A Better World for Women: Moving Forward · Moving Forward 2005-2010. It represents the commitments...

A Better World for Women: Moving Forward

2 0 0 5 - 2 0 1 0

A BETTER WORLD FOR WOMEN: MOVING FORWARD 2005-2010

Published by:

Province of New Brunswick P.O. Box 6000 Fredericton NB E3B 5H1CANADA

ISBN 1-55396-600-7

Printed in New Brunswick

CNB 3192

A BETTER WORLD FOR WOMEN: MOVING FORWRR AW RD

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

ACCOMPLISHMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

YEAR 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Key Result Area 1: Transitional supports for women and services to women and children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Key Result Area 2: Access to justice services - specialized court model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Key Result Area 3: Education and prevention initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitments . . . 13

Key Result Area 5: Leadership and co-ordination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

YEAR 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Key Result Area 1: Transitional supports for women and services to women and children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17





YEAR 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20






A BETTER WORLD FOR WOMEN: MOVING FORWARD

4

YEAR 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22






YEAR 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24







5

IntroductionThe Government of New Brunswick established the Minister’s Working Group on Violence Against Women in December 2000. The working group is a partnership between government and various community groups.The working group’s mandate was to develop a comprehensive strategic framework that alleviates the problem of violence against women in New Brunswick. The working group provided recommendations to address issues of violence against women, which it presented to government in December 2001.The working group continues to meet at least annually to review accomplishments, provide more advice and exchange information on initiatives taking place in all areas of New Brunswick. The government launched a three-year action plan, titled A Better World for Women, to address the recommendations provided by the working group. The implementation of that action plan ended on March 31, 2005.The following is the government’s second action plan, titled A Better World for Women: Moving Forward 2005-2010. It represents the commitments to be implemented over the next five years ending March 31, 2010.The commitments contained in this action plan are a continuation of initiatives from the first action plan. The initiatives were chosen based on advice received through consultations and training provided throughout the province, findings from close examination of existing service delivery gaps and better practices in other jurisdictions, and the ongoing input of the Minister’s Working Group on Violence Against Women.


6

AccomplishmentsGovernment has been extremely successful in what it set out to accomplish through A Better World for Women. Since April 1, 2002, a violence prevention co-ordinator was appointed and she devotes her time to working with departments and community organizations towards achieving the vision “That all New Brunswick families live in a secure and nurturing environment free of abuse and violence.” For example:

• An abuse information page is in all New Brunswick phone books.

• An attitudinal survey was completed. This will be used as a baseline to measure change over time.

• A directory of services was compiled and has been distributed to all family physicians, regional offices, transition houses, etc.

• The Woman Abuse Protocols have been updated and distributed.

• Training of service providers, both government and community, has taken place around the province on the Woman Abuse Protocols.

• Transition house funding is now at 100 per cent of approved operating costs.

• Funding and other support has been provided to Making Waves/Vague Par Vague, a dating violence prevention program.

• The Department of Justice released a discussion paper, Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence: Options for Law Reform in New Brunswick, and held consultation sessions in four locations.


7

• The Department of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Department of Education, has expanded the Healthy Learners Program to grades 6-8.

• The Child Victim of Abuse and Neglect Protocols have been updated and were recently released.

• The Adult Victims of Abuse Protocols are now being updated and will be released in the fall of 2005.

• Abuse information is being provided through immigrant settlement services in the larger centres, namely Saint-John, Fredericton, and Moncton.

• A violence prevention website has been launched which is a New Brunswick content website on violence prevention and resources. The site is considered a central piece of an education campaign.

• Inter-departmental project teams have been in place throughout the three years and have worked on updating the protocols, reviewing policies and options for program areas relating to outreach services, access to information, sexual assault services, legislation, etc.

• A number of successful partnerships and working relationships with key community stakeholders are established.

Moving forward with our second action plan, A Better World for Women: Moving Forward 2005-2010, consists of building upon existing initiatives and developing new ones over the course of the next five years.

A BETTER WORLD FOR WOMEN II: MOVING FORWARD

GGOVERNME

NTT

COO

MMMUNIITYY

8

YEAR 1 – April 2005 to March 2006

Key Result Area 1: Transitional supports for women and services to women and childrenGovernment aims to improve transitional support services for women who are attempting to leave an abusive relationship and for women who are dealing with the impact of sexual violence.Goals in this area are to:

• raise women’s awareness of existing programs and services;• simplify access to programs and services;• improve timeliness of interventions on behalf of women;

• provide the right service and expertise at the right time and place;• and to make all such programs and services consistently available to women.

Government has proposed a mix of services that is to be developed and implemented starting in the first year of the five-year action plan. As these services become available, an evaluation framework will measure their effectiveness in helping women. The findings will be used to determine what improvements can be made in the provision of services so that all women can receive the best possible assistance if they should need help.

The following are the goals and proposed strategies.

1. Sexual Assault Services June 2005-March 2008 full implementation

The goal is to work with local communities to develop and establish a model of service delivery that ensures all New Brunswick women have access to a minimum level of sexual assault services.To reach this goal, the government has committed to phase-in sexual assault services throughout the province over three years. In partnership with the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, we will establish the proposed model of an Aware and Supportive Community throughout New Brunswick.The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre’s proposed model is community-based and designed to work with regional networks and existing community-driven violence prevention groups.

Shared Responsibility between community and government

March 2006April 2005


Awareness Looking forHelp

TakingAction

Preparing forthe future

Healing

The woman’s journey

2. Treatment and support program for children exposed to violence June 2005-March 2009 full implementation

The goal is to provide a group treatment and support model for women and children who have been exposed to violence in their home. Access to this service will be broad-based; women and children will be able to access it on their own or with a referral from a violence prevention agency.To reach this goal, we have committed to research existing models and to begin working with stakeholders to develop a plan to establish this service. The efforts in Year 1 will be focused on the selection of a model and development of service delivery throughout New Brunswick.The province is seriously considering the model developed by the London Family Court Clinic.

3. Transitional supports benefits

The first goal is to match women with more appropriate, helpful supports benefits when they are leaving abusive relationships.The second goal is to help women to meet their current and future needs and to plan their move to a life that’s free of violence and abuse.To reach these goals, we have committed to enhance traditional supports benefits available to women in the Women in Transition program, which the Department of Family and Community Services administers.Women’s eligibility for these supports benefits will be extended from a period of three months to a period of nine months. As a result, women in the program will be able to:

• share accommodations without penalty;• access a better rate of social assistance for non-elderly, single women for

nine months;• and to have the assistance of specially trained case managers. These case

managers will help women who are looking for assistance explore options once they have decided to leave an abusive situation. As part of the case planning process they will inform women of supports and services that are available to assist them.

The Process of Leaving: Stages of Awareness and Action

9


10

4. Evaluation framework June 2005-March 2008 complete

The goal is to assess the effectiveness of all existing and new transitional support services for women over the next three years. To reach this goal, the government will develop an evaluation framework to track levels of support, access to transitional support, and outcomes for women.

5. Sex-trade workers

The goal is to focus on and offer support to sex-trade workers.To reach this goal, we will partner with stakeholders to develop and deliver an intervention program for women who want to leave the sex trade.

Key Result Area 2: Access to justice services – specialized court modelThe government aims to develop and establish a specialized court model to enhance women’s access to justice services. A specialized court model is seen as a way to:

• address current problems in the justice system, such as timeliness of court proceedings in domestic violence situations, use of existing legal remedies, and create opportunities to enhance communication between family and criminal court to share information in custody disputes;

• ensure that court-ordered offender interventions are delivered by partner agencies and monitored by specialized court workers to make sure the offender participates fully;

• provide a method to deal effectively and sensitively with the many different aspects of abuse cases;

• bring sensitive, trained professionals to apply effective solutions, monitor sentencing conditions and support positive outcomes for women;

• establish a responsive system that encourages and supports responsibility and accountability for abuse;

• and to provide and improve opportunities for change and provide ways to stop further abusive behaviours.

The following are the goals and proposed strategies.

1. Treatment programs for perpetrators of family violence June 2005-March 2010 full implementation

The goals are to develop a treatment program for perpetrators of family violence that:

• operates jointly with the specialized domestic violence court;• helps abusive men address and change their abusive behaviours;• provides alternatives for abusive men to deal with their behaviours;• and helps abusive men recognize the impact their behaviour has on their

children and teach them non-abusive ways of both parenting and behaving in their intimate relationships.


11

To reach these goals, we have committed to:• look at models for treatment programs for perpetrators of family violence

and consider ways to deliver a treatment program in the province;• adapt a treatment and support model for New Brunswick, based on

programs offered through the London Family Court Clinic;• pilot the establishment of the program where the Specialized Domestic

Violence Court is to be established;• and phase-in the establishment of the program along with pilot sites for

the Specialized Domestic Violence Court (only development work on the program will be carried out in Year 1).

2. Domestic Violence Court Model June 2005-March 2010 full implementation 2 sites

The goals are to:• get family violence experts and professionals to work in a specialized court

to provide effective interventions to address the complexities of domestic violence cases;

• and develop and establish ways to support court-ordered remedies that support victims and help perpetrators to address their abuse and violence.

To reach these goals, we have committed to develop a pilot Domestic Violence Court Model in the province. Year 1 will be focused on development and preparation of a court site that is to be ready for operation in Year 2.

3. Evaluation framework June 2005-March 2008 complete

The goal is to assess effectiveness of the specialized court model and look for opportunities to refine or strengthen the court model prior to further implementation. To reach this goal, the province has committed to:

• develop an appropriate evaluation framework to monitor process and outcomes once the specialized domestic violence court becomes operational;

• the evaluation framework will be developed in year 1 along with the court model.


12

4. Risk assessment tool

The first goal is to use risk assessment in domestic violence cases to:• determine the likelihood that the perpetrator will re-offend;• determine the potential for more serious and dangerous assaults;• and identify the areas where risk can be minimized through proper

interventions. The second goal is to determine with greater confidence the elements that might place women and children at risk of serious injury or death. To reach these goals, we have committed to examine and use a model of risk assessment throughout New Brunswick. Year 1 will include research and analysis of existing models, selection, training and establishment of a model.

Key Result Area 3: Education and prevention initiativesThe government aims to carry out education and prevention initiatives that will allow it to reach New Brunswickers of all ages. These initiatives will be carried out in an effort to raise awareness of and educate people about the impacts of domestic violence on individuals and society on the whole.These initiatives will alternate over the course of the plan and target groups based on age, special needs, specific issues, etc.The following are the goals and proposed strategies.

1. Prevention programs for children and youth

The goals are to:• raise awareness among youth and to promote healthy relationships as they

begin dating;• and partner with educators and individuals working with young children

to come up with ways and resources to help children to develop healthy relationships.

To reach these goals, we have committed to partner with other levels of government and communities to support prevention programs for youth.

2. Public education strategies

The goal is to work in partnerships to address all aspects of domestic violence prevention, awareness and education. To reach this goal, we have committed to partner with other stakeholders to develop and establish tools and education events to raise awareness about domestic violence.


13

Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitmentsThe government aims to ensure ongoing funding and continuity of initiatives in its first action plan.The following are the goals and proposed strategies.

1. Ongoing training

The goals are to:• provide training opportunities regularly in a variety of ways

to ensure training will be available where it’s needed;• develop alternate training formats and ways to provide

training to overcome barriers to training attendance;• and provide and promote flexibility in training to fit within employee

development days and meetings, in order to provide access for professions that are hard to reach.

To reach these goals, we have committed to offer training sessions and continuing education opportunities on violence prevention and awareness, or specialized practical approaches throughout the year to government and community partners.

2. Abuse information page

The goals are to:• help victims to find the intervention service they need;• and to raise awareness of what abuse is and how women can get help.

To reach these goals, we have committed to continue to provide the abuse information page on Page 2 of all New Brunswick telephone books.

3. Minister’s Working Group

The goal is to receive ongoing advice on putting the action plan into practice.To reach this goal, the government has committed to hold a Minister’s Working Group meeting on an annual basis.


14

Key Result Area 5: Leadership and co-ordination The Women’s Issues Branch of Executive Council Office is responsible for the leadership and co-ordination function of A Better World for Women: Moving Forward 2005-10. Many of the issues overlap between the violence prevention file and the broad Status of Women issues. Expertise and co-ordination within the branch ensures there is no duplication of efforts or resources and provides comprehensive analysis of initiatives that are moving forward.Activities of leadership and co-ordination as contained in this plan are in many respects a continuation of existing functions resulting from the first action plan. The initiatives build on the previous investments and strive towards useful integration of programs and services between departments and community stakeholders. The issue of violence against women cannot be separated to fit neatly into departmental mandates. It affects all partner departments through costs for services, reduced productivity, higher unemployment or underemployment, greater consumption of health services, low performance by some children in the education system requiring more resources as well as affecting other children’s learning, and modelling the violence from the home front in the school yard.The initiatives proposed in the plan cross the various departments where at all possible. The government will continue to strive to address these issues collectively, as it is the only way to make progress.The following are the goals and proposed strategies.

1. Research assistant

The goal is to assist with the ongoing work related to the prevention of violence against womenTo reach this goal, the government has committed to add the position of a research assistant to the team.

2. Participation on FPT working groups and in FPT initiatives

The goals are to:• benefit from information sharing between jurisdictions in order to capitalize

on gains and benefits enjoyed elsewhere and to learn from others’ experiences;

• and to be informed of ongoing research initiatives and projects that can inform its own business practices.

To reach these goals, we have committed to participate in the FPT working group on violence against women and other working groups as they deal with women’s issues.


15

3. Provincial advisory group / Regional Violence Prevention Networks

The goals are to:• strengthen the standing of each network by providing the opportunity to

learn from each other and to share tools and resources;• assist regional networks by addressing their training and development needs;• create a give-and-take forum that promotes an effective way of staying

connected to communities year-round;• and organizing training events, distributing information and tools, and getting

feedback as needed.To reach these goals, we have committed to create an ongoing provincial advisory group that will consist of one active member from each violence prevention network. The group will meet about three times a year to advance violence prevention initiatives throughout New Brunswick.This forum will provide the opportunity to showcase new initiatives, tools and resources from communities around the province.Through the establishment of violence prevention initiatives, the group will be instrumental in this action plan and will spark the regional distribution of information.

4. Support community violence prevention initiatives

The goals are to:• support innovation and creativity in developing ways to deal with issues not

being addressed;• bridge funding for initiatives that are in-between projects or contracts in

order to keep valuable services;• and be able to partner on initiatives along with other groups to host an

educational event or conference, produce printing materials, etc.To reach these goals, we have committed to establish a fund to provide financial and in-kind support to community groups for special projects, research projects, and community and province-wide initiatives that advance the goal of violence prevention and support victims of domestic violence.Based on a set of criteria, the Women’s Issues Branch will aid provincial and local efforts as one of a number of partners.


16

5. Initiatives / projects within existing Executive Council Office- Women’s Issues Branch

The goals are to:• continue building on initiatives underway within the branch and examine

other options to be considered for future development;• and to continue to strengthen our approach in dealing with violence

against women within the community and across stakeholder government departments.

To reach these goals, we have committed to:• establish and provide ongoing support for departmental co-ordinators

to carry out networking, co-ordination and information sharing with and between stakeholders across government;

• participate as an adviser on research teams and provide input for future projects;

• encourage use of better practices across jurisdictions;• establish a working group to look at sustained funding options for provincial

projects;• develop more partnerships with aboriginal women’s groups to understand

their needs more clearly;• participate at the national level in initiatives on violence against aboriginal

women;• support gender-based analysis in government;• work with corporate and departmental human resources branches to find

ways to raise awareness about employees dealing with violence in their own lives and support them;

• and provide ongoing development of the violence prevention website.


17


Key Result Area 1: Transitional supports for women and services to women and children

1. Sexual Assault Services

The government will continue the phasing-in of province-wide sexual assault services.

2. Outreach and crisis intervention April 2006-March 2009 full implementation

The goals are to:• ensure women have access to someone who can respond to their crisis and

assist them;• establish the critical component of outreach in each region of New

Brunswick;• and assist communities in developing their own community-based model,

which will be built on existing resources and with the use of existing opportunities.

To reach these goals, we have committed to:• begin developmental work with stakeholders to establish outreach and crisis

intervention services;• examine models throughout the province and elsewhere;• begin phasing-in establishment of services during Year 3 of the action plan.• make outreach services available in all regions of the province;• pursue opportunities for partnership, such as sharing of resources and office

space, to form the basis of new services in order to be cost-efficient;

3. Treatment and support program for children exposed to violence

The government has committed to begin the phased-in establishment of the treatment and support program for children who have been exposed to violence.

4. Enhanced income benefits for women in transition

The goal is to maintain enhanced income benefits for women in transition as in Year 1.



18

5. Second-stage housing April 2006-March 2010 full implementation

The goal is to provide mid-term housing options with supports to women who are leaving abusive relationships.To reach this goal, we have committed to provide 70 per cent of approved funding to existing second-stage housing in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John.

6. Evaluation framework for transitional supports

The goal is to implement the evaluation framework.


The goal is to continue focusing on and offering support to sex-trade workers as in Year 1.

Key Result Area 2: Access to justice services – specialized court model

1. Treatment program for perpetrators

The government has committed to establish a treatment program for perpetrators and a specialized court model.

2. Domestic Violence Court model

The government has committed to begin the establishment of a Domestic Violence Court in one pilot site.

3. Evaluation framework

The government has committed to implement the evaluation framework for the pilot court site.


The government has committed to continue phasing-in the establishment of a risk assessment tool.

5. Legal aid April 2006 on-going

The goal is to improve access to domestic legal services for women.To reach this goal, we have committed to increase funding to domestic legal aid.


19

Key Result Area 3: Education and prevention initiativesThe goal is to ensure prevention programs for children and youth and public education strategies are ongoing.

Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitments The goal is to ensure training programs, the abuse information page and Minister’s Working Group meetings are ongoing.

Key Result Area 5: Leadership and co-ordinationThe goal is to maintain research and development; participation in federal working groups and initiatives; regional networks advisory committee; support violence prevention initiatives; and ongoing initiatives within the Women’s Issues Branch.


20



1. Province-wide sexual assault services

The goal is to establish sexual assault services throughout New Brunswick.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue phasing-in these services in the province.

2. Outreach and crisis intervention

The government has committed to continue to begin the phasing-in of these services in the province.

3. Treatment and support program for children exposed to violence

The government has committed phasing-in these services in the province.


The goal is to maintain these benefits for women as in Year 1.

5. Second-stage housing

The government has committed to provide 80 per cent of approved funding to existing second-stage housing in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John.


The goal is to provide an evaluation report at the end of the year.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue the evaluation until the end of Year 3.





21



The goal is to continue offering the treatment program for perpetrators at pilot sites.


The goal is to have the court site fully operational.To reach this goal, the government has committed to establish the court at one pilot site.

3. Evaluation framework

The goal is to continue the evaluation until the end of Year 3 and conclude it at that time.To reach this goal, the government has committed to establish the evaluation framework of the pilot court site.


The goal is to continue phasing-in the establishment of the risk assessment tool.

5. Legal aid

The goal is to maintain funding for legal aid as in Year 2.

Key Result Area 3: Education and prevention initiativesThe goal is to maintain prevention programs for children and youth, as well as public education strategies, as in Year 1.

Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitmentsThe goal is to maintain ongoing training, the abuse information page and Minister’s Working Group meetings, as in Year 1.

Key Result Area 5: Leadership and co-ordinationThe goal is to maintain research and development, participation in federal working groups and initiatives, the regional networks advisory committee, support violence prevention initiatives and ongoing initiatives within the Women’s Issues Branch, as in Year 1.


22




The goal is to establish sexual assault services completely. These services are to be continued with dedicated funding.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue to phase-in the establishment of these services.


The goal is to finish full establishment of these services by the end of Year 4.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue to phase-in the establishment of these services.

3. Treatment and support for children exposed to violence

The goal is to expand this program to other areas of New Brunswick.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue to phase-in the establishment of these services.


The goal is to maintain these benefits as in Year 1.




The goal is to provide an evaluation report at the end of Year 4.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue the evaluation until the end of the year.





23



The goal is to continue offering the treatment program for perpetrators at pilot sites.


The goal is to have the court site operational.To reach this goal, we have committed to establish the court at one pilot site.



4. Domestic violence legislation framework

The goal is to ensure New Brunswick has comprehensive legal measures in place to deal effectively with the range of domestic violence situations that arise in the province.To reach this goal, we have committed to develop a comprehensive domestic violence legislation framework. This will be established jointly with the Specialized Domestic Violence Court and its supporting remedies in order to simplify training and integrate the system as much as possible.

5. Legal aid



Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitmentsThe goal is to maintain ongoing training, the abuse information page and Minister’s Working Group meetings, as in Year 1.



24




The goal is to maintain sexual assault services in the province.


The goal is to maintain outreach and crisis intervention services.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue phasing-in outreach and crisis intervention services.

3. Treatment and support for children exposed to violence

The goal is to expand the program of treatment and support for children exposed to violence to other areas of New Brunswick.To reach this goal, we have committed to continue phasing-in this program.


The goal is to maintain these benefits for women as in Year 1.







25



The goal is to expand the treatment program for perpetrators to the second court site.


The goal is to expand the court model to a second site.



4. Domestic violence legislation framework

The government has committed to establish the domestic violence legislation framework.

5. Legal aid



Key Result Area 4: Ongoing Better World for Women commitmentsThe first goal is to maintain ongoing training, the abuse information page and Minister’s Working Group meetings, as in Year 1.The second goal is to evaluate public awareness and education strategies.To reach the second goal, we have committed to conduct a second attitudinal survey (April 2009 to be completed that year) to find out how attitudes have changed since the first such survey was conducted in 2002.


A Better World for Women: Moving Forward · Moving Forward 2005-2010. It represents the commitments...

Documents

Transcript of A Better World for Women: Moving Forward · Moving Forward 2005-2010. It represents the commitments...