wwos module 3 october 2014

YOU CAN MAKE A

DIFFERENCE:Understanding and Supporting Women

Who Experience Violence

Walking With Our Sisters: A Project of the Vancouver Island North

Women’s Resource Society, Campbell River, BC

Project Funding Provided By

The Women’s Program

Community agency participants will learn practical knowledge to support

women who experience gender based intimate partner violence to reduce

barriers to accessing services

Learning Objectives of Module Three:

Government AgenciesHealthcare or Medical Services

Front line Social ServicesCharities & non-profits

Church-based Community Services Concerned citizens & volunteers

ANY business or organization that provides services to women

This information is for YOU if you work in any of the following workplaces:

HOW CAN YOU HELP WOMEN WHO COME TO

YOUR AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION

AND WOMEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY

REDUCING BARRIERS TO SERVICE

Women who have experienced gender based intimate partner violence (IPV) or who may still be in situations of abuse need to feel able to access ALL community, health, government, and social servicesWe as managers, front line staff, and other workers need to collaboratively reduce barriers for these women by taking on the TASK of creating inclusive, informed services for everyone

T A S K

T a k e A c t i o n S u p p o r t K n o w l e d g e

Take ActionEncourage a

Culture of CompassionIn your place of work

This means that everyone who walks in the door is treated

with respect

• Listened to• Given our attention• Made to feel welcome

A Culture of Compassion Means

• Respecting that everyone has her or his own unique story, needs, experiences, and perceptions.

• Avoid showing prejudice towards people based upon their appearance or their current emotional state

• Providing a welcoming greeting that includes being attentive and making gentle eye contact so each person feels acknowledged

Check Your Assumptions

We don’t know another person’s story by the way that person looks or behaves. Intimate Partner Violence occurs in all class, race, and social groups

Outward Behaviours can be Deceiving: Some Examples

What we might perceive as anger could be fear

What we might perceive as a woman influenced by substance use could be a woman

in emotional or physical pain

What might appear to be “spaced out” behavior could be dissociation stemming from

trauma or PTSD

Staying Mindful about the Impacts of Abuse

From our learning we know that some women who have endured IPV can be left with a

shattered self image and can feel unheard:

Listening attentively, making gentle eye contact, and being present may go a long way

You could be the person in her day who helps her to feel heard and respected

SUPPORT KNOWLEGEEncourage your staff and coworkers to increase their knowledge and awareness of gender based violence against women by:

Taking this Online CourseLearning about Local ResourcesTalking About it to Reduce Stigma

Supporting Women who may currently be in an

abusive or violent relationship

What Can I Do? How Can I Help?

Your RESPONSE will depend on many factors:

What is your agency mandate? What is your position?

What are your organization’s policies?What are you trained to provide?

Of Special Note: Child Abuse Must Be Reported

If you should gain information that leads you to believe a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, Call the Helpline for Children at

310-1234This is a toll free number. It is a local telephone number

anywhere in the province.

We all have a legal Duty to report child abuse to the Ministry of Children and Family Development

SafetyMost situations you may encounter will involve

listening, being attentive, and giving information

Always ensure that you, your coworkers, and anyone present are safe from any physical harm

YOUR RESPONSE

The Situation

Your Relationship

Will Depend Upon These Three Things

Your Skills & Training

How Will I Know if a Woman has Experienced IPV?

You Probably Won’t KnowIf she wants you to know it is her choice to tell you

Should I Ask Her?

If it is safe to do so. If your role as a healthcare or social service worker enables you to have a

confidential space to talk with her then yes, you should probably ask the question:

Are you experiencing abuse and would you like information about local resources that can help?

What if she says no? What if the question embarrasses her?

What if she gets angry? She may well say no. Maybe no means no. Or

maybe she knows that now isn’t the time for her to take action.

It has been our experience that, yes, sometimes the question can be embarrassing, but most

women will understand that you mean well and care about their welfare.

At least she will know someone cares.

Should I Offer to Help?

It is her decision whether or not she wants you to help, what kind of help she needs, and if she

accepts your help

She knows her own situation better than anyone

If She Asks For Help

You need to be clear on how you can helpWhat help can you realistically provide?

The best help may be referring her to specialized women’s and

antiviolence services

Please remember that no one wants to live with abuse or violence. Some women fear reprisal from their abusers and therefore may not leave, accept help, or report abuse to the police

Most women who do report have already experienced multiple incidents of abuse

Why do Some Women Seem to Choose to Stay?

ASSESS THE SITUATIONListen to the Woman!This will guide your actions

If SHE says she needs help ask HER what SHE needs

THE SITUATION

Is she in imminent danger? Does she require emotional

support or counselling? Does she want information

about local resources?

THE SITUATION

Immediate dangerThe perpetrator is there, making threats,

or displaying violent behaviorIMMEDIATELY

CALL the POLICE

911

THE SITUATIONImmediate danger

She Tells You She is in Danger, or she is Being Stalked, and she is Afraid for Her Safety

ASK IF SHE NEEDS YOU TO

CALL the POLICE

911

If She Asks For Help And does not seem to be in imminent danger

Ensure that you are mindful of the situation. Do not ask questions about abuse in front of a possible abuser! Do not leave phone or text messages about

abuse. This could put her in danger.

Offer to let her use the phone, provide numbers such as the local transition society or victim services

Give her some privacy if possible OR ask if she wants you to stay with

her while she phonesKNOW LOCAL RESOURCE PHONE

NUMBERS

Local Campbell River Resources

FOR MORE LOCAL RESOURCES SEE PRINTABLE “RESOURCE SHEET” ON THIS WEBPAGE

The Ann Elmore House 24 hour crisis line for women 250-286-3666

(Toll free outside of Campbell River 1-800-667-2188)

Province Wide

In BC Call VictimLink

VictimLink is a 24-hour, toll free number (1-800-563-0808) that you can call day or night

to connect with appropriate local resources

If a woman is in immediate danger call your local RCMP detachment or 911

Have a list of local services available to give out

• Download our Crisis Services for Women Resource Card

• Have other pamphlets available

Boundaries: How Much Should You Help?

This will depend on how much and what help she wants, the nature of your job or organization, your

own skills and training, the relationship you may have with the woman as a service user, your

organizational policy, lots of things (get the picture?)

It can be complicated!

Are you front office staff at a government service office? Reception staff at a medical office?

Generally you would have formal interactions with clients or consumers. You may be familiar but not close.

You can help by being welcoming and attentive. This in itself can go a long way!

You may offer for her to use the phone, or give her phone numbers for women’s or victim service resources

What is Your Relationship with her as a Service User? Some Possible Scenarios of Support

Are you a mental health worker or a counsellor?

Generally you would have a closer relationship and trust built up between you and the client.

Therefore you may offer to listen to her story. You may explore some information about IPV with her via pamphlets or the internet. You might even offer to go with her to access victim service or women’s resources.

What is Your Relationship with her as a Service User? Some Possible Scenarios of Support

Support Knowledge!KNOW THE RESOURCES:

Good Internet Sites (More on this Website under Resources)

VictimLink http://www.victimlinkbc.ca/vlbc/help/domestic_violence.page

Ending Violence Association of BC http://endingviolence.org/

Important to Remember

Unless you are specially trained in women’s services, antiviolence, or victim

services, it is usually best practice to connect the woman up with these

specialized services. These services can help her with a SAFETY

PLAN and assess her level of danger

PLAN AHEAD

It is wise for each agency to have a plan or a protocol in place in case a

woman asks for help so that staff will know what actions to take and what

the local resource contacts are• For help creating a protocol contact the Campbell River Violence In

Relationship Committee (email the Women’s Centre at info@crwomen.ca ) or your local women’s transition society

Resources for YouThe following slide lists some resources

particularly suited for professionals working in

medical services mental health agencies

counselling services

Woman Centred – Trauma Informed Care

Building Bridges: Linking Woman Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Ill Health

http://www.bcwomens.ca/Services/HealthServices/WomanAbuseResponse

BC Women’s Hospital

Women Abuse Response Program Trauma, Violence, and Mental Healthhttp://bccewh.bc.ca/research-areas/trauma-violence-mental-health/

British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health

Reducing Barriers to Support Haskell, R. (2010) BC Society of Transition Houses.

http://www.bcsth.ca/sites/default/files/ReducingBarriersDiscussionPaper_Final.pdf

Local Supportive Resources(More Listed on the Website)

Campbell River and North Island Transition SocietyOperates the Ann Elmore Emergency Shelter and Rose

Harbour, provides support groups and services250-287-7384

The Women’s Centre

Drop In Support Monday – Thursday 10-3 1116 Dogwood Street 250-287-

3044

Community Based Victims Services250-287-2421

A Campbell River Family Services Society Program

Check-Up on Your Attitudes and Beliefs!

• We all form beliefs from the social, media, and cultural information around us

• Challenge those beliefs! Examine the Myths and Realities about woman abuse!

Learn and share the facts with your coworkers, friends, and family

It can happen to

any woman

Together we can create change!

Credits for This Project

Principle Author and Investigator:

Georgette Whitehead, MSW, RCC, RSW

Contributors & Reviewers:Eileen Stearns, BSW, RSW, Contributor, researcherJodi Grundle, MSc, ContributorMarnie MacLachlan, reviewer

Graphic Facilitation Art by Jill Banting, MA. Informed by a focus group of experiential women

A full list of references is available on our website

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