Project Overview The work of the gender-based violence (GBV) sector is harder than ever. The intersection of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, historic inflation rates, and stagnant operational funding have taken a substantial toll both on GBV survivors and on the organizations and service providers who support them. Survivors are experiencing more severe and complex impacts of abuse, which has led to an increased need for more intensive support, especially with concerns related to mental wellness, substance use, houselessness, and intergenerational trauma. Indigenous survivors and survivors from underserved communities—including survivors from 2SLGBTQ+ communities, newcomer communities, older adults, and survivors living with disabilities, among others—are disproportionately likely to experience complex impacts of abuse and to have reduced access to services and supports to address those impacts. Gaps in services and resources are even more prevalent in rural and remote locations. Survivors from underserved communities are increasingly at risk of falling through these widening gaps in services and supports. GBV serving organizations are experts in risk assessment, safety planning, and case management, but the social context they are working in has changed significantly over the last four years, and funding, training, and resources have not kept pace. More than ever, frontline service providers need the knowledge, skills, and tools to support survivors as they navigate increasingly complex systems and circumstances. Unfortunately, many of the assessments and tools available in the GBV sector are based on outdated models that are not intersectional, survivor-centered, or trauma and violence-informed. Moreover, due to historic turnover numbers in the sector, there has been a brain drain of knowledge and expertise in the sector, and more staff need foundational knowledge and training to build their skills to support survivors in intersectional and trauma and violence-informed ways. ACWS’ Addressing the Gaps project will address the need for: (1) intersectional, survivor-centered, trauma and violence-informed assessment tools to support frontline service providers in better understanding and supporting survivors; (2) foundational education and training for service providers to build the skills needed to effectively use assessment tools to support survivors; and (3) opportunities for service providers from different organizations and sectors to exchange knowledge and practices about programs and supports for survivors. The ultimate goal is to address service gaps by scaling and spreading intersectional assessment tools to better equip service providers to deliver safe and effective support for all survivors, and to address service gaps that disproportionately impact survivors from underserved communities. Knowledge Exchanges What are the Knowledge Exchanges? The Knowledge Exchanges are one-day events that will happen in-person in communities across Alberta. The Knowledge Exchanges will bring service providers together to highlight promising practices and foster community knowledge and collaboration. Organizations will provide an overview of their programs and services, referral processes, and trends they have identified. We will work together to spotlight the innovative work happening in Alberta communities, celebrate the impact of GBV service providers and address gaps in community knowledge about services for GBV survivors. Why Are We Doing the Knowledge Exchanges? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the service delivery landscape has shifted considerably with losses of programs and resources in many communities. These losses make it difficult to know where to turn to for support and limit opportunities for collaboration. The losses have also resulted in increasing feelings of isolation for frontline service providers, which impacts their wellness as well as their work. At the same time, many GBV survivors are experiencing increasingly complex impacts of violence and abuse in addition to growing systemic barriers and challenges accessing and navigating the remaining services in their communities. It is more crucial than ever for service providers and community members to come together, support each other, and learn from each other. What Do We Hope to Achieve Through the Knowledge Exchanges? The Knowledge Exchanges will counter isolation and foster connection between GBV service providers and community members. With an increased awareness of the supports and resources available to survivors, and how to access these, community members will be better equipped to know what services are available in their communities and who to call if they need help. By bringing together GBV organizations and community members, the Knowledge Exchanges will reduce barriers survivors encounter when seeking support caused by lack of knowledge and will establish or build upon formal and informal support networks. In addition to enhancing care for survivors, increasing community knowledge and awareness will support service providers by fostering wellness and encouraging longevity in the sector. What Are the Benefits of Attending a Knowledge Exchange? The Knowledge Exchanges will support survivors, the frontline staff supporting them and organizations overall. Benefits to survivors: Gaps in service delivery are addressed. Increased awareness of all available programs and services, affording choice and supporting empowerment. Improved risk management response and increased safety. Benefits to service providers: Recognition and amplification of professional skills and competencies. Increased confidence and job satisfaction. Opportunities for collaborative advocacy to address gaps in service delivery. Opportunities to establish or expand formal and informal support networks. Reduced isolation Enhanced overall wellness Increased longevity in the GBV sector. Benefits to organizations: Increased community knowledge and awareness. Increased connections to community, partners and funders. Opportunities for organizational advocacy. Reduced staff turnover. Increased solidarity within communities. Shifting towards an abundance mindset. How to Get Involved? To learn more about the Knowledge Exchanges, or to express interest in participating in or hosting a Knowledge Exchange, connect with ACWS at engage@acws.ca. The ACWS Healing, Understanding, and Growth Guide (HUGG) What Is the HUGG? The ACWS Healing, Understanding, and Growth Guide (HUGG) is ACWS’ new case management and outcome measurement tool. The HUGG was designed to support survivors and service providers in working together to build pathways for survivors to move forward in healing and growth. ACWS developed the HUGG in consultation with domestic violence shelters and community partners, using a strengths-based, trauma and violence-informed, and survivor-centered framework. The HUGG is designed to address all the major challenges that many survivors face as a result of experiencing abuse. The purpose of the HUGG is to help survivors build the lives they envision for themselves and their families by focusing on areas of their lives that they would like to strengthen and enhance. Why Did ACWS Develop the HUGG? Domestic violence shelters across the province have consistently identified three major gaps in service delivery. (1) There is a lack of trauma and violence-informed, intersectional tools that are supportive of survivors from diverse communities. This lack creates service gaps for survivors, especially for survivors from underserved and equity-deserving communities. (2) The GBV sector has experienced high rates of staff turnover, leading to a dissipation of mentorship and knowledge transfer. These high turnover rates have led to an increasing need for more training and support for frontline staff who may have less experience in the sector and less access to education and mentorship that would previously have been provided by more experienced colleagues. (3) As community need continues to outpace available resources, organizations need more effective data demonstrating the importance of their work to support their advocacy and fundraising efforts. The HUGG bridges all these gaps. One of the core strengths of the HUGG is that it can be practically applied to increase the skills and confidence of frontline staff, while simultaneously supporting effective case management and collecting data about program outcomes. What Are the Benefits of Using the HUGG? The HUGG benefits survivors, the service providers supporting them, and organizations overall. Benefits to survivors: Affirms and validates their experience of abuse. Affirms and validates the complex ways abuse has impacted their life. Provides a strengths-based, trauma and violence-informed guide to help them determine which areas of their life to focus on and how to move forward in healing and growth. Acknowledges, affirms, and creates a record of their healing and growth work and progress. Benefits to service providers: Supports effective case management. Enacts do no harm principles. Supports effective data collection. Increases the skills and confidence of frontline service providers. Benefits to organizations: Provides highly impactful data about program outcomes and impact. Demonstrates organizational impact and value. Increases organizational staff capacity. Enhances ethical practice. ACWS anticipates that the HUGG will enhance service delivery, increase staff capacity, and provide powerful data about the value of supportive programming for survivors. How To Get Involved ACWS offers in-person training for organizations that are interested in using the HUGG. To learn more, connect with ACWS at engage@acws.ca.
