Our topic is on Domestic Violence and it may cause people to experience triggers. If anyone feels uncomfortable at any point during our presentation, please feel free to leave discreetly and we will not be upset. The most important to all of us is that everyone feels safe.
As we go through our presentation, we will discussing the oppression of women through domestic violence.

ie too much silence in the male culture of this ongoing issue (tragedy) - discourse ...there needs to be a paradigm shift

As we go through our presentation, we will discussing the oppression of women through domestic violence.
I will introduce the dominant discourse surrounding domestic violence and how it became a women’s issue, but how we need to move toward involving more men to speak up and be part of the solution. The statistics are still staggering in Canada and have not changed much over the last 3 decades-
As stated in the Canadian Journal for measuring violence against women:
Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women have shared a common vision to end violence against women in all its forms.
We thought this article will give you a first hand peek at Amy will be reading an article that was posted in Chatelaine magazine in January 2013. Please listen closely...to a tale of someone who lived with an abusive partner...

Living with an Emotionally Abusive Partner
- Set the stage
- Get into the mindset that domestic violence is not always physical
- Does not discriminate among financials, education, culture, etc.
- Read account of an outwardly positive and successful couple experiencing severe emotional abuse.

Violence against women in Canada is a serious, pervasive problem that crosses every social boundary and affects communities across the country. It remains a significant barrier to women's equality and has devastating impacts on the lives of women, children, families and Canadian society as a whole.

Any use of physical or sexual force, actual or threatened, in an intimate relationship including emotional/psychological abuse, harassing behaviour and finally economic/financial or spiritual abuse.
Some common warning signs of an abusive relationship:
Inequality
Competition
Manipulation
Hostility
Control
Put Downs
Behaviours that are absent:
Equality
Partnership/Co-operation
Honesty and Free choice
Peaceful communication
Intimacy/Closeness
Support

How did DV become a gendered based issue & what needs to be changed: The common flow of discourse...
Steve beats Susan …..Shows what was done to a woman by a man
Susan was beaten by Steve ….. shift in blame from Steve to Susan
Susan was beaten …. now there is no Steve
Susan was battered
Susan is a battered woman….
Shows that now that battering is a Woman’s issue- what happened to the man’s responsibility?
Oppression and DV against women has now become unquestioned
In 1993 UN defined violence against women as:“any act of gender-based violence that results in, 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 in private life (UN 1993)
I will talk about the population of Domestic Violence as a hot topic of an oppressed population
and how we felt this relates to the field of group work for Social Workers, I will touch on the fact that we all felt that this particular topic/group of people touched many people no matter their faith, disability, cultural background, wealth status, etc…
Abuse or intimidation can be physical, sexual, financial and/or emotional in nature
In domestic violence situations, the woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. This can also be the reverse...where the woman was the abuser, however our focus will be on women, the statistics in Canada, Ontario, K-W area
We will present the availability of services, the various types of Group work, Interventions that are being used, how we use theory to guide us in our interventions, empowerment models, the faces of oppression, and how this fits well in with the CASW code of ethics
From : The Canadian family in crisis, by Author(s) Conway, John Frederick, Toronto : James Lorimer, c2001
“On paper and in theory, laws, regulations, and official promulgations make gains for women look and sound impressive. But the practical reality is something else. Laws are only good if they are systematically enforced. Declarations and promulgations are not worth the paper they are written on if no serious action is taken to realize even the most eloquently stated goals.” (p.101)
“ Even those who make it into high-paying professional or business jobs find it necessary severely to scale down career aspirations if they wish to marry and to have children. Therefore while women have fought to gain equality in the world of work with men, they have found many of the fruits of such gains snatched from their grasp because of their continuing child-bearing and -rearing tasks.” (p. 103)
“ Meanwhile, the European feminist movement struggled for equal rights in tandem with demands for programs to help working women deal with family obligations. Consequently, women in Europe have not only succeeded in more significantly narrowing the pay gap with men, but also in winning generous full-pay maternity leave benefits and high levels of state aid to day care.” p104
“Fifty-three per cent of Canadians still believe that married women with families impose a "harmful effect on family life" if they work outside the home.” p. 105

According to a 2015 survey commissioned by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, only 1 in 3 Canadians know what sexual consent means.
Almost all Canadians (96%) believe all sexual activities should be consensual yet only 1 in 3 Canadians understand what it means to give consent.
1 in 5 Canadians between the ages of 18 to 34 believe if a woman sends an explicit photo through email or text, this always means she is giving consent to a sexual activity.
1 in 10 Canadians believe consent to sexual activity is not needed between long-term partners and spouses.
On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. In 2011, In 2011, from the 89 police reported spousal homicides, 76 of the victims (over 85%) were women.
In a 2009 Canadian national survey, women reported 460,000 incidents of sexual assault in just one year. Only about 10% of all sexual assaults are reported to police. When it comes to sexual assault, women are frequently not believed, blamed for being assaulted, “or subjected to callous or insensitive treatment, when police fail to take evidence, or when their cases are dropped arbitrarily.” 13 Only a handful of reported assaults ever result in a conviction: each year, only about 1,500 sexual assault offenders are actually convicted.14
About 80% of sex trafficking victims in Canada are women and girls.15
More than one in ten Canadian women say they have been stalked by someone in a way that made them fear for their life.
In a 2009 Canadian national survey, women reported 460,000 incidents of sexual assault in just one year. 11 Only about 10% of all sexual assaults are reported to police.12 When it comes to sexual assault, women are frequently not believed, blamed for being assaulted, “or subjected to callous or insensitive treatment, when police fail to take evidence, or when their cases are dropped arbitrarily.” 13 Only a handful of reported assaults ever result in a conviction: each year, only about 1,500 sexual assault offenders are actually convicted.14
About 80% of sex trafficking victims in Canada are women and girls.15
More than one in ten Canadian women say they have been stalked by someone in a way that made them fear for their life.
Sexual assault support centre in K-W
In 2011, the five most common violent offences committed against women were common assault (49%), uttering threats (13%), serious assault (10%), sexual assault level I (7%), and criminal harassment (7%). With the exception of sexual assault and criminal harassment, these were also the most frequently occurring offences against men. Women were eleven times more likely than men to be a victim of sexual offences and three times as likely to be the victim of criminal harassment (stalking)
According to police-reported data, about 173,600 women aged 15 years and older were victims of violent crime in 2011. This translates into a rate of 1,207 female victims for every 100,000 women in the population, 5% higher than the rate of violence against men (1,151 per 100,000)
In 2011, approximately 8,200 girls under the age of 12 were victims of violent crime, representing half of all child victims of violent crime. The rate of 381 girl victims per 100,000 population was similar to the rate for boys (375 per 100,000 population), and was 83% lower than the rate among female youth (aged 12 to 17) and 67% lower than the rate for adult women.
Just over half of the violent crimes against girls were committed by a family member (56%), including a parent (biological, adoptive, step and foster parent), sibling, uncle, aunt or other extended family member. Just under one-quarter (23%) were perpetrated by a casual acquaintance,8 10% by a stranger, 5% by a friend and 5% by an authority figure.

In thinking about those statistics, I we have an exercise for the class...
Group Exercise
This is an exercise that was administered to my Victim Services team by Det. Graham Hawkins of the WRPS Human Trafficking unit and is a very powerful exercise with only two questions.
1. Men, I would like you to share with the class what you actively do, say and/or think on a daily basis to stay safe.
a. If there are no men, women, what do you think men would on a daily basis to stay safe?
2. Women, I would like you to share with the class what you actively do, say and/or think on a daily basis to stay safe.
a. Examples:
i.Don’t walk outside alone after dark.
ii. Go to the washroom in pairs
iii. Don’t wear your hair in a ponytail alone in public.
iv. Hold keys between fingers when out alone.

Safety has been internalized by women as a way of life; we were grown up with these strategies for personal safety, many of which have become second nature.
Unfortunately, many of these strategies are reserved for strangers. When your safety is compromised by someone you know and love, what do you do then?
***I would like you to share ways in which you think a victim of domestic violence could stay safe and take steps towards an ultimate separation***
**Scenario Volunteer**
At home, at work, in the neighbourhood

When a victim of DV comes in contact with the WRPS or Victim Services, along with many other services in the region, they sit down and complete this safety plan or another similar to it.
Why is this plan necessary? Why don’t the victims just leave a relationship instead of planning for response to abuse?
- Very likely that a victim will stay with their aggressors after a series of DV
- It typically takes 5-7 tries before a victim successfully leaves the aggressor.
- Safety planning holds the victim accountable for their decision to stay with their abusive partner and provides them with tools to ensure their safety.
- Victim can learn how to become independent, self-sufficient and confident.

Group work revolving domestic violence issues can range from being process oriented to a more structural approach. This can entail methods such as “cognitive behavioural, social learning, communication, and feminist theories” (p. 9)

A Duluth Model -- most widely used for educational domestic abuse groups -- encourages members to talk about emotional, economic, verbal, and physical abuse as well as the use of “intimidation, coercion, and/or threats” (p. 9)

Mutual Aid Support Groups (MSGs) - Looks to ensure that all members needs are met, issues are heard, and cultural differences are acknowledged. “It also keeps in mind that, when dealing with a social problem such as violence against women, interdisciplinary cooperation is essential to providing effective services…”

Ensuring that women in these groups have co-leaders facilitating these group sessions is vital to their success. The use of two leaders has proven to “provide the women with a model of a relationship based on equality, respect, and caring[;] demonstrates to the women that two people can be different and yet can accept their differences, work together, accommodate, and adapt to each other[; it] offers the workers the opportunity to debrief after sessions, which lessens the probability of burnout…[; and finally co-leading] becomes a support system for the workers”

Choice Theory has been developed by American psychiatrist William Glasser.
One of the most controversial elements of this theory is the idea that all behaviour is chosen. Therefore the motivation for such action is always going to be intrinsic. Glasser refers to other theories that focus more on extrinsic motivation as external control psychology. He views such psychology as not only wrong but also potentially harmful.
Within this world will be ideas about how to best fulfill basic human needs. There will also be pictures of what the individual wants to be and the things they want to do in life. The fact that people experience different things as they grow means that their Quality Worlds will differ too.

Choice Theory breaks down human needs into five basic types:
* Survival needs include things like food, shelter, warmth, and security
* The need to belong
* The need to have fun
* The need for power
* The need for freedom
The individual may not be fully aware of their basic needs on an intellectual level, but such needs will still motivate their choices.
Our placement of needs (which ones need to be fulfilled first and foremost) are determined genetically
as individuals engage in everyday life they assign values to relationships, beliefs, traditions, cultural rituals in an attempt to construct an idyllic depiction of a world in which they desire to live.
Human behaviours and choices are attempts to make parallel and align experiences with quality world depictions.
Embedded in the quality world are the five basic universal needs
these needs are fulfilled or unbalanced by choices made to create and achieve the ideal quality world
For an individual to remain in balance and to consequently exhibit functional behaviours and psychological well-being, behaviour must lead to getting one’s needs met to the degree of satisfaction necessary for that individual.

This is the conduit for clinicians to facilitate behaviour change with clients.
W- wants: where the clinician uncovers with the client, what goals and outcomes they are seeking
this allows both the client and the clinician or therapist to discover quality world pictures and the level of need satisfaction and psychological well-being.
D- doing: is a discovery tool for the therapist and client to examine what behaviours the client is actually engaging in that is consistent or inconsistent with their wants.
E- evaluation: through facilitation of a dialogue with the client in attempt to have the client self-evaluate behaviour is that effective or noneffective based on their wants and needs
P- plan: represents the action stage. The client with assistance from the therapist, develops a plan of action, both short term and long term to assist him or her in behaviour changes working toward psychological balance and need satisfaction.
Questions in the WDEP framework are something like
What do you want?
What are you doing to get what you want?
Is it working? (one’s evaluation of what he or she is doing)
What is your plan now?

An example of this would be the drunk driver who explains his behavior by saying that his wife made him angry. According to choice theory the reason why this man got in his car while under the influence is that he chose to do so.

Early studies on women who have experienced domestic violence results in a pathological analysis; stating that women are masochists. They must enjoy suffering in order to stay with abusive partners. Then topics regarding social learning theories were adopted; whereby these theories “postulate that one learns to be a victim first through intergenerational transmission of violence and then through rigid sex role definitions.” This theory explains how it was women’s learned behaviour not to leave their abusive partners, or rather they did not know how to leave such abusive circumstances.
More recently, however, Horton and Johnson (1993) and Baker (1997) have concluded how recognizing the empowering effects of acknowledging women’s strengths and resourcefulness has aided in the finalizing of their unhealthy relationships.

Ultimately, when working in groups with women who have experienced domestic abuse, it is important not to look at them through theoretical lenses; instead, listen intently to what they are saying, find out their needs, and help them along their journey. This is because people will not fit neatly into one theory or category. They are all diverse with individual needs and issues. Instead of teaching them about learned helplessness (how they were not taught how to leave their abusive partners), now ask them if that theory applies to them. People will give an array of responses through which all group members can learn. Expressing dissimilarities within the group can be a great learning tool for these women and also the social workers leading these groups. This can be quite empowering, especially since women will be at all different phases of their journey. Some may still be with their abusive partner, others may be separated. Ultimately everyone’s stories can aid in the group and individual process.

Give definition of Empowerment and the next few slides will discuss the importance of empowerment when working with these specific individuals.

As we’ve learned in our class, empowerment basically is ______

It was important for us to analyze this population because our research showed how women who have experienced abuse from their partners benefit greatly from group work. “The major reasons for working with the women in a group are 3-fold. (1) groups offer a warm, accepting, and caring environment in which the women can feel secure and appreciated.
(2) Groups provide ideal structure for consciousness raising, whereby understanding misperceptions about domestic violence become understood. This can include topics revolving around showing these women that they are not responsible for the violent behaviour and breaking down concepts regarding these women as deviant entities for staying with their violent partners. Groups also help to replace these negative ideas with positive ones. For instance, taking a structural approach to the group in order to effectively show these women that their personal issues are really larger political, social and economic concerns. Understanding that our current policies and economic inequalities, especially regarding unequal pay between males and female, are all factors that affect cases of domestic violence and the need to address these concerns is crucial for people experiencing violence in the home.
And (3) group sessions are most helpful because each member can be seen as a resource. They can talk about their individual journeys and how others have handled similar situations.


The second point made previously is vital for the empowerment process of these women to take place. While utilizing the structural approach to group work, it becomes crucial that these women understand how political and economic issues can heavily affect their individual circumstances. Recognizing these issues within our legal system can take the blame that these women put on themselves off of them and back onto society. Having an understanding of these concerns can begin to empower these women. They can begin to see domestic violence as a national issue and take a stand (if they wish) and fight for more rights. Recognizing that these women, some of the most vulnerable people in society, have their basic human rights violated. Explaining how this is a national issue and that the government’s need to take blame for not advocating on behalf of these women more often and further allowing them to perceive this issue as their own fault, is debilitating.

MAKE CONNECTION TO CHOICE THEORY -- CULTURAL VARIATIONS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE BECOMING EMPOWERED VERY DIFFERENT. SOME PEOPLE END UP IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY FORCED THEM TO BE WITH THAT PERSON. IF THEY LEFT THAT PERSON THEN THEIR WHOLE FAMILY WOULD TURN AGAINST THEM. EVEN JUST THE THOUGHT OF DIVORCE IS SO TABOO OR ILLEGAL IN SOME CULTURES THAT THE FAMILY WOULD ABANDON THEM IF THEY WERE TO LEAVE THEIR ABUSIVE PARTNER. IN THIS WAY, CHOICE THEORY CAN ACTUALLY BE THE MORE EMPOWERING OPTION TO USE DURING GROUP THERAPY. ALLOWING PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE CHOICE TO LEAVE, IT MAY NOT BE EASY, BUT BY MAKING CHOICES THAT ARE NOT BASED ON EXTERNAL FACTORS AND MAKING THE CHOICE ON PERSONAL FREEDOM PEOPLE HAVE MUCH MORE CONTROL IN THEIR LIVES.

From the beginning of the group work process, even during the phase wherein the worker is selecting members to be apart of this group work, the workers must demonstrate respect for the women. Showing each woman respect can be enhanced by allowing each individual story to be shared. Also, believing the women and their stories is paramount for them to feel respected. Their stories and what they understand as facts must be believed to be true or “legitimate knowledge” by the workers. Another factor that demonstrates respect for these women is ensuring that the workers do not think that these women have low self-esteem. Again, people who are abused by their partner come from diverse backgrounds and have differing levels of education, race/ethnicity, geographic location, and more. They do not fit into one constrictive box with specific characteristics.
-As a worker, we must recognize potential and actual or ongoing strengths of the women while emphasizing how amazing it is that “they have survived this far”. It is also important for us to recognize their own stories and backgrounds as a natural resource for them to help them overcome challenges currently and in their future.
-Each person has their own internal voice oppressing them further with ideas saying that they may deserve this kind of behaviour and that they don’t deserve anything better. As workers in the group, we must make these women aware of the oppressor within and challenge these negative self-images and self-evaluations. At this time, it becomes necessary that we instill confidence in these women, telling them that they can solve their own problems. We must raise consciousness in these women regarding their own strengths in themselves, in their community, and break down any negative conceptions that they have engrained in them.
-We must also help to identify any social, economic, political, and/or cultural contexts that hinder these women’s situations. Ultimately, it becomes the women’s responsibility whether they’d like to do something about their learned knowledge of the social, political and economic systems, but having them understand how our constraining systems are infringing upon the rights of these vulnerable people, helps to take the blame off of them and onto the political and economic systems themselves. This can be one of the most empowering steps of this group process because now these women can see that they are not responsible for their situations and that other factors combined to make this unhealthy environment.

As the women begin to tell their stories and share their journey, “each woman realizes that hearing the stories of others makes her feel less alone and actually better about herself. When the workers acknowledge that the women are indeed the experts at helping each other, the process of mobilizing and supporting their competence and strengths can begin”. With this, the women can begin their individual process of self-determination wherein they decide what they want and how to get there with the help of the group. This may become a problem for the group when a woman chooses to stay with an abusive partner but, unfortunately, the group members, including the workers, cannot force them to leave their partner. What is important here, is to hold the woman accountable. Depending on what that woman wanted, the group will continue to hold them accountable for their actions even if they continue their relationship with the abuser.

Overall, what is important to groups such as these is how they are defined. Identifying them solely as “abused women’s groups” provides a negative connotation and leaves these women “playing the victim” role. We must see the women as whole while rejecting the “victim” role but also recognizing how “victimization and oppression” exists and action must be taken to derail this oppression. The intent is on “women who have experienced abuse” and therefore have the opportunity to “take back some control over their lives by identifying the abuse as something they experienced, and not primarily as something others perpetuated against them”. Beginning groups in this way encourages “group programs in which the women can demonstrate and share their specific strengths”. This can include their ability to empathize and nurture, while developing new skills along the way.
(TED TALK COULD GO IN HERE -- ABOUT HOW WE WORD THINGS)

Social workers involved with victims of Domestic Violence are expected to uphold the following CASW core values:

Respect for inherent dignity and worth of persons
Pursuit of social justice
Service to humanity
Integrity of professional practice
Confidentiality in professional practice
Competence in professional practice
Code of ethics. (2005). Ottawa, Ont.: Canadian Association of Social Workers.
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW): Code of Ethics
Practicing social work with victims of DV is an extremely complex beast as you are dealing with any number of characteristics. In one group of women, you may see:
o Substance abuse,
o Cultural differences,
o Disability/ability
o Financial circumstances
o Religious denominations
This makes it imperative that any social worker practice with the CASW Core values in mind. Think about what we’ve discussed in class and the way we envision ourselves practicing social work to see what examples you can think of.

Respect for Inherent Dignity and Worth of Persons
Social workers respect the diversity among individuals in Canadian society and the right of individuals to their unique beliefs consistent with the rights of others.
EX) Relationship dynamics may vary among different cultures, religions, etc. In many cultures, men and women are treated differently and you must respect that. Many women are proud of their modest and service to the men in their lives, as long as a line is not crossed.
Social workers uphold the right of every person to be free from violence and threat of violence.
Pursuit of Social Justice
Social workers uphold the right of people to have access to resources to meet basic human needs.
EX) Educational sessions/seminars on financial assistance, safety planning and housing.
Social workers advocate for equal treatment and protection under the law and challenge injustices, especially injustices that affect the vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Remember - the developmental and physically disabled can have relationships too and the gravity of DV might not always be understood or dealt with.

Service to Humanity
Social workers place the needs of others above self-interest when acting in a professional capacity.
Beyond the practices of Empowerment strategies to establish empathy and trust, this is not a forum for the social worker to discuss his/her own problems.
Social workers promote individual development and pursuit of individual goals, as well as the development of a just society.
EX) Personal social worker biases aside, a victim of domestic violence may wish to stay with their aggressor for any number of reasons. Respect their personal goals and work towards individual development to build confidence in the victim and empower them. Recognize that ‘individual goals’ are subjective and what you feel is a problem/goal may be different than what the client feels is a problem/goal.
Social workers use their knowledge and skills in bringing about fair resolutions to conflict and in assisting those affected by conflict.
EX) Education on proper coping mechanisms, anger management and effective community strategies is beneficial to both the victim and accused. Safety planning is a proactive strategy for safe resolutions of conflict. For example, a social worker could discuss patterns and queues that indicate the victim is in an unsafe situation and how they might remove themselves from that situation.
Integrity of Professional Practice
Social workers demonstrate and promote the qualities of honesty, reliability, impartiality and diligence in their professional practice.
EX) One of the most effective qualities of group work is the modelling of appropriate behaviour by the social worker.
EX) Coordinating a program that is honest, open, reliable, ethical and transparent will build trust among clients and will create a warmer and more encouraging environment for clients to become vulnerable and participate.
Confidentiality in Professional Practice
Social workers respect the importance of the trust and confidence placed in the professional relationship by clients and members of the public.
EX) For many cultures/religions/ethnicities, the concept of counselling is misunderstood and regarded as a shameful practice. Be mindful to the different complexities of working with different demographics and respect their right to confidentiality.
EX) At the beginning of every group session, remind and inform participants of the CASW Code of Ethics and a social workers responsibility of confidentiality.
Social workers only disclose confidential information with the informed consent of the client or permission of client’s legal representative.
EX) If it becomes apparent in a group session that a participant and/or their children are at risk of bodily harm or death, it is the responsibility of the social worker to report such. This caveat of the Code of Ethics should also be explained to participants.
Competence in Professional Practice
Social workers uphold the right of clients to be offered the highest quality service possible & Social workers strive to maintain and increase their professional knowledge and skill.
EX) This involves social work education and currency of practitioner’s qualifications. A social worker should be well versed in domestic violence and couples counselling studies and academia. This may also include the attendance of relevant seminars and a diverse knowledge of regional social services.
Social workers demonstrate due care for client’s interests and safety by limiting professional practice to areas of demonstrated competence.
EX) It may be discovered there are additional issues at play such as substance abuse or mental illness. If the domestic violence social worker is not well versed in these areas of social work, appropriate referrals should be made in cooperation with the client.

Shelters
Adult: Anselma House, Haven House, House of Friendship
Youth: Safe Haven (Lutherwood), Argus Residence, ROOF
Families: Mary’s Place (YWCA)
Counselling:
VSWR, KW Counselling, Sexual Assault Support Centre, KW Multicultural Centre, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
Public Social Services:
F&CS, Region of Waterloo Social Services, WRPS DVU / EART / VSU

Now that you’ve been introduced to social group work with victims of domestic violence, where are these structural approaches empowerment methods actively incorporated into addressing partner abuse?

Shelters:

Anselma House / Haven House: Both are shelters operating in Kitchener for abused women and children.
House of Friendship: Facilitates the Charles Street Men’s Hostel but also provides addiction services, community services, family services and permanent residence services.
Mary’s Place: Bianca’s Place, Rotating Night Shelter, Julia’s Place, Emergency Family, Lula’s Place - short and long-term residences offered specifically for families (can include single father/mother families, etc.)
Safe Haven (Lutherwood): Offers youth a safe alternative to living on the street (ages 12 to 18). Immediate admission and services for up to 10 youth on a 24/7 basis.
Argus Residence: Emergency shelter to homeless youth between 16-24
ROOF: Provides emergency shelter to homeless youth between 12-25

Counselling:

Victim Services Waterloo Region: Is often the first contact a victim of DV will have. VSWR is on scene crisis response and offers on scene referral after assessment of the situation. If any person is looking for assistance, all they need do is call VSWR and a responder can provide them with all the pertinent information they require. (sudden death, DV, Human Trafficking, MVC)
KW Counselling: It is safe to say that you can almost always refer a client to KW Counselling. They have a variety of individual and group counselling programs tailored to different needs including newcomers, ok2bme, family counselling etc.. The biggest plus of this agency is they offer walk-in counselling every Thursday between 12-6 pm, no referral is required and fees are negotiated based on personal financial situation. Counselling can assist with stress, relationship issues, substance abuse, trauma, grief and loss, parenting, sexual abuse, depression, DV, etc.
Sexual Assault Support Centre: Supports those who have been sexually assaulted as children or as adults by providing, free of charge, mobile support lines, feminist counselling and advocacy, referrals to medical/legal assistance, financial subsidies.
KW Multicultural Centre: Offers assistance to anyone who requires it including family outreach, peer support groups, mentoring.
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region: Offers a range of programs to help women and children move beyond violence. This includes the aforementioned Anselma House and Haven House. They offer outreach services, outreach group support, Safe Steps (focuses on the impact of DV on children), and Family Violence Project where safety planning is offered to women by one of our outreach workers whenever a criminal charge related to DV is laid.

Public Social Services

F&CS: Under the authority of Ontario Children Welfare Legislation, F&CS will work to protect children, support them and strengthen their families to develop a caring environment for children. A lot of domestic violence circumstances have a ripple effect beyond the immediate victim and can be very traumatic for children in the household. F&CS offers counselling/referral services, crisis intervention, investigation of abuse and neglect, family support, residential services, etc.
WRPS DVU: Domestic Violence Unit is the immediate contact a victim will likely have after a traumatic DV incident. DVU officers are all heavily trained in similar subjects we are learning and are some of the best people to ask for resources in the region.
WRPS EART: As above, just for elderly.
WRPS VSU: After an incident ends, the services VSU will follow-up with the victim and keep them aprised of all police/court proceedings and offer short term counselling.

Remember:
Do not ask “Why doesn’t she leave?” because as soon as she leaves, her rates of being killed by that partner become 75%

Say words of empowerment:
“You are a beautiful woman!”
“Nobody deserves to be treated that way!”
“What your partner is doing is illegal.”

And Encourage her to seek help either at a shelter, or in group therapy, whatever resources are available to you in your community!
(Pamela Taylor)

As Pamela Taylor says in her Ted talk, 3 out of 4 (74%) of us know of someone who has been or is currently experiencing domestic violence. Please don’t turn a blind eye. Like Pamela experienced when she was thrown in the back of her partner’s truck at a mall parking lot and the people surrounding her chose not to help, she immediately realized her life was over. Nobody would help her but herself. Be different. Help those if you see that something is wrong.

“In the end what will hurt the most is not the words of our enemies, but the silences of our friends” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.