1. Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence
CURA Meeting
June 17, 2016

2. Research Questions
What are the unique needs of victims of IPV living in rural and northern regions of the Prairie Provinces and NWT in Canada?
What are the gaps [and barriers] that exist in meeting these needs?
How do we create non-violent communities in these regions?

3. Year 2 Service Provider Interviews
32 interviews (33 participants)
29 Female
7 Aboriginal
14 telephone interviews
18 in-person interviews

4. Year 3/4 Northern Community Profile
Two-in person focus groups
Two telephone “focus groups”
Participants (n=14)
12 female
6 Aboriginal

5. Year 3/4 Rural Community Profile
Three focus groups
Two individual interviews
Participants (n=23)
22 female
3 Aboriginal

6. Total Interviews/Focus Groups
N = 70 service providers
63 Female
16 Aboriginal
19 telephone interviews
51 in-person interviews
Representation from across the province

7. Service Providers RCMP Education Victim Services Addictions
Community Justice
Friendship Centres
Shelters
Family Support Programs
Women’s Resource Centres
Counsellors/Therapists
Child & Family Services
Mental Health
Nursing
Paramedics
Family Conciliation
Healthy Child Manitoba
Disability Services
YWCA

8. What are the Needs of Victims of IPV?
Safety
Support
Emotional
Financial
Housing
Childcare
Information
Support Services
Medical Services
Advocacy
Hope for the Future

9. What is Unique:Context
Isolation/Remoteness
Distance to services
Transportation needs
Poverty
Lack of infrastructure
Community politics
Farming issues

10. Legacy of Colonization and Residential Schools
Continued racism and discrimination
Unemployment
Poverty
Housing conditions
Addiction
Hopelessness and despair
Widespread unresolved grief

11. Perception of IPV Normalized (intergenerational) Minimized Denied
Intertwined with patriarchy/Christianity
Women not respected
Women should obey
Women should not speak out
Women should keep family together

12. Community Politics Traditional values “Closed” communities
Chief and Council/rural community leaders may determine access to resources and transportation

13. Transportation
No transportation available to women (cars, taxis, local buses)
Cuts in bus lines and bus schedules are barriers
High costs for providing transportation
Lack of funding for transportation costs for women to return home

14. Housing Housing not available or affordable Overcrowding Homelessness
Lack of transition housing
Nowhere to go once she leaves shelter – either go back or leave community

15. Lack of Confidentiality
Everyone knows everyone
No private places for meetings, counselling
Open court; often in community hall
Service providers are friends or family members

16. Lack of/Limitations of Services
Lack of services or inconsistent services in rural/northern/remote areas.
No shelters/safe houses or shelters not safe
RCMP not in every community
Services provided on scheduled basis
Lack of addictions services for women
Outsiders not trusted
Lack of specialized services
Rigid criteria for service
Controlling systems
Multiple system involvement with lack of coordination

17. Lack of/Limitations of Services
Existing services overburdened
Wait lists for service
Provincial/federal funding battles
Lack of services for children and youth
Lack of programming for men
Overall a reactive rather than proactive approach is used

18. Limitations/Constraints of Service Providers
Not adequately trained
Not healthy themselves
Burnout
Inconsistent/inappropriate responses to women
High turnover
New professionals lack experience

19. What Prevents Her From Coming Forward?
Shame
Pressure from him, family, community
Fear of retaliation/repercussions
She needs him (financial dependence, wood, water, children)
Does not want to leave her community
Previous negative experience – her needs have not been met
Oppressed – no longer has the energy to react

20. Other Gaps/Barriers Health issues Language barriers Gangs
Lack of communication
Farms (animals, equipment, chores)

21. Summary: What are the Gaps and Barriers?
Larger cultural norms and ideologies
Resources are spread thin
Multi-system involvement without recognition of the “whole” (there is a need for both IPV specific and non-specific services).

22. Creating Change Expand/Improve Resources Increased Collaboration
Context: Address Social Challenges
Education and Awareness
Expand/Improve Resources
Empower Women’s Independence
Community Mobilization
Involve Men
Increased Collaboration

23. Creating Non-violent Communities
IPV must be addressed in context
Systemic/structural issues
Eliminate hopelessness and despair

24. Creating Non-violent Communities
Education
Education must target all age groups, but must start with children
Must be culturally appropriate
Education for immigrants
“In your face” public education campaigns
Use multi-media
Informal forums for education E.g. feasts, coffee – “get people talking”

25. Creating Non-violent Communities
Invest more resources to expand and improve services
Housing is a priority
More services for youth, LGBTQ community
Ensure services are culturally appropriate
Increase collaboration
“Think outside the box”
Harmony project
Provide “wrap around” services
Involve businesses/employers

26. Creating Non-violent Communities
Empower women to achieve hope and independence
Employment preparation and training; childcare
Change must occur at community level
Community and community leaders/Elders need to take a stand

27. Creating Non-violent Communities
Men must be part of the solution
More intervention programs for men
More support for “potential” offenders
More men need to “pick up the gauntlet” and take a stand. E.g. Blue Bombers Campaigns

28. Action Plan Report for service providers Publications Presentations
Meetings with stakeholders to influence policy and practice
Work with our CURA team
Keep going …

29. Building a Research Program: Two Decades of Tri-provincial Research
– Evaluating the Justice and Community Response to Family Violence in the Prairie Provinces
– The Healing Journey
Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence
– Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative for Vulnerable Populations

30. Understanding the Lived Realities of Women who experienced IPV
A continuous collection of information on women’s experiences of IPV.
In 2001 we examined how women engage with the Justice and social service systems
In 2005 we followed 665 women over 4.5 years to document their health issues, their parenting, and their sources of help and support.
2011 the Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence identified the specific needs and challenges of women and service providers living in rural and remote communities.
2015 We are beginning the Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative for Vulnerable Populations

31. Working Together – The Vision of RESOLVE
Each study becomes a foundation for the following study
Each study provides information to service providers, policy makers, and experiential women.
Each study uses the information to improve programs, revise policies, and amend legislation.
Each study fills in a piece of a complex puzzle – how do we assist women, change violence inducing environments, build safer homes and communities.