Sustainability Strategies Justice Working Group | Income Assistance Working Group Sustainability Strategy Justice Working Group Coalition for Woman Abuse Policy and Protocol in PEI The Justice Working Group identified two areas important to the sustainability of the protocols: Training The group spent some time discussing training as it relates to sustainability and generated a list of training needed to ensure sustainable protocols: use a multi-faceted approach to deal with individual learning methods involve survivors of woman abuse as presenters in training involve The Learning Centre in offering training for all government workers re: dynamics of violence offer training for those working with offenders re: dynamics of battering men (understanding how to work with abusers) all government employees should have access to training probation in particular should have access to intensive and ongoing training because of the turnover of staff offer training on the protocols specifically (where it is - how to use it) mandatory core training (find a reasonable minimum that fits for everyone) for particular groups (Turning Point, Youth Workers, Crowns, Victim Services, Corrections, Judges, Court Staff, Police, Probation) do some quality assurance - how can we ensure that the training is effective? assist people to examine their own biases early in training change behaviour higher levels of training for designated staff who will be responsible for training? Evaluation The group determined that evaluation of the protocols is essential to their sustainability and the following ideas and questions about evaluation were generated: what happens when there's a shift in departments, policy, etc. and the policy has to be changed? bring this group back together every so often to review protocols (every six months) has to be a collective responsibility to ensure that protocols are reviewed annually put on-line - someone has to be responsible to make changes what do we mean by evaluation - does it make a difference in the lives of women - if not, then need to Sustainability Strategy Income Assistance Working Group Coalition for Woman Abuse Policy and Protocol in PEI The Income Assistance Working Group determined that the first step to ensure sustainability of the Woman Abuse Protocol will be to take it through the regular policy development steps and bring it to a meeting of the Supervisors for discussion and revision and then to the Deputy Minister or signature. In addition, the group identified three areas important to the sustainability of the protocol: Training The Working Group spent some time discussing training as it relates to sustainability and generated a list of training needed to ensure a sustainable protocol: include training on Woman Abuse in the Orientation and Development of all staff develop special training for the designated worker(s) in each office The training should consist of: what to do if there is no disclosure of abuse (but suspicion exists) tools to look at current caseload resources available what to do if there is disclosure of abuse comfort level for workers and the client with having the discussion about abuse indicators of abuse what's in the protocol power and control issues how to empower women to make decisions self-awareness re: beliefs, values, etc. attitudes worker safety and support and burn out why women may choose to go back home - dealing with that as a worker - how to support her affects of abuse on children requirements of reporting to Child Protection and how to support her when that is necessary why do men continue to abuse? communication and listening skills Some suggested formats for teaching are: survivors experiences role plays - practical tools During the training it is important to be sensitive to and support training participants who have experienced or who are experiencing abuse. Evaluation The group determined that evaluation of the protocols is essential to their sustainability and the following ideas and questions about evaluation were generated: survivors need to be involved in evaluation client surveys re: quality of service ask other agencies to evaluate Income Assistance worker surveys follow-up w/ clients immediately following meeting and ½ years later include in evaluation of general services workers evaluate training and protocol update regularly participatory evaluation outside evaluators contracted The group recognized that many of the ideas generated will require financial and human resources that are not within the current budget. Resources The Working Group identified a number of current and recommended resources that will assist the workers to use the protocol thereby sustaining its proper use: include the protocol in current policy manual (integrated protocol) or develop brief policy that references protocol to tie it into the policy manual put on-line with electronic policy develop a pamphlet on matrimonial homes and assets develop a one pager with emergency info/contacts for each region create plain language resources that identify rights and obligations of clients ensure that printed materials are available in each office and there is a process to replenish create a checklist for clients re: questions to ask develop pamphlets with FAQ's from women with the help of a focus group