assault Intervention Panel, which was set up early in the court process to focus on the impact the man's violence has had on his family and on the development of a man's plan for change that does not rely solely on the potential for court-ordered intervention.

The Men Mentoring Men component involved a process in which trained "alumni" of the Men's Track program would voluntarily meet with a man charged for the first time with domestic assault directly following the charging to reach out to him, provide information about the Program and offer hope and support for change, based on their own personal change experience.

Funding: The DOJ FVI contributed $5,499 to the Men Mentoring Men project. The development and implementation of other components of the FCIP model occurred with support from a variety of funders, including the Department of Justice Canada, the Ontario Women's Directorate, Status of Women Canada and the Ontario Trillium Foundation and in-kind community contributions.

Project Partners: The Grey Bruce Court Coordination Committee, which was founded in 1997[22], was responsible for the development of FCIP and was the steering committee for this project. The Committee is a community committee, with membership from key agencies that provide services in the area, including municipal, First Nations' and OPP police services, crown attorneys, probation and parole, victim services, child welfare, women's shelters, the Native Friendship Centre, the batterers' program, addiction services and women survivors. The Committee, through its membership, provided space for meetings, and helped to facilitate the development process. The program component was developed (and implemented) by FCIP staff.

Project Results: This project resulted in the creation of the Men Mentoring Men component of the Men's Track Program.[23] This component was subsequently piloted and, while deemed successful, some challenges have emerged, for example transportation and scheduling visits in the rural context. Some of the men who have participated in this program have been involved in public speaking on domestic violence and in support of the FCIP.

Project Status: The Men Mentoring Men program component does not have ongoing funding, and as a result it has been difficult to keep it going. For example, there aren't any specific resources for ongoing volunteer training and coordination. In 2003, it received an estimated $5,000 from a corporate foundation to refocus the Men's Track program and involve alumni in other aspects of the program (such as group meetings). As of March 2004, the Committee is still working on the implementation of various aspects of the First Charge Model, however there have been a number of changes within the criminal justice system that have had an impact on FCIP, including Ontario's introduction of a Domestic Violence Court process in Grey Bruce County, and the introduction of Domestic Assault Response Teams. With no sustaining funding for the FCIP model, it has been difficult to keep going. The Committee continues to meet regularly and has refocused some of its efforts on education and on participating in a provincial pilot of a Woman Abuse Community Report Card (funded through the Government of Ontario Violence Against Women Prevention Initiative).

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The Men Mentoring Men's program component was promoted at the community level, as part of FCIP, and at various presentations.

Contribution to Practice: This project developed, and led to the pilot of, an innovative, early intervention for abusive men, which was linked to a comprehensive model for change. As such, the Men Mentoring Men program component contributed insight into the value of early intervention and the importance of a community-wide responsibility to ensure victim safety. Because it was developed in consultation with men and women, it also provided insights from the client perspective, and stressed the importance of active involvement in the process of change, which in turn informed practice.

Lessons Learned: When the committee initiated the FCIP, it had a vision for a rural community model, however it was not possible to obtain funding for the whole model. Consequently, a somewhat "piecemeal" approach was adopted to develop and implement FCIP. This also meant that the Project Sponsor spent a significant amount of time writing proposals, managing projects and financing logistics to meet the funding criteria and requirements of various funders. In the end, the uncertainty and instability of project funding, as well as changes within Ontario's approach to addressing the criminal justice dimension of domestic violence in Grey Bruce county, have made it challenging to sustain this program component and implement FCIP as envisioned.

Contact:
Coordinator
Men's Track
Tel: 519-372-2720
Fax: 519-372-0961
Website: n/a

"Elder Abuse: The Hidden Crime"
Project Sponsor: Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
Year: FY 1999/2000

DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI Department provided funding for the revision, printing and translation of a public legal education tool designed to increase public understanding of and discussion about violence, and how it relates to the elderly.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to update, translate and print the seventh edition of the publication, "Elder Abuse: The Hidden Crime", a booklet designed to provide seniors with information about their rights and responsibilities. This booklet was first printed in 1991 and has been in constant demand since then.

Funding: The DOJ FVI provided $20,969 for this project.

Project Partners: CLEO is an active participant in a number of networks, committees and coalitions that serve low-income and other vulnerable groups, and the organization determines its project priorities in consultation with clinics and community groups. For this project, CLEO worked with the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

Project Results: 20,000 copies of "Elder Abuse: The Hidden Crime", and 3,000 of "Maltraiter une personne âgée : Le crime caché" were co-published by the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and Community Legal Education Ontario in 2001.

Project Status: This project has been completed, and there have been additional reprints of this edition to accommodate demand.

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: Since it was first published in 1991, this booklet has been in steady demand. The primary demand is for the English version (between 2001 and 2003, 85,820 copies of the English version were distributed). This edition was also distributed at a "Seniors Fair" at Toronto City Hall. The booklet is distributed (on request) to a range of organizations, including: community information services; anti-poverty organizations; domestic violence organizations; ethnocultural communities; family and child organizations; health organizations; immigrant and refugee organizations; literacy organizations; seniors organizations; shelters; victim services; workers rights/labour and employment organizations; government agencies; the legal community; hospitals; housing providers; private sector organizations; schools and colleges. It is used for a variety of education and awareness purposes (including training) in a variety of professional and community-based settings. It is also available on the organization's web site.

Contribution to Practice: This plain language publication is a particularly useful resource for people who seek the advice and services of community organizations, as it provides them with something they can take and read in their own time. It is not a substitute for legal advice, but it provides them with helpful information and encourages them to ask questions and to ensure that they can exercise their rights.

Lessons Learned: Publications of this nature need to be kept up-to-date with current realities and with the law.

Contact:
Executive Director
Community Legal Education Ontario
Tel: 416-408-4420
Fax: 416-408-4424
Website: www.cleo.on.ca

Second National Conference on Elder Abuse: A Time for Action
Funding Recipient:University of Toronto, Institute for Human Development, Life Course and Aging
Year: FY 1999/2000

 DOJ FVI Role: The DOJ FVI contributed funding to support a national conference designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the issues related to elder abuse.

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to hold a national conference on elder abuse, in follow up to a recommendation made at a 1998 Symposium of International Elder Abuse Experts[24]. The intent was to bring various stakeholders together on a national basis to raise awareness of the issues, share information from a variety of perspectives, network, and draft a (voluntary) three-year action plan that would facilitate priority setting and collaboration among stakeholders.

Funding: The DOJ FVI contributed a total of $20,000 to the national conference. The total estimated cost of this conference was $266,000. Other funders included: Health Canada; Department of Canadian Heritage; SSHRC; Ontario Trillium Foundation; Ontario Women's Directorate; Industry Canada; Ontario Ministry of Health; and the Ontario Ministry of Social Services.

Project Partners: Although collaboration with another university was sought, in the end, there were no other Project partners. Particular attention was paid to ensuring older adults were involved in the conference. A National Advisory Committee and a Conference Planning Committee (both representing various stakeholders) participated in the conference planning and implementation.

Project Results: The conference brought together 326 participants representing various interests and disciplines. The conference themes were: Practice; Policy; Long Term Care; Education; Research; Ethnocultural issues; Legal Issues; Crime, and Gender. Participants were able to network, exchange knowledge and information, and learn about innovative approaches to responding to elder abuse. The conference contributed to the organizational development of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and included the development of a three-year action plan, much of which focused on activities to foster greater awareness of elder abuse issues and to foster participation in information-sharing and networking.

Project Status: The primary benefits of this conference were in raising awareness and facilitating information sharing and networking amongst stakeholders. There has been some follow up on various actions identified in the action plan (for example, a Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse website has been created).

Knowledge Transfer/Dissemination: The conference proceedings were distributed to conference participants and the materials are available for use in presentations, reports, etc.

Contribution to Practice: The first national conference on elder abuse took place in 1991. The 1998 conference was a second opportunity to bring stakeholders together to explore the issues. In addition to raising awareness and sharing information from a variety of perspectives (e.g. health, cultural, legal, financial), it provided an opportunity to discuss issues and gaps, including emerging issues of concern such as financial abuse, service delivery gaps, and mandatory reporting of abuse.

Lessons Learned: National level conferences provide a valuable opportunity to bring people together to address a common concern and contribute to the cross-fertilization of ideas and approaches. Sharing information, developing contacts and networking can also help to facilitate further action.

Contact:
Institute for Human Development, Life Course and Aging
University of Toronto
Tel: 416-978-1793
Fax: 416-978-4771
Website: www.aging.utoronto.ca/

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