NCFV E-Bulletin, Public Health Agency of Canada

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Welcome
Fast Facts	Aboriginal Family Violence
Feature Article	Racialized and Sexualized Violence: Sisters in Spirit
What's New
New Resources in the NCFV	Publications, Library, Videos
Coming Soon to the NCFV
Key Dates and Events
Potential Funding Source	PrarieAction Foundation
Research	Cindy Blackstock, Violence Prevention Programs for Aboriginal Youth

This month’s theme is Aboriginal Family Violence.

The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence E-bulletin is a bi-monthly newsletter for those interested in family violence prevention. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on behalf of the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada. We hope that this medium will facilitate communication among Canadian family violence prevention stakeholders.

On behalf of the federal government and 15 member departments, the Public Health Agency of Canada coordinates the Family Violence Initiative.

With the long-term goal of reducing the occurrence of family violence in Canada, the Government of Canada provides the Family Violence Initiative with $7 million permanent annual funding. This allocation supports and complements activities across seven departments and agencies:

Public Health Agency of Canada
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Department of Justice Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Canadian Heritage
Status of Women Canada
Statistics Canada

The following departments address family violence issues through existing departmental programs and activities:

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Correctional Service of Canada
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Service Canada
Department of National Defence

The FVI

promotes public awareness of the risk factors of family violence and the need for public involvement in responding to it;
strengthens the criminal justice, housing, and health systems’ capacity to respond; and
supports data collection, research and evaluation efforts to identify effective interventions.

Under the Family Violence Initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada also manages the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Canada's resource centre for information on violence within the family. It provides a centralized and comprehensive reference, referral and distribution service for information on aspects of family violence prevention, protection and treatment.

For more information on the Clearinghouse and the Initiative, please visit
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn

We want to hear from you! Please send your comments and feedback to our editor at:
ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Aboriginal Family Violence

Statistics Canada’s 5th Edition of Women in Canada: A Gender-Based Statistical Report states that:

24% of Aboriginal women, three times the rate among their non-Aboriginal counterparts (8%), experienced spousal violence from either a current or previous marital or common-law partner in the five year period prior to the 2004 General Social Survey.
At the same time, 18% of Aboriginal men reported being victims of some form of spousal abuse.
Aboriginal spousal violence victims are also more likely than non-Aboriginal victims to experience emotional abuse, serious forms of violence and injuries.

For more information please visit:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-503-XIE/0010589-503-XIE.pdf

Racialized and Sexualized Violence: Sisters in Spirit, submitted by Status of Women Canada

In 2004, the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) launched the Sisters in Spirit campaign to raise awareness of the high rates of "racialized and sexualized violence" against Aboriginal women - that is, violence perpetrated against Aboriginal women because of their gender and Aboriginal identity. This type of violence typically occurs in the public sphere rather than within the home.

The Government of Canada allocated $5 million in funding over 5 years (2005-2010) for the Sisters in Spirit initiative. The funding supports NWAC's work with other Aboriginal women's organizations and the federal government on activities aimed at:

quantifying the actual number of missing and murdered women;
understanding root causes of violence; and
influencing programs, services and practices aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating racialized and sexualized violence against Aboriginal women.

The initiative will develop a comprehensive policy strategy for work at both national and international levels on issues relating to Aboriginal women's human rights by addressing the underlying factors contributing to racialized and sexualized violence. The five elements of the initiative are:

capacity-building;
research;
public education;
policy enhancement; and
sustainability.

The federal government's support and NWAC's work from May 2005 to March 2006 have produced several short-term outcomes:

the hiring of qualified Aboriginal employees through a Recruitment Firm;
baseline data;
community reports;
a research plan;
a year-end report;
Media Training for employees and membership;
communication tools; and
a community awareness strategy.

With NWAC, the Government of Canada has co-chaired a joint working group, which includes key departments, to identify areas for collaboration to address issues of racialized and sexualized violence.

The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health

The Public Health Agency of Canada recently established six National Collaborating Centres across the country as part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to renew and strengthen public health. The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health seeks to support Aboriginal communities across Canada to realize their health goals and reduce the health inequities that currently exist for Aboriginal peoples. For more information: http://www.unbc.ca/nccah/

Publications:

The NCFV offers more than 130 publications, including overview papers, reports, discussion papers and handbooks on family violence issues. NCFV publications are available free of charge, in hard copy or online, in English and French. To order, please visit our website or contact us.

New Publications for Distribution:

Child Maltreatment in Canada: Overview Paper (Update)
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/2006-Child%20Maltreatment_Overview_English.pdf

National Clearinghouse on Family Violence Pamphlet (Update)
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/2006-brochure_e.pdf

Library:

The NCFV provides an extensive library reference collection, housed in the Health Canada Departmental Library. Resources may be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Please contact the NCFV for more information or visit: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/lib_e.html

New to the Library Reference Collection:

Aboriginal Family Violence

Creating healthy personal relationships: An information booklet for Aboriginal women, by Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick,
Fredericton: PLEIS of New Brunswick, 2005, 8 pgs. [NCFV Index '05] Available at: http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/showpub.asp?id=124&langid=1 or
http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/assets/docs/Aborig-Wmn-e.pdf

Indian Residential Schools Mental Health Support Program: Program Framework, by the Indian Residential Schools Mental Health Support Program (Canada), Ottawa: Health Canada, 2005, 14 pgs. [NCFV Index '05] Available at: http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/indiresident/2004_dec_program_mental/index_e.html or
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/alt_formats/fnihb-dgspni/pdf/pubs/indiresident/2004_dec_program_mental_e.pdf

Intimate partner violence: Reflections on Experience, Theory and Policy, by Mary Rucklos Hampton & Nikki Gerrard, of RESOLVE (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse), Toronto: Cormorant Books Inc., 2005, 190 pgs. [ncfv/HV6626/I61p/2006]
Table of Contents: http://www.umanitoba.ca/resolve/whats_new/intimate_toc.shtml

Just ask us: A Conversation with First Nations Teenage Moms, by Sylvia Olsen & Sylvia Winlaw, BC: Sono Nis Press, 2005, 165 pgs. [ncfv/HQ759.4/O52/2005]
Publisher's abstract: http://www.sononis.com/book118.htm

Justice as Healing: Indigenous Ways, by Wanda D. McCaslin, Saskatoon: Native Law Centre of Canada, 2005, 458 pgs. [ncfv/E98.C87/J96/2005] Publisher's abstract: http://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/publications/jah/jah_iw.html

Surviving in the Hour of Darkness: The Health and Wellness of Women of Colour and Indigenous Women, G. Sophie Harding, Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2005, 314 pgs. [nfcv/RA564.86/S963/2005] Publisher's abstract: http://www.uofcpress.com/1-55238/1-55238-101-3.html

Other

Crime and deviance in Canada: historical perspectives, by Chris McCormick. Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press, 2005, 386 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HV6803/C928/2005] Publisher's abstract: http://www.cspi.org/books/c/crimend.htm

Deviance, crime and control: beyond the straight and narrow, by Lorne J. Tepperman. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2005, 334 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HM811/T314/2005] Publisher's abstract: http://www.oup.com/ca/he/companion/teppermandeviance/

Dragonslippers: this is what an abusive relationship looks like, by Rosalind Penfold. Toronto: Penguin, 2005, 257 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.2/P399/2005] Also available online: WB: http://www.dragonslippers.com/home.html
Publisher's abstract: http://www.penguin.ca/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0143050206,00.html

Feminist frameworks: building theory on violence against women, by Lisa Sydney Price. Halifax: Fernwood, 2005, 127 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HV6250.4.W65/P945/2005] Publisher's abstract: http://www.fernwoodbooks.ca/pages/search_titles.php?keyword=feminist+
frameworks&submitButtonName=Search+Titles&RECORD_INDEX%28titlelist%29=1

Obsession with intent: violence against women, by Lee Lakeman. Montreal: Black Rose Books, 2005, 236 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HV6250.4/W65/L14/2005]
Publisher's abstract: http://www.blackrosebooks.net/obses.html

Sexual assault in Nova Scotia: a statistical profile, by Sandra D. McFadyen; Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Halifax: The Council, 2005, 30 pgs.
NCFV Index - Web: http://www.gov.ns.ca/staw/pubs2005_06/sexualassaultstatsDec05.pdf

Standing together: women speak out against violence and abuse, edited by Linda Goyette. Toronto: Brindle & Glass; Litterary Trade Group, 2005, 229 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/HV6626/S785/2005]
Publisher's annotation: http://www.brindleandglass.com/books/standingtogether.htm

Women, abuse and trauma therapy: an information guide for women and their families, by Lori Haskell. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2006, 44 pgs. [Call no.: ncfv/RC552.T7/H349/2003]
Publisher's abstract: http://www.camh.net/Publications/CAMH_Publications/women_abuse_trauma_infoguide.html

Videos:

In collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, the NCFV offers a vast collection of videos that address family violence. Videos may be borrowed through NFB partner public libraries across Canada or through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic, or institutional library. To obtain a complete list of videos, libraries and distributors, please contact us or vist our online video catalogue.

New to the Video Collection:

Donna’s Story - An intimate portrait of a fiercely determined survivor, Donna's Story profiles a Cree woman who left behind a bleak existence on the streets. Donna re-emerges as a powerful voice counselling Aboriginal adults and youth about abuse and addiction (2001).

Sans voix sans visage - Cette vidéo traite de la violence au féminin, un sujet tabou, honteux, pourtant réel et de plus en plus fréquent. La nier équivaut à refuser de voir la détresse de celles qui demeurent prisonnieres de leur comportement violent. C'est aussi refuser de leur donner une lueur d'espoir, une éclaircie. Sans voix sans visage aborde ce sujet délicat avec des femmes qui ont subi puis exercé la violence, pour finalement la surmonter (2004).

Universal Screening for Domestic Abuse - The Emergency Room Nurses’ Experience - This film portrays the experiences of ER nurses after the implementation of new abuse screening protocols. Although they were initially reluctant to take on the task of asking their patients some very personal questions, in addition to their already heavy workloads, these nurses recognized an increase in professional satisfaction in their work (2002).

Les hommes de ma vie - Cette vidéo nous livre le témoignage d’une femme victime d’agression sexuelle et les conséquences dévastatrices de ce type d’agression. « La réalité dans les hommes de ma vie est loin de ressembler à celle que la société nous propose dans les contes de fées qui finissent bien. Les hommes de ma vie, c'est mon père. Les hommes de ma vie, c'est mon frère. Les hommes de ma vie, c'est mon agresseur (2004).

Publications:

Publications Catalogue 2006
Family Violence and Homelessness: A Review of the Literature
A poster series on violence against children developed by youth for youth

(in chronological order)

November is:

Family Violence Awareness Month in Newfoundland and Labrador;
Family Violence Prevention Month in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Alberta;
Domestic Violence Prevention Month in Manitoba;
Woman Abuse Prevention Month in Yukon; and
Wife Assault Prevention Month in Ontario.

November 19, 2006 - World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse
http://www.woman.ch/children/1-introduction.asp

November 19-21, 2006 - Diverse Voices: Family Violence Conference, Edmonton, AB
http://www.diverse-voices.com/

November 19-22, 2006 - worldforum 2006 - Future Directions in Child Welfare, Vancouver, BC
http://www.worldforum2006.ca/

November 20, 2006 - National Child Day (Universal Children's Day) & Canadian launch of the UN Study on Violence Against Children
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/ncd-jna/main_e.html

November 25, 2006 -International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/asp/user/list.asp?ParentID=10270

December 6, 2006 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/index_e.html

Prairieaction Foundation breaks the cycle of violence and abuse by raising funds to sustain:

The Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse (RESOLVE) network of seven prairie-based universities and their communities. Prairieaction Foundation facilitates RESOLVE's research and helps RESOLVE with the dissemination of the research findings.
The Community Action, Research & Education (CARE) Grant Program. The CARE Grant Program furthers Prairieaction Foundation's objectives of providing funds to registered charities for educational research on solutions to family violence and abuse. The Program's goal is to provide research funding for grassroots, community-based organizations and projects that are developing potential models and methods to ultimately eliminate the impacts and outcomes of family violence and abuse. This program brings academics together with front-line agencies, such as women's shelters and abuse services, to create research partnerships that produce tangible results in the community. Prarieaction Foundation particularly encourages the submission of grant requests that include both research and hands-on action.
Educational and awareness programs to transfer knowledge garnered through research results from RESOLVE and the CARE Grant Program.

For further information, please refer to www.prairieactionfoundation.ca or contact the foundation at:

Prairieaction Foundation
SS854 University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Telephone: (403) 220-8078
Fax: (403) 220-0727
prairie@ucalgary.ca

Canadian Family Violence Researcher

We are pleased to highlight the work of Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitksan Nation. Ms Blackstock’s specific area of interest is exploring the reasons for the over-representation of Aboriginal children in child welfare care and developing policy solutions to address the situation. She is the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, a national organization supporting the work of First Nations child and family service agencies and regional organizations by providing research, professional development and networking services.

The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada led the Wen:de projects, multi-disciplinary research projects that brought together more than 25 researchers - representing fields as diverse as law, economics, community development, sociology, social work, and substance misuse - to conduct the research necessary to inform a new funding methodology for First Nations child welfare. The Wen:de projects inspired Jordan's Principle - a child first policy to resolve jurisdictional disputes. The projects also encourage strategic investments in prevention services that address caregiver substance misuse, poverty and poor housing as a way to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in care (www.fncaringsociety.com).

Ms Blackstock has published numerous articles on Aboriginal child welfare and has participated in a variety of research projects and working groups at regional, national and international levels. She is currently co-convenor of the Sub Group for Indigenous Children and Youth for the NGO Group on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, co-director for the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare and board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.

Research Centre: Adapting Best Practices Violence Prevention Programs for Aboriginal Youth

The Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children and The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Centre for Prevention Science are leading a three-year national project with partners in Ontario, B.C. and Manitoba to research and implement best practices in adapting violence prevention programs for Aboriginal youth.

The project is based on the principle that varied communities throughout the country must have input into the cultural adaptation of violence prevention programs for Aboriginal youth. This will be facilitated by an emphasis on youth engagement among the participants involved. Specific community needs will be addressed by local partners at four different sites: London, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Bella Coola.

In the first year, a needs assessment is being carried out to determine what gaps exist in current programs for Aboriginal youth. As well, local and national advisory committees will be established and the process of adaptation of programs will begin at selected sites. The second year will focus on the process of adapting prevention programs to appropriately address the needs of Aboriginal youth. The third year will focus on identifying the markers of successful cultural adaptation of prevention programs for Aboriginal youth.

Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children
http://www.crvawc.ca
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Centre for Prevention Science
http://www.camh.net

Other Organizations of Interest
Pauktuutit, Inuit Women of Canada - http://www.pauktuutit.ca/
Native Women’s Association of Canada - http://www.nwac-hq.org

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Content of the NCFV E-Bulletin is provided as an information-sharing service and inclusion does not represent endorsement by the PHAC or FVI member departments.
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National Clearinghouse on Family Violence: Telephone 1-800-267-1291 or (613) 957-2938; TTY 1-800-561-5643 or 613-952-6396; Fax (613) 941-8930; Web site http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn; e-mail ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca