This presentation will highlight the constructivist framework and the operationalization of the concepts, Multiple Ways of Knowing (Carper, 1978), Cultural Safety & Humility (First Nations Health Authority, n.d.; Ramsden, 2002) and Appreciative Inquiry (Cooperrider & Srivastva,1987) that have led to a successful PAR project. As well, the resulting recommendations and changes that have occurred within the community from the project will be outlined. Perspectives of various participants, such as police, criminal justice system personnel, service providers, educators and medical services personnel, as well as the clients of programs and services – the perpetrators of violence in relationships as well as the victims/survivors shaped this work. Participants observed certain aspects/experiences of the systems that were positive, and suggested ways that these systems could be improved.
The recurrent themes in the first PAR cycle point to various steps that can be taken in order to achieve an integrated, smooth, and efficient system that best serves the needs of those involved in the domestic abuse cycle. Key recommendations that arose from this research project include:
- The need for an increase in non-profit funding in order to facilitate new programs / expand current ones. This would include increased funding for victims’ services programs (support and counselling) and children who witness abuse, and developing programs for perpetrators of violence (in particular, programs available to men who are not charged)
- Increased training opportunities
- Reducing wait lists and response times for those in need of services
- Improve the existing screening tools for assessment and education for front line staff (community service and health workers)
- Where appropriate, provision of holistic family treatment
- Provision of cultural safety training to meet the needs of Surrey’s diverse communities
- Increasing collaboration with community agencies with respect to information sharing and resource links
In addition to the above steps, more transformative changes within the community would also need to happen. These include the establishment of a dedicated judicial system which would effectively shorten the duration of court processes; the development of a community conflict resolution system for individuals in the community who do not want to or cannot report the violence; the implementation of a central resource centre or database which would act as a guiding map for the community to provide information about the community resources and systems in place and how to access them; using social media avenues to educate communities about the issue of violence against women in relationships and its prevalence in the community; and organizing networking workshops and sessions where service providers can gain information about available resources.
Another recommendation by participants was to create The Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR), and continue with the PAR cycle. The goal of this PAR called NEVR has become to create a society where relationship violence is not accepted nor tolerated. This is a research project and a community clinical placement for nursing students.
The outcomes and actions of the process of creating and keeping this network together and the PAR cycles will be highlighted. Included in the presentation will be how students work with NEVR and some of their insights. It is hoped that participants will be able to use this process and framework to address the issue of relationship violence in their communities.
See more of: Evidence-Based Practice Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters