Ontario Council of
Agencies
Serving Immigrants
(OCASI)
Prevention of
Domestic Violence
against
Immigrant and
Refugee Women
Training Manual
2
Developed with
financial assistance
from the Government of
Ontario,
Ontario Women
Directorate (OWD)
3
4
Clarification:
Why Prevention of
Domestic Violence
Against Women?
5
• According to the 1999 general Survey
on Victimization (GSS), women are:
• Six times more likely to report being
sexually assaulted
6
• Five times more likely to require
medical attention, as a result of an
assault
• Three times more likely to be
physically injured by an assault
• More than twice as likely to report
being beaten
7
• Almost twice as likely to report being
threatened with, or having a gun or
knife used against them
• Much more likely to fear for their lives,
or be afraid for their children as a
result of the violence
8
• More likely to have sleeping problems,
suffer depression or anxiety attacks,
or have lowered self-esteem as a
result of being abused and
• More likely to report repeated
victimization
9
Module 1:
The Dynamics of
Domestic Violence
10
Domestic Violence: Definition
“ Any act of gender-based violence
that results or is likely to result in:
physical, sexual or psychological harm
or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in public or private life.”
Source:
United Nations. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
against Women, United Nations General Assembly 48/104. 20 December 1993
11
Domestic Violence also
occurs in same sex unions
12
Characteristics of DV
Acts involve:
• Physical, sexual or psychological harm
or suffering to women
• Unequal power relations between men
and women
• Presence of emotional or physical scars
13
Dispelling the Myths
14
Myth 1: Woman abuse is a
new social problem
Fact: It is not new.
It has been condoned throughout history.
E.G., the widely used term “rule of
thumb” comes from a 1767 English
common law that permitted a husband to
“punish his wife with a whip no
wider than his thumb”.
15
Myth 2: Woman abuse occurs more
often among certain groups of people.
Fact: Woman abuse occurs in all ethnic,
racial, economic, religious and age
groups.
Affluent women use shelters, legal
clinics etc. less often.
16
Myth 3: Women remain in abusive
relationships because they want to stay.
Fact: A woman may:
• hope the relationship will get better
• not want to break up the family
• be isolated from friends and family
• may fear blame from her family and community
will blame her for the abuse or encourage her to
stay
17
Myth 3: Women remain in abusive
relationships because they want to stay.
(cont’d)
• Feel ashamed and blame herself for the
abuse
• Fear for her own and her children’s
safety
• Depend upon her partner’s income
• Suffer from low self-esteem because of
18
her partner’s abuse
Myth 4: Alcohol causes men to
assault their partners.
Fact: The real cause is:
The batterer’s desire for power and
control
Batterers often use alcohol as an
excuse to avoid taking responsibility
19
Myth 5: Men who assault their
partners are mentally ill.
Fact: Psychological characteristics of
batterers are diverse. No single one can
be linked to battering.
According Research, One in five
Canadian men living with a woman admit
to using violence against partner.
20
Myth 6: Women often provoke
assaults and deserve what they
get.
Fact: Violence is a tool used by abusers
to control and overpower. Abusers know
that their partners are frightened of them
and use violence as a method of control.
21
Myth 7: Men are abused by
their partners as often as
women.
Fact: According to research, wife
assault constitutes the largest proportion
of family violence, almost 76%, as
opposed to 1.1% for husband assault.
More than 93% of charges in Ontario are
against men.
22
Myth 8: Most sexual assault
happens between people who do
not know each other.
Fact:
Between 70-85% of women who are
sexually assaulted are assaulted by
men they know.
Six of every ten sexual assaults take
place in a private home. Four of every
ten take place in a woman’s home.
23
Myth 9: Pregnant women are free
from the violent attacks of the
men they live with.
Fact: Of the one quarter of women in
Canada who experienced violence from a
marital partner, 21% were assaulted
during pregnancy.
24
Reasons why men abuse during
pregnancy include:
• Added financial stress
• Fetus becomes center of attention,
causing jealousy
25
Myth 10: Children who grow up in
violent homes become violent when
they are adults.
Fact: Children who have seen family
violence can become abusers
But children are also very open to
learning other ways of behaving and
understand that being violent does not
promote a positive sense of self.
26
For example,
in a shelter for battered women, one of
four children believed it is acceptable for
a man to hit a woman if the house is
messy. After group counselling, none of
the children believed this.
Source: Family of Woodstock Inc. Domestic Violence Services Program.
Domestic Violence: Dispelling the Myths.
27
Canadian Statistics on
Domestic Violence
28
PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY
OF ABUSE
1 in 4 Canadian women suffers some form
of abuse by her partner
• Women are at the greatest risk of
increased violence – or murder – at the
hands of their partner during the time
just before or after they leave an abusive
relationship
29
Prevalence (cont’d)
• Spousal homicide accounts for 15% of all
homicides in Canada. Between 1979 and
1998, 1,901 people were killed by a
spouse: 1,468 women and 433 men
• A woman is 9 times more likely to be
murdered by an intimate partner than by a
stranger
• Domestic abuse remains an immensely
under-reported crime: It is estimated that
just 25% of domestic violence incidents
are reported
30
Canadian Statistics on Children
• Approximately 40% of wife assault
incidents begin during a woman’s first
pregnancy
• Children are present and witness the
abuse in 80% of domestic violence
cases
31
Statistics on Children (cont’d)
• Children and adolescents who see their
mother being abused experience
emotional and behavioral problems
similar to those experienced by children
who are physically abused
• Children who witness woman abuse
frequently experience post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)
Source: Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services. Statistics.
32
Forms of Domestic
Violence
33
• Verbal abuse
• Financial abuse
• Emotional and
psychological
abuse
• Spiritual abuse
• Damage to
property
• Abuse of pets
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
34
Verbal Abuse
35
• Swearing
• Deception
• Yelling
• Degrading
comments
• Name calling
• Put-downs
• Threatening to
take children
away
36
Verbal Abuse (cont’d)
• Brainwashing
• Interrogating
• Calling her
“crazy”
• Contradicting
• Blaming
• Demanding
• Using
threatening
tone of voice,
etc.
37
Emotional and Psychological
Abuse
38
• Ignoring
• Criticizing
• Being intimidating
• Isolating from
(through
looks
or
friends and family
body language)
• Humiliating
• Neglecting
• Playing mind
games
39
Emotional Abuse (cont’d)
• Disrespecting
• Embarrassing
• Harassing
• Terrorizing
• Degrading in
public
• Threatening
suicide
• Stalking
• Using silent
treatment, etc.
40
Damage to Property
41
• Breaking things in the house that belong
to the children and to her
• Throwing gifts given to her by family and
friends
• Cutting up her favorite dress
• Throwing her things in the garbage
• Sabotaging her car, etc.
42
Abuse of Pets
43
• Kicking or hitting the dog
or cat
• Threatening to kill the pet
• Using loud intimidating
voice with respect to the
pet, etc.
44
Financial or Economic Abuse
45
• Preventing her
from getting or
keeping a job
• Denying her
sufficient
housekeeping
money
• Putting all bills
in her name
• Making her
account for every
penny spent
• Denying her
access to cheque
book or account
or finances
• Demanding her
paychecks
46
Financial or Economic Abuse (cont’d)
• Spending
money allocated
for bills or
groceries on
himself
• Forcing her to
beg or to
commit crimes
for money
• Spending Child
Benefit on
himself
• Not permitting
her to spend
available funds
on herself or
children
47
Spiritual Abuse
48
• Using scripture selectively
• Not allowing her to attend prayer
services or celebrate religious holidays
• Stipulating that a woman must respect
and obey her husband
• Preventing her from practicing her faith
• Ridiculing her while she prays, etc
49
Physical Abuse
50
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pushing
Punching
Slapping
Kicking
Biting
Hair pulling
Pinching
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grabbing
Scratching
Restraining
Throwing objects
Choking
Using weapons,
homicide,
suicide, etc.
51
Sexual Abuse
52
• Unwanted touching
• Sexual name
calling
• Pressure to
dress in a more
“suggestive” way
• Inappropriate looks
• Forcing a woman
to do unwanted
sexual acts
53
Sexual Abuse (cont’d)
• Unfaithfulness
• Hurtful sex
• False
accusations
• Rape
• Forced sex
• Homicide
• Withholding sex
Source:
Hidden Hurt Domestic Abuse
Information. Types of Abuse.
Tubman Family Alliance. Forms of Abuse.
54
Cycle of Domestic Violence
Explosion/Abuse
Honeymoon
Tension
55
Three Phases of the Cycle of Violence
Phase 1: Tension-Building Phase
• Abuser gets angry
• Might pick fights
• Acts jealous and possessive
• Criticizes or threatens
56
Phase 1: Tension-Building Phase (cont’d)
• Drinks or uses drugs or acts moody
and unpredictable
• Partner may feel like they are “walking
on eggshells” and try to reason, calm
or appease the abuser.
• The woman makes all attempts to calm
him, hoping to stop the violence.
57
Phase 2: Explosion Phase
• The tension escalates
• Abuser gets angry and there is an
explosion which may result in a
physical or verbal incident.
• Abusers may hit, attack, verbally
or sexually assault, threaten or
scream at their partners
58
Phase 3: Honeymoon Phase
• The abuser apologizes
• Promises not to do it again
• Gives gifts, and may blame the
woman for the violence
59
Phase 3: Honeymoon Phase (cont’d)
• The woman may experience a calm
period, and during this period she is
hopeful and forgiving
• It is important to note that, if there is
no intervention or real change the
cycle will resume, generally with the
tension-building phase
Source: Walker, Lenore. Dynamics of Domestic Violence – The Cycle of
Violence.
60
Module 2:
The Identification
of Indicators of
Domestic Violence
against Women
61
Signs and Indicators of
Domestic Violence
62
Observable Signs and
Indicators
• Appearance of extreme
nervousness or visible
anxiety
• Difficulty listening and
focusing
63
Observable Signs (cont’d)
• Uncontrollable crying or displaying of
anger
• Physical signs of violence (e.g., black
eye, bumps and bruises)
• Degrading or silencing of woman by
partner in front of worker
64
Verbal Signs and Indicators
• Feeling useless and unworthy
• Desiring to leave him but having
nowhere to go
• Wanting to kill herself if not for the
children
• Describing partner as very aggressive
and mean
65
Physical
66
•
•
•
•
•
Broken bones
Burns
Stab wounds
Concussions
Perforated ear
drums
• Loss of hair
• Firearm wounds
• Chronic
stomach/bowel
pain or
discomfort
• Chronic joint or
muscle pain
• Palpitations
• Bruises
67
Physical (cont’d)
• Cuts or
abrasions
• Chronic
headache
• Bites
• High blood
pressure
• Sprains
• Chipped or lost
teeth
• Internal injuries
• Detached
retina
• Substance
abuse
problems
68
Sexual
69
• Sexually
transmitted
diseases
• Bruising or
tearing of the
vagina or anus
• Chronic genital
or pelvic pain
• Frequent
pregnancies
• Fear of sexual
intimacy
70
Sexual (cont’d)
• Miscarriages
• Chronic vaginal or
urinary track
infections
• Female genital
mutilation
• Painful
intercourse
• Infertility
71
Psychological
72
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty in
forming or
maintaining
relationships
• Anxiety
• Lack of
appropriate
boundaries
• Self degradation
• Uncontrolled or
rapid anger
response
• Memory loss
• Chronicstress
73
Psychological (cont’d)
• Loss of
concentration or
productivity
• Self-abusive
behavior
• Problems with
parenting children
• Frequent crying
• Passivity
• Unusual fear
response
• Increased
watchfulness
• Sleep
disturbances
• Phobias
74
Psychiatric
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Suicidal thoughts
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Dissociation
75
Consequences of
Domestic Violence
76
Consequences for Abuser
77
• Loss of family members
• Involvement with police and criminal
justice system
• Loss of job and income
• Potential for escalation of abusive
behavior
78
Consequences for Women
79
• Loss of selfesteem
• Loss of income
•Loss of
community
• Family court and
child custody
issues
• Long-term mental
and physical
health issues
•Loss of housing
80
Consequences for Children
81
Some General Consequences
• Break up of family
• Feelings of anxiety, worthlessness,
shame
• Difficulty functioning in school
• Distrust of adult figures
82
Consequences (cont’d)
Emotional
Problems:
• Sadness
• Anger
• Fears
• Confusion
• Phobias
• Depression
• Eating and
sleeping
• Crying
• Post-traumatic
83
stress disorder
Consequences (cont’d)
Behavioral Problems:
• Withdrawing into or isolating
themselves
• Being aggressive
• Exhibiting problem behaviors at home
or school
84
Consequences (cont’d)
Behavioral Problems: (cont’d)
• Possibly displaying regressive
behavior (e.g., baby-talk, reverting to
bottle feeding or wanting a soother)
• Experiencing lower academic
achievements
85
Consequences (cont’d)
Physical Problems:
• Headaches or stomach-aches
• Nausea or vomiting, develop
• Eating disorders
• Bed-wetting
• Insomnia
86
Difficulties Women
Have
Leaving an
Abusive Relationship
87
Reasons why they stay include:
• Fear of partner’s anger and retaliation
• Hope that the relationship is salvageable
• Desire to keep the family together
• Fear of losing her home or lifestyle
88
Reasons (cont’d)
• Reluctance to disrupt the children’s lives
• Concern that the children will blame her
• Fear of the unknown
• Lack of financial independence
• Lack of self Confidence — feeling that
she could not make it on her own
89
Reasons (cont’d)
• Lack of practical resources and support
(e.g., nowhere to go, lack of affordable
housing, no daycare assistance)
• Fear of future hardship for herself and
children
• Experience of depression, stress or
fatigue
90
Reasons (cont’d)
• Experience of isolation and lack of
support
• Denial or minimization of the abuse
• Desire not to be selfish
• Fear of judgment from others
91
Reasons (cont’d)
• Possession of religious and cultural
beliefs that reject separation or divorce
• Sense of guilt and shame
• Sense of helplessness
• Fear of being killed by abuser or abuser
committing suicide
92
Module 3:
Cultural Issues &
Competencies Related to
Addressing Domestic Violence
against Immigrant & Refugee
Women
93
Barriers Specific to
Immigrant Women
94
1. Social barriers
2. Language barriers
3. Cultural or religious barriers
4. Legal barriers
5. Fears regarding immigration
6. Other barriers
95
1. Social Barriers
• Isolation is one of the greatest stresses
for immigrant women as they remain at
home to care for children and relatives
• Often an immigrant woman may not be
aware of the options and resources
available to her
• Abusers often dominate and control
their partner’s communication with the
outside world
96
1. Social Barriers (cont’d)
• Abusers often control household
finances and legal documents
• Abused women often obtain information
from their abuser, so many are
misinformed and have misconceptions
about seeking safety
97
2. Language Barriers
Lack of foreign language skills– do not understand their rights
– do not effectively access services
98
3. Cultural or Religious Barriers
• Women who speak English and who
know their rights and the availability of
services may not seek help to maintain
family cohesion
• Many immigrant women are under the
misconception that children are the
property of their father rather than the
responsibility of both parents
99
3. Cultural or Religious Barriers
(cont’d)
• Attitudes of family, friends, and
community members prevent some
women from seeking assistance
• Immigrant women often fear
separation will bring shame to the
family
100
3. Cultural or Religious Barriers
(cont’d)
• Many immigrant women have never
been independent, and they fear that
they would be unable to live
independently
101
Cultural or Religious Barriers
(cont’d)
• Immigrant women often come from a
close knit, mixed family where a
partner’s relatives are married to their
relatives (sister, brother). This
complicates matters tremendously
102
3. Cultural or Religious Barriers
(cont’d)
• Strict religious practices or needing to
ask permission from a religious leader in
separation matters may prevent women
from leaving
• Culturally, the concept of separation may
not exist – only marriage or divorce
103
4. Legal Barriers
• Immigrant women fear accessing the
legal system because:
• It may appear to be unpredictable
• They know of other women who have
had a difficult time going through the
legal system
104
4. Legal Barriers (cont’d)
• They are unfamiliar with the Canadian
legal system
• They know of corruption or injustice in
their country’s legal system and fear
experiencing injustice in the Canadian
legal system
105
4. Legal Barriers (cont’d)
• Many women come from countries
where justice is influenced by
government; they are afraid of the
police and therefore will not seek their
assistance
106
4. Legal Barriers (cont’d)
• Generally, when an abusive partner
realizes that physical violence is illegal
in Canada and that it may result in
criminal charges, the abuser will employ
other abusive methods. Women who
experience emotional, verbal and
financial abuse, but no physical abuse,
may not believe they qualify for help
107
5. Fears Regarding Immigration
• Abused women may be unaware that
their refugee application can be
processed separately
• Immigration/refugee status or lack of
status prevents some abused women
from seeking help
108
5. Fears (Cont’d)
Women who are sponsored by
their husband and partners are
often dependent on them for
financial support
109
5. Fears (cont’d)
• Some women often fear that seeking
help from the police, courts, or
hospital, could lead to their
deportation or that of the abuser
• Women may fear losing their children
if they disclose the abuse
110
6. Other Barriers
• Fear of poverty and homelessness
• Immigrant women often have no family
in Canada and therefore lack an
invaluable support network
111
Dealing with Difficult Questions
1. Are women making up a story?
-No, women are not making up a story
about the abuse.
2. Are they lying?
-No, women are not lying about the
abuse.
3. Are shelters promoting divorce?
-Shelters do not promote divorce.
Women have options.
112
Difficult Questions (cont’d)
4. Where are men’s rights? Women have
everything!
-False. Canada promotes equal rights for
everyone.
5. Where do men go if they are being
abused?
-Men can seek support and services from
crises lines and community
organizations.
113
Difficult Questions (cont’d)
• 6. What is wrong with hitting my wife? I
am not trying to hurt her, just to teach her
a lesson because she is out of control
and needs discipline.
-There is something wrong with hitting.
Nonviolent discussion entails dealing with
issues of conflict.
114
Difficult Questions (cont’d)
7. Do women leave because they are
cheating?
-No, women are not cheating.
115
Difficult Questions (cont’d)
8. Don’t children need discipline?
Canada is taking away our
right to be a parent.
- Incorrect. Canada does not take away the
parents rights. It does
not promote physical discipline of children.
116
Some Key Terms and
Definitions
117
Euro-centrism
An attitude, belief and position that
assumes the moral or evolutionary
superiority of Anglo-European values as
the standard by which others are
measured and evaluated and found to be
deficient.
Euro-centrism fuels racism, western
colonialism and expansion.
118
Definitions (cont’d)
Ethnocentrism
An attitude by which members of an
ethno-cultural group consider their
group and its beliefs and values to be
superior to other groups, and to judge
other groups negatively. It means
automatically and routinely interpreting
reality from one’s own perspective as
normal or superior, while dismissing
other perspectives as inferior or
irrelevant.
119
Definitions (cont’d)
Stereotypes and Stereotyping
Expressions, thoughts, and attitudes
rooted in prejudice, ethnocentrism, and
euro-centrism. Stereotyping presumes
that we can judge an entire community
of people on the basis of learned
images and beliefs that we hold of
them.
120
Stereotypes and Stereotyping
(cont’d)
Stereotypes are always offensive,
including when they appear to be
expressing something positive about
a group of people.
121
Definitions (cont’d)
Cultural Competency
• Ability of organizations and systems to
function and perform effectively in
cross-cultural situations
• It promotes the principles of
inclusiveness and employment equity
• Reflects and values cultural differences
122
Cultural Competency (cont’d)
Cultural competency does not
necessarily address issues of power and
privilege within organizations that are
grounded in differing histories of
oppression, colonialism and racism.
These broader, systemic and structural
issues that result in an unequal
distribution of power and privilege within
organizations, as elsewhere, need to be
addressed if the practice of cultural
competency is to be effective.
123
Why are Cultural
Competencies
Important?
124
We are able to:
• Examine our own personal values and biases.
E.G.:
- what is the basis for our concerns?
- Are we making assumptions or being
judgmental?
- Is this a result of our ethnocentric or euro-centric
bias?
125
We are able to (cont’d):
• Recognize that we are in a position of
power
And,
• depending on our values and level of
cultural sensitivity, can make this a
positive or negative experience for the
woman
126
We can:
• Become familiar with our comfort level
with the topic of domestic violence
• Become aware of your skill level,
responsibilities and boundaries
127
Module 4:
Prevention of
Domestic Violence —
Assessment, Intervention
and Referral
128
Assessment
129
Definition of Assessment:
Proactive assessment and intervention
means assessing and evaluating an
individual, not after, but before, the
occurrence of an event, with a view to
preventing it.
130
Levels of Assessment
131
Level 1:
This is the initial assessment by a
frontline worker who may or may not be
experienced in responding to woman
abuse.
132
Levels of Assessment (cont’d)
Level 2:
This is a more in-depth assessment by
a worker who is specialized in woman
abuse issues, including immigration
issues (e.g., the challenges related to
immigration status).
133
Levels of Assessment (cont’d)
Level 3:
Assessment is also done at various
levels as the woman seeks and makes
use of a variety of services. For example,
assessment will occur when legal or
financial aid is sought, or when housing
is requested by her or on her behalf.
134
Important
Pre-Assessment
Matters
135
• Ensure that the woman has access to an
interpreter, if required
• Ensure that the environment is safe for
disclosures
• Validate comments of fear of disclosure
• Validate and affirm the woman’s
experiences
136
Pre-Assessment Matters (cont’d)
• Inform the woman that this information
will be shared with another worker who
has expertise in domestic violence
• Ask her permission to note some of the
facts to help with memory. Explain to her
why you are writing notes and what you
will be using them for
137
Guidelines for Conducting an
Effective Assessment
• Allow the woman an opportunity to
present the domestic violence problem
(i.e., let her tell her story)
• Recognize that the issue of domestic
violence may not arise at the start of the
meeting before trust has been built 138
Guidelines (cont’d)
• Be aware that a woman may not
necessarily mention abuse as the issue.
She may present a different problem
(e.g., housing, finding a job, etc.)
139
Guidelines (cont’d)
• Understand that a woman may speak
about a friend who is being abused,
when, in fact, it is she who is the
victim
• Understand that a child may have
presented concerns about abuse by
his/her father
140
Guidelines Cont’d
• Remember the occurrence of abuse
could be denied at one stage and
disclosed later
• Remember that disclosure is a way for
the woman to discuss the issue while
keeping it confidential
141
Guidelines (cont’d)
• Educate the client, if necessary, about
domestic violence: some cultures do
not identify verbal and emotional abuse
as abuse
• Emphasize and communicate that
confidentiality will be maintained
142
How to Assess
143
Assess the immediate safety needs
by asking:
- Are you in immediate danger?
-Where is your partner now?
-Where will he or she be when you are
done with your medical care?
- Do you want or need security, or the
police to be notified immediately?" 144
Assess the pattern and history of
the abuse.
-Assess the partner’s physical, sexual,
or psychological tactics,
- "How long has the violence been going on?
- Has the partner forced or harmed her
sexually?
145
Assess the Abuse (Cont’d)
- Has the partner harmed family,
friends, or pets?
- Does the partner control activities,
money, or children?"
146
Assess the connection between
domestic violence and the
patient’s health issues:
- Assess the impact of the abuse on the
victim’s physical, psychological, and
spiritual well being.
- Assess degree of the partner’s control
over the victim? "How is your partner’s
abusive behavior affecting your physical
147
health?
Assess the victim’s current access
to advocacy and support groups:
- Are
there culturally appropriate
community resources available to the
woman?
- What resources (if any) are available
now?
- "What resources have you used, or
tried in the past? What happened? Did
you find them helpful or appropriate?"148
Assess [woman’s] safety:
- Is there future risk or death or significant
injury or harm due to the domestic
violence?
- Ask about the partner’s tactics:
escalation in frequency or severity of the
violence, homicide or suicide threats,
use of alcohol or drugs, as well as about
the health consequences of past abuse
Source: National Association of Social Workers. Domestic Violence Assessment
and Intervention provided by the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
149
Tips for Assessment
150
Tips (Cont’d)
• Communicate and emphasize
confidentiality
• Read signs
• Observe hesitation
151
Tips (Cont’d)
• Listen and validate
• Conduct a high-risk assessment if the
woman is in danger
• Consider when it is appropriate to ask
about impact on children. There are
implications for action
152
Tips (Cont’d)
• Recognize woman’s strengths (e.g.,
Use narrative questioning to learn
about her, “What did you do today?
What did you do before you came to
Canada? Tell me about your friends,”
and develop an inventory of strengths
and a history of behavior.)
153
Tips (cont’d)
• Consider safety of space (e.g., open
office)
• Consider woman’s fear that disclosing
could result in children being taken
from her
• Consider the ‘message’ given when a
person is led through the reception area
in tears to a private room, or to the
counsellor known to work with woman
abuse
154
Tips (cont’d)
• Consider the impact of companions
(e.g., friends and family members,
children, in-laws, husband, parents,
who are present)
• Use questions from existing
assessment tools
• Understand substance abuse
155
Tips (cont’d)
• Use written forms when questioning
about abuse to provide another
channel for disclosure, as the woman
might feel safer responding to written
questions
• Help the woman to feel comfortable
• Demonstrate concern about her
welfare
156
Tips (cont’d)
• Remember the importance of body
language and consider in which
situations touch is appropriate
– (e.g., in Tamil culture a light touch on the
shoulder was identified as appropriate)
• Listen effectively
• Allow the person to determine how
much she wants to talk about the
problem
157
Tips (cont’d)
• Avoid questions that are presumptive
• Be compassionate
• Validate what the woman is saying
(e.g., active listening)
158
Tips (cont’d)
• Use interpreters (a free service exists)
• Communicate clearly what the next
steps are now that the information has
been shared
159
Tips (cont’d)
• Provide support and inquire about the
person’s informal supports (e.g., a
trusted family member or friend)
• Remember faith communities may or
may not be supportive
160
Tips (cont’d)
• Discuss what support looks like,
whether it is really support
• Inquire whether support is close
or distant
• Help the person to make
decisions so she is central in
the decision making
161
Tips (cont’d)
• Ask the woman what she needs
• Inform her of her options. Do not
assume that a woman would prefer to
be referred to someone in her own
ethnocultural community
162
Tips (cont’d)
• Recognize that some women have
never been encouraged or allowed to
make decisions
• Do not assume that the woman knows
what the options are (e.g., she might
not know what a shelter is)
163
Intervention
164
Definition of intervention
• An act that results in an effect
• Is intended to alter the course of a
process or an event
165
IMPORTANT
Interventions should be conducted by
workers specialized in domestic
violence.
Mismanagement of the process
may result in greater risk for the
woman.
166
Levels of Intervention
167
Level 1:
This is the initial intake by a frontline
worker who
may or may not
be experienced in woman abuse
issues
168
Level 2:
A worker who is qualified to work
with an abused woman takes over and
starts by doing more in-depth
assessment
169
Types of Intervention
170
Types of Intervention (Cont’d)
•Information to make survivors
aware of various existing
intervention options
•Emotional support
•Medical interventions
171
Types of Intervention (Cont’d)
• Emergency shelter
• Permanent housing
• Counseling
• Support networks
172
Types of Intervention (Cont’d)
• Legal and financial assistance
• Family support
• Support around immigration-related
issues
173
Tips for Intervention
174
Tips Cont’d
• Have a list of the names and telephone
numbers of services available
• Ensure that this is kept updated
• Have a contact person attached to
each service
175
Tips (cont’d)
• Connect with local woman abuse
initiatives (e.g., Woman Abuse Council
of Toronto, North York Family Violence
Network, workshops, training, etc.) to
keep up with pertinent issues
176
Tips for Conducting an
Effective Intervention
177
Tips (cont’d)
• Remain calm
• Be patient because the woman may
find it difficult to make a disclosure of
abuse
• Provide information about domestic
violence to the woman (e.g., forms of
abuse, effects of the abuse, cycle of
violence, etc.)
178
Tips (cont’d)
• Inform her of your role (i.e., to help her
make informed choices and decisions)
• Listen to the woman and provide
validating messages
• Determine the extent of danger she
may be in
179
Tips (cont’d)
• Determine whether it is safe for her and
her children to remain in the home
• Work on increasing safety for the
woman and her children by validating
their experiences, providing support,
and providing information about
resources and options
180
Tips (cont’d)
• Listen and respond to safety issues
(See Appendix 5, Creating a Safety
Plan)
– Discuss safety planning and review it
with her
– Discuss with her how to keep information
private and secure from her abuser
181
Tips (cont’d)
– Take seriously any feelings the
woman has of being endangered
– Explain to women who are at high
risk and planning on leaving the
relationship that leaving without
telling the partner may be the safest
option
182
Tips (cont’d)
– Ensure the woman has a safe place
to go and encourage her to obtain
advice from a lawyer
– Reinforce the woman’s right to make
decisions regarding her choices and
options
183
Tips (cont’d)
• Make suggestions regarding different
ways she can be helped (e.g., housing,
shelter, police, legal, welfare, etc.)
• Inform the woman about any limits in
confidentiality for example, child abuse
or domestic violence reporting
requirements
184
Tips (cont’d)
• Explain to her that abuse is a crime,
that children may be at risk of harm,
and that you have a duty to report the
abuse
• Assure her that any actions regarding
support and referrals will not be done
without her input
185
Tips (cont’d)
• Remember that the goal is not to get the
woman to leave her abuser, or to “fix”
the problem, but to provide support and
information
• Provide outside referral, support and
monitoring, to ensure that the woman
has access to a trained domestic
violence counsellor and to relevant
services
Source: National Association of Social Workers. Domestic Violence Assessment and Intervention
provided by the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
186
Tips (cont’d)
• Explain how abuse is defined by the
Canadian legal system, and discuss
legal help available
• Remember the various forms abuse
takes (e.g., physical, emotional,
sexual)
• Follow your agency’s intervention
guidelines
187
Tips (cont’d)
• Remember your role is Level 1, that is,
to support and refer the client
• Observe language (e.g., possible
language challenges, need to avoid
jargon, etc.)
188
Tips (cont’d)
• Focus on client empowerment and avoid
building dependency
• Don’t make assumptions about how
much or little a women knows about
services
• Always ask if she would like a referral
189
Tips (cont’d)
• Provide relevant support, service or
emergency phone numbers
• Help women make their own choices
and decisions
• Facilitate women making decisions
(some women have not made many
decisions
190
Tips (cont’d)
• Ensure safety
• Remember the woman is the expert on
her own life
• Know how and where to refer
191
Tips (cont’d)
• Explain free services (e.g., legal aid)
• Adhere to reporting requirements (i.e.,
duty to report)
• Make inquiries on behalf of client without
using identity
192
Tips (cont’d)
• Describe available services and the
different mandates of their agencies
• Inform the woman of what will happen
at other agencies, and provide relevant
service information and contacts
193
Tips (cont’d)
• Consider a woman’s safety and
accompany her if necessary
• Consider interpretation needs
• Ensure all actions taken have the
woman’s prior permission
• Provide safety tips and plans
194
Tips (cont’d)
• Mobilize external supports and options
(e.g., family and community based
intervention, support for the couple,
support for relatives, etc.)
• Discuss positive relations and the
importance of moving from woman
abuse to healthy relationships
195
Referrals
196
Definition
Referral comprises the act
of sending a woman to
another destination for
appropriate service.
197
Tips for Referrals
198
Tips for Referral (cont’d)
• Know your organization’s relevant
referral protocols and guidelines
• Know the resources in your community,
such as shelters specifically for
domestic violence, police (any special
units working with victims of domestic
violence), legal aid, etc.
199
Tips for Referral (cont’d)
• Develop resources for your region and
organization
• Make referrals to local resources
200
Tips for Referral (cont’d)
• Refer the woman, when possible, to
organizations that:
- reflect her cultural background or
- address her special needs, (e.g.
organizations with multiple language
capacity)
Source: National Association of Social Workers. Domestic Violence Assessment
and Intervention provided by the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
201
Module 5:
Strategies to Improve
Services – Case
Management, Best Practices,
Interagency Coordination and
Local Services
202
Case Management
203
Definition:
- Case Management:
A method of providing services whereby
a worker:
- assesses the needs of the client
- arranges, coordinates, monitors,
evaluates, and advocates for a variety of
services
to meet the client’s complex needs.
204
The Goal of Case Management
• Providing a service delivery approach,
based on the assumption that clients
have complex and multiple needs
• Enhancing problem-solving and
coping capacities of clients
205
Goal of Case Management (Cont’d)
• Creating and promoting the effective
and humane operation of systems that
provide resources and services to
people
• Linking people with systems that offer
resources, services, options and
opportunities
206
Goal of Case Management (Cont’d)
• Improving the scope and capacity of the
delivery system
• Contributing to the development and
improvement of education and social policy
Source: National Association of Social Workers. Case Management:
for Social Work case management
NASW Standards
207
Interagency Case
Management in
Domestic Violence
208
Interagency Case Management in
Domestic Violence
• Allows for the creation of an
individualized approach to meet specific
needs of women who have been abused,
based on a comprehensive assessment
• Is developed in collaboration with the
woman and should reflect her decisions
209
Interagency Case Management in
Domestic Violence (cont’d)
• Empowers the woman through
effective service delivery
• Creates a seamless coordinated
approach to violence prevention
210
Organizational
Approach to Domestic
Violence
211
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Clear Mandate
• In the case of an organization that has a
domestic abuse program, the
organizational approach comprises:
- streamlining the types of services available
for abused immigrant and refugee women
(e.g., assessment, counselling referrals,
training, anti-violence education)
212
Organizational Approach Cont’d
Clear Mandate (cont’d)
• For organizations Without a domestic
violence program, there should be:
- clarity about the level of basic assessment
to be done
- Clarity on the steps to be followed
internally thereafter
213
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Clear Mandate (cont’d)
The process should:
-identify the contact person(s) in the
organization to which the woman is being
referred
- oblige the staff who make the referral to call
ahead to ensure that the woman will not be
given the merry go round.
- Ensure clarity on which organization is to
manage the case
214
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Clear Mandate (cont’d)
Whether organization has the mandate
through having a domestic violence
program or not, having various
languages is important to mitigate
accessibility issues
215
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Developed Framework
Apart from stipulation of process, the
organizational approach requires
organization that deal with the victims
of domestic violence to have:
216
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Developed Framework (cont’d)
• A commitment to cultural, linguistic and
religious diversity
• A dedication to anti-racism/anti-oppression
approach
• A recognition of the role that racism,
ethnicity and linguistic barriers pose for
women who experience domestic violence 217
Organizational Approach (Cont’d)
Best Practices
An organizational approach to domestic
violence ensures that agencies that have
domestic violence programs, as well as
those that do not,
- endeavour to implement the features that
exist in current good practice. e.g.,
management must ensure that:
218
Organizational Approach to
Domestic Violence Cont’d
Best Practices (cont’d)
• Agency staff are trained in domestic
violence
• Clear procedures and policies exist to
support the work of staff and provide
information on responsibilities associated
with servicing abused women
219
Organizational Approach to
Domestic Violence Cont’d
Best Practices (cont’d)
• Detailed protocols and policies are in place,
• delineating how to intervene, refer and work
with professionals and institutions, such as
the police, courts, lawyers, Children’s Aid
Society and social workers
220
Organizational Approach Cont’d
Best Practices (cont’d)
• Relevant policies and services are
implemented, based on the needs of women
• Protocols are transparent and allow for
accountability
• Evaluation processes are used to obtain
feedback from service users
221
Case Management Interagency
Coordination
222
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination
Many organizations that provide
services to immigrants and refugees
have abuse programs.
Some organizations do not have
specialized programs.
223
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination (cont’d)
Often, there is insufficient contact and
networking between settlement
organizations and more mainstream
organizations offering women abuse
programs.
224
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination (cont’d)
Many times, there is a general lack of
information and coordination among
service providers around strategies
for violence prevention and
intervention.
225
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination (cont’d)
There is a need for collaboration and
coalition building because it:
• Facilitates the harmonization of services
and practices, making it possible to identify
gaps in services to women who have been
abused
226
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination (cont’d)
• Allows for the coordination of information,
increasing the awareness of existing
services provided by other agencies
• Facilitates a coordinated response for
advocacy, helping to define who is
responsible for providing particular
services and when, which ensures an
effective monitoring and support process
227
Case Management — Interagency
Coordination (cont’d)
• Allows for the development of education
and training for the prevention of domestic
violence
• Creates opportunities that reveal the impact
of domestic violence on immigrant and
refugee women, and the need for increased
resources from government and other
funding sources
228
Whether an agency has an abuse
program or not, there is need for
clear protocols and guidelines
to ensure that all the staff know
what to do when a woman who
might be a victim comes in their
organizations
229
Example of
Interagency
Collaboration for
the Prevention of
Domestic Violence
230
COMMUNITY PARTERNS
Housing
SS
B OF ED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
B OF ED
ADULT ESL
CCC
HOSP
WOMEN
DVU
PD
DVU
VS
231
Abbreviation Key
CCC ― Community Crisis Centre
DVU — Domestic Violence Unit
(HOSP)
DVU — Domestic Violence Unit (PD)
HOSP — Hospital
PD — Police Department
SS — Social Services
VS — Victim Services
232
SAMPLES OF AVAILABLE
SERVICES
IDENTIFIED BY PAST
PARTICIPANTS
IN
OCASI DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WORKSHOPS
233
Services Identified By
Participants From Windsor Essex
Children’s Aid Society
The Shelter for Abused Women Hiatus
House
234
Services Identified By Participants
From Victim Services, Wellington,
Guelph
• Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis
Mariann's Place, Transition Program,
Sexual Assault Centre, 24 Hour crisis
line. P.O. Box 1451 Guelph, ON, N1H 6N9
• Guelph Wellington Sexual Assault Care
and Traditional Treatment Centre,
General Hospital. Delhi St., Guelph, ON,
N1E 4J4
235
Wellington, Guelph Cont’d
• Victim Witness Assistance Program, 36
Lyndham Street South, Guelph, ON
• Homewood Health Centre, 150 Delhi St.,
Guelph, ON
• Family Counselling and Support
Services, 409 Coolwich St., Guelph, ON,
N1H 3X2
236
Wellington, Guelph Cont’d
• Community Mental Health Clinic,147
Delhi St., Guelph, ON, N1E 4J3
• University of Guelph, University of
Guelph Centre, 3rd Floor Guelph, ON,
N1G 2U1
• Family and Children Services of Guelph
& Wellington. 55 Delhi St., P.O. Box
1088, Guelph, ON, N1H 6N3
237
Services Identified By Participants
From North York Community House,
Toronto
• Barbara Schlifer Clinic
• COSTI
• Elspeth Heyworth
238
SERVICES IDENTIFIED BY
PARTICIPANTS FROM REXDALE
WOMEN'S CENTRE, ETOBICOKE
• Micro skills
• YWCA
• Emestine Women’s Shelter
• George Hull Centre
• Rexdale Community Health
239
Services identified by participants
from Rexdale Women’s Centre
Cont’d
• Rexdale Legal Clinic
• Family Services Association
• Albion Neighborhood Services
240
Services Identified By Participants
From Family Counselling Centre of
Niagara, St. Catharines
• Nova House, Women’s Shelter, Niagara
Falls, 905-356-5800
• Women’s Place North Niagara, Women’s
Shelter, St. Catharines, 905-684-8331
• Women’s Place South Niagara, Women’s
Shelter, Welland, 905-788-0113
241
From Family Counselling Centre of
Niagara, St. Catharines Cont’d
• Design for a New Tomorrow,
Counselling for Women, Niagara
Region, 905-684-1223
• Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre,
Counselling for Sexual Assault
Victims
• Niagara Region-Welland, 905-734-1141
242
From Family Counselling Centre of
Niagara, St. Catharines Cont’d
• Women’s Resource Centre, Beamsville,
905-563-5910
• Women’s Resource Centre, Smithville,
905-957-1838
• Women Against Violence (W.A.V.E), Fort
Erie, 905-871-1122
243
From Family Counselling Centre of
Niagara, St. Catharines Cont’d
• Niagara Victim Support Services,
Niagara Region, 905-682-2626
• Bethlehem Place, Supported Housing,
St. Catharines, 905-641-1660
• Centre de Sante Communautaire,
Violence Against Women Program in
244
French
Identified By Participants From
Catholic Family Services of
Hamilton Wentworth, Hamilton,
Ontario
• The Sexual Assault Centre
• Elizabeth Fry Society
• All five shelters in Hamilton
245
Services Identified By Participants
From My Friends’ House, The
Collingwood Crisis Centre,
Collingwood
• My Friends House
• The Collingwood Crisis Centre shelter,
residency, 24 hour crisis line, womens
group 444-2511
• Catulpa Tamarac, Partner Abuse Program,
446-1120
246
Services Identified By Participants
From Guelph-Wellington Women In
Crisis, Guelph
• Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis
• Family Counselling and Support Services
• Guelph-Wellington Care and Treatment Centre
for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
• Couple and Family Therapy Centre, University
of Guelph
247
Services Identified By Participants
From Education Wife Assault,
Scarborough
• Scarborough Women Centre
• South Asian Community Centre
248
What Services are
Available in your local
area?
249
Thank you!
250