News Towards 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion in Domestic Violence & Gendered Services Towards 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion in Domestic Violence & Gendered Services November 24, 2022 Blueprint Project Update – November 2022 The 2SLGBTQ+ Community of Practice, with the support of a consultant, created a Guide for Gaps—a self-assessment tool and resource portal made to support teams within Alberta’s domestic violence and gendered shelter sectors as they work to offer safer, more inclusive services to Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) survivors. The guide is designed to meet agencies and teams wherever they’re at in their inclusion journey. Whether they’re just learning about 2SLGBTQ+ identities and service needs or they’re fine-tuning their policies and inclusion practices, the Guide for Gaps will connect service providers with targeted resources to help identify the next steps and take action to further enhance policies and services. The Guide for Gaps has 2 components—a self-assessment tool for teams and a targeted resource page. Walking through the Tool, participants get to read through a series of statements designed to help identify their team’s areas of strength and opportunities for furthering 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion within the workplace and services. Using this tool, users will select statements that best speak to their team’s knowledge, attitudes, policies, service delivery, staffing, operations, etc. Upon completion of the team self-assessment tool, users will be taken to a corresponding resource page that has been curated to connect them with tools, media, education materials, and best practice information that are relevant to where their team is at on their journey to 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. The resource section is divided into four sections, each offering resources that address a different domain of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion work 1) Attitudes & Awareness, 2) Staffing & Workplace Culture, 3) Structures & Policies, 4) Service Delivery & Operations. Under each of these domains, users will be matched with a specific set of resources that aligns with one of three broad stages of inclusion work: Audit, Commit, & Engage: These resources are selected to provide information and support for newer areas of focus and development. Implement & Adjust: These resources are selected to further understanding of the lived experiences and service needs of 2SLGBTQ+ persons and to apply that understanding to enhancing the inclusion policies and practices. Improve and Maintain: These resources are selected with the understanding that 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion work is ongoing and continues to evolve. While we are in the process of obtaining funding to fully develop the self-assessment tool online, we have compiled an online resource page that can be accessed in the meantime. Resources have been broken down into several categories, including: service delivery, workplace, intersectionality, and research reports. These resources have been vetted by members of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community of Practice and are available for download. View Resources To learn more about the Blueprint Project and how you or your agency may be involved, please reach out to Nicole Orji, Project Manager at nicole.orji@acws.ca. Back to the Blueprint Project page.
