Creating Community Change Greetings: creator, people and journeys, community, children, our dreams and hopes Part One: Working together to prevent violence to children

What needs changing? Children and violence In New Zealand in 2015, there were 110,114 police call outs to incidents of family violence. One in three women are likely to experience an incident of intimate partner abuse over their lifetime! Australia PSS 2012 showed similar widespread concern: 17% women, 5% men over age of 15 experience violence by a partner. In the majority of cases, children were present, witnessing the violence In our own local area, 2,000 incidents were attended in one year. No more than 500 children were seen for any follow-up Many things need addressing, but for this presentation, I will focus on the children and this is why

What is family violence?

Children witnessing violence The impact of witnessing family violence is significant on a child, affecting them emotionally, intellectually, socially even if not physically. The resulting trauma has echoes in mental health, suicide, ongoing family violence, parenting issues and crime. Children want to live lives safe from violence

Where do we focus to facilitate change? Whole community approach Where do we focus?

Some wider society responses There are national campaigns, specifically “Its Not OK” There has been government policy around vulnerable children and Children’s Action Teams have been established in several areas to ensure high level collaboration between key players Significant research has been undertaken to explore the impact on children exposed to family violence (New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse https://nzfvc.org.nz ) Local networks eg WeCAN (Waitakere Children’s Action Network)

It’s Not OK campaign aims What needs to shift? Family violence is seen as normal People can’t change It’s a private issue Male entitlement and domination Acceptance of physical punishment Using violence to solve conflict It only happens to others Intermediate level outcomes that can be measured People understand more about family violence Talk more about it Refuse to tolerate violence Know that change is possible Ask for help early Be willing and confident to offer help Make respect, equality and safety the norm See that everyone can do something to create safe families and communities National campaign goals Talk through

What do children need to keep themselves safe? Children need safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments* They need adults they can trust. They need a community around them in which they share a sense of belonging. They need to know how (and who) to ask for help when needed. They need to know they have a right to be safe. *Essentials for Childhood, National Centre for Injury Prevention and Control USA,2014

What are healthy relationships?

Our local response We promote violence free communities by creating projects, events and tools that support people to enjoy active participation in their community.

Jade Speaks Up A local resource was needed to allow children to develop safety strategies for responding to family violence and other frightening situations should they occur. We wanted to create something that would not traumatise children, yet be real enough to address the issue for children who have been exposed to it. We wanted to give all children an opportunity to see what they could do to help end violence which might occur in their lives and keep themselves safe.

Jade Speaks Up Show trailer 2.07 mins Watch dvd and allow two minutes sharing with person beside you.. Or just some silence to note your own responses

Manuals: what is covered? The DVD needs to be handled well to ensure children are supported in their viewing of the resource. Three versions of manual are part of the resource: teachers of 8-12 year olds, therapists and social workers, and parent educators. The schools programme covers material to help children feel safe by addressing communication skills, emotional literacy, safety planning, making choices and self esteem. It links directly to the health and physical education curriculum Why manual important – the support the children and families to process their strategies around responding to fv

Feedback from users Top reasons it is being used: family violence is an issue in the community embed safety messages increase empathic understanding of those involved highlight a child’s view of family violence to adults helping to identify children impacted User friendly for parents who had been abused themselves Use of the resource opens deeper discussion when viewed 94% of users surveyed recommend this resource to others Where it is being used… schools, education, social workers in schools, therapists

Conducting a pilot study New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Commission has chosen to support an evaluated pilot 2016-2017 to measure impact on 10-12 year olds 1000 students will be involved in pre and post programme online evaluations, as well as using CORS scales to assess changes in well-being twice during course Questionnaires and permission / information forms have been developed to ensure robust assessment.

Measures… CORS Child Depression Scale* * 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies’ Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC; Weissman, Orvaschel, & Padian, 1980)

More information Website: www.violencefreecommunities.org www.jadespeaksup.co.nz To order a copy: (DVD and Manual) admin@violencefreecommunities.org Facebook: Jade Speaks Up Email: jadespeaksup@violencefreecommunities.org