1. Neighbours Friends and Families
An Ontario Model Program to
Address Violence Against Women
in Workplaces and Communities

2. Agenda
Putting the Pieces Together
The NFF Campaign – core content
Evolution:
• Community Coordination
• Workplace Strategy
• Legislative Changes
Evaluation & Lessons Learned

3. NFF Objectives
Engage the public in the issue
Teach everyone the warning signs and risk factors
 Identify 3 “Vital Behaviours” everyone can do
 Practice Safe & Effective Interventions

4. 1. The NFF Campaign – core content

5. Purpose
Neighbours, Friends and Families is a
campaign to raise awareness of
THE SIGNS OF WOMAN ABUSE
so that people who are close to an at-risk
woman or abusive man can help.
5

6. Partnership
Neighbours, Friends and Families is a partnership
between the Ontario Government and the Expert
Panel on Neighbours, Friends and Families, through
the Centre for Research and Education on Violence
Against Women and Children.
6

7. Why Focus on Woman
Abuse?
A gendered strategy to address
domestic violence in communities
and workplaces

8. Domestic Violence – 3 Types
Situational couple violence
• most common / arguments escalate to violence
CoerciveAbuse
Woman control*
• abusive partner controls and coerces
Violent Resistance
• victim of coercive control fights back
Johnson / CLASP – 2006
8

9. Woman Abuse
• Highest risk cases (DVDRC)
• Most serious injuries (Stats Can)
• Preventable (because predictable)
• Impact on children is devastating
• Can‟t change what you can‟t name
9

10. Ontario Domestic Homicide Death Reviews
2006: 26 women / 6 men* / 12 children
2007: 21 women / 11 men* / 3 children
*All but one of the male deaths were suicides after
killing their partner.
Death Reviews -All cases from 2002-2007
92% of violent perpetrators were male
Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee - 2008
10

11. NFF – “Model Program”
The Domestic Violence Death Review Committee
…the greatest need continues to be educating all
members of the community about the warning
signs of domestic violence and the appropriate
action necessary to prevent it.
One example…is the Neighbours, Friends and
Families Campaign. (DVDRC 2005)
11

12. Tragedy in Windsor Hospital
• Lori Dupont killed by Marc Daniel at Hotel Dieu
Grace Hospital – November 2005
• Many people tried to help
• Added complexity
• Shared workplace, victim & perpetrator
• Power issues, nurse and doctor
12

13. Critical Events and Opportunities
• Critical Events
• Visible warning signs and risk factors
• Should raise possibility of danger
• Opportunities
• A chance to intervene
• Can be missed because of uncertainty or
missing information
• Organizations and individuals are unprepared
13

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Opportunity
Critical Event
Accumulation of Critical Events & Missed Opportunities

15. Dupont / Daniel Inquest -
Recommendations
“to provide support to all workplaces to train all
employees about the dynamics of domestic
violence….as well as what to do if faced with a
situation where violence enters the workplace
…model programs such as Neighbours, Friends
and Families may be expanded in Ontario and be
more directly inclusive of the role of the
workplace”.
15

16. Identifying Women at Risk
• Warning Signs
• High Risk Factors
• How Can I Support Her?
• Why Doesn‟t She Leave?
• Understanding the traps
16

17. Women at Greater Risk
• Women with disabilities
• Aboriginal women
• Young women (16 – 24)

18. Safety Planning for Women
• Developing a Safety plan
• Getting Ready to Leave
• Leaving the Abuser
• After Leaving
Referral Information:
The Assaulted Women‟s Helpline
18

19. When someone you care about is
acting abusively:
• Approach him when he is calm
• Tell him that you are concerned for
the safety of his partner and children
and that there is help for him
• Recognize that
confrontational, argumentative
approaches may make the situation
worse and put her at higher risk
19

20. 20

21. 21

22. Brochures & Safety Cards
Available in:
• Arabic • Russian
• Chinese Simplified • Somali
• Chinese • Spanish
• English • Tamil
• Farsi • Vietnamese
• French • Swahili (New)
• Korean • Creole (New)
• Punjabi Indian • Kirundi (New)
• Punjabi Pakistani • Lingala (New)

23. Neighbours, Friends and Families
Websites
www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca
www.kanawayhitowin.ca
www.voisinsamisetfamilles.ca
23

24. The Take Away – all campaigns
• How to Intervene Safely and Effectively
• 3 Things Everyone Can Do!

25. Know the Rule of Isolation
Isolation is a factor that is always present in
situations of woman abuse
…It could even be considered a necessary
condition
As the abuse escalates – the isolation
becomes more profound

26. Behaviours Designed to Interrupt
Isolation
1. Learn to Recognize signs of abuse
2. Respond - Don‟t sit alone with suspicions
and questions
3. Seek help and take appropriate action –
Refer to professionals
SEE IT – NAME IT – CHECK IT

27. The Journey to Intervention
See it! Pay attention, recognize
the warning signs
Name it! Break the rule of isolation!
Talk to someone
Check it! Use the experts to figure
out what to do next…

28. Practice Safe and Effective Interventions
• Use NFF information and tools in community and
workplace settings to respond to domestic violence
• Provide NFF training and engagement strategies to
raise confidence and skills to support early
interventions
• Understand woman abuse as a community and
workplace issue where everyone has a role to play.
• Safe families make for safe communities

29. You don‟t have to be a hero or fix the situation.
Caring about the people around us, paying attention
to them when there are signs of trouble and
responding appropriately is radical social change.
Little things count

30. How it Works
Engaging The Potential and Power of Everyday Relationships
Relatives
Friends
Co-Workers
YOU
Neighbours Committees
Manager

31. YOU

32. 2. The Evolution of Neighbours, Friends &
Families
Legislative

33. Local Beginnings
2002
London Coordinating Committee to End
Woman Abuse in Ontario begins
development and pilot of Neighbour 2
Neighbour (N2N) Campaign, modified
from a model developed in San Francisco.

34. Development of NFF Resources
2004 - 2008
Expert Panel struck to develop a
comprehensive provincial public education
and awareness raising campaign
2005
NFF Community Campaign formally
launched

35. Liberals elected 2003
Priority: Domestic Violence OWD
• Consultations
• DVAP
N2N
Neighbours, Friends and Families
Public Education Campaign

36. OWD
• Launched NFF 2005
Neighbours, Friends and Families
Public Education Campaign

37. OWD
NFF Lead
Local
Communities
Neighbours, Friends and Families
Public Education Campaign
MCSS
Funding for DV Coordination
MAG – OVSS
Community Grant Program

38. NFF Regional Coordination
South West Region
• Regional Domestic Violence Coordinating
Committees (10 communities) develops a
regional strategy for implementation of
NFF in communities

39. NFF Regional Implementation
MCI – OWD
Provincial Campaign
MAG – OVSS
Community Grant Program
MCSS
Funding for DV Coordination

40. NFF Regional Implementation
MCI – OWD
Provincial Campaign
MAG – OVSS
Community Grant Program
MCSS
Funding for DV Coordination

41. Coordination is
Key to Change
• Government / public / private
aligned - collaboration
• Communities working
together on shared goals
• Supporting each other
• Sharing knowledge
• Making resources go further
• Improving services

42. 54 Court Jurisdictions
45 VAW Coordinating
Committees
SWRCC

43. Building Safe and Strong Communities
Domestic Violence Action Plan
NFF - Public Education
MAG - OVSS MCI -OWD MCSS
Community Grants Lead Ministry for Provincial DV Community
Program Implementation Coordination
Opportunities for project Provincial vantage point Opportunity for greater
innovation in citizen and enables information sharing, coordination in
community engagement at connectivity, support for local communities, and between
local level efforts, ongoing strategy communities, using NFF as
the link
Community Implementation

44. NFF Funding
OWD
VJF Funding
OVSS
CCC Funding
NFF Workplace
Strategy

45. Becoming A Workplace Champion
Level 1: Information
• Introduce campaign and materials to all employees
Level 2: Education
• 1 hour presentation to all employees
Level 3: Sustainability
• Train the Trainer (2 day) / Intervention Workshop (1 day)
45

46. The Workplace Strategy - Rationale
1. Provides program to follow
• Easy entry level – the „quick win‟
• potential for provincial consistency
• uses existing infrastructure of organizations
2. Ensures all employees receive information
3. Reduces risks by preparing employees to:
• Recognize warning signs and high risk factors
• Respond appropriately
• Make referrals
4. Provides DV education - Bill 168
46

47. There is nothing special about Hotel Dieu
Grace Hospital – this tragedy can happen
anywhere.
Mary Benson Albers
HDGH HR Director

48. Why Workplaces Need to Be Involved
• Most workplaces are unprepared
• Many employees are affected directly and
indirectly
• Multiple concerns such as
security, health, performance, productivity
• In 9 out of 10 workplace incidents, the victim later
confides in a co-worker
• Employers & co-workers can make a difference
• The workplace is where the victim can be found
by her abuser.
48

49. The Workplace Components
• 1 Hour Presentation (PPT core content)
• 2 Day Workplace Train the Trainer Program
• 2 Day Senior Management Training
• Intervention Workshops (See it – Name it – Check it)
• Workplace Champion Recognition
• Links with existing community resources
49

50. How it Works
50

51. Build the List

52. Start from Where You Are

53.  Level 1
 Level 2
 Level 3
Be the change!

54. How many people?

56. 2009 Lists – Results!!!
• Over 100 organizations recognized
• Most CC member agencies
• 21 Ministries in West Region
• Cities of Windsor, London
• 3 Municipalities
• 3 Hospitals
• Bruce Power
• Royal Bank (London)
• Tim Hortons

57. Recognizing Workplace Champions
February 12, 2010 - 5 communities:
London, Owen Sound, Strathroy, Stratford, Windsor
57

58. Bill 168
Support for Employers

59. Bill 168
Amendment to the Ontario OH&S Act
Received accent on Dec. 15, 2009
Comes into effect June 15, 2010
Requires employers
oTo develop policies and programs to help prevent
WP violence and harassment
Bill 168
oTo take reasonable precautions to protect
employees from domestic violence in WP

60. Bill 168
• Under section 32.0.4 of the Act
o if an employer is aware or ought to be
aware that domestic violence that is likely to
expose a worker to physical injury may occur
in the workplace, the employer must take
every reasonable precaution to protect the
worker.

61. Bill 168
• How can employers take action against
domestic violence that may occur in the
workplace?
• Recognize the Warning Signs!
• Risk is variable – difficult to predict when a
situation will escalate to physical violence

62. Responding to D.V. in the Workplace
• In the best interests of employers to
– be able to recognize the signs of domestic
violence
– assess the potential risk to the victim, co-
workers and other bystanders
– have measures and procedures in place to
control risks

63. Introducing
a domestic violence workplace program
• Website (linked to NFF)
• Brochures
• Audit Tools
• Protocol Development
• Support for Employers

64. Self-Assessment Quiz
Assessing Your Workplace Readiness
Immediate Situation: Crisis
An employee is being stalked by an ex-boyfriend. You are the
security advisor
• What would you do?
• How would your workplace handle this situation?
• What resources would you turn to?

65. Suggested Protocol re:
Disclosure and Confidentiality
Sets out principles and considerations
• Discusses information needs
• Suggests a series of “DOs, DON’Ts and
MUST DOs that can be adapted
• Provides examples

66. Suggested Protocol re:
Setting up an Interdisciplinary
Response Team
• Rationale
• Team Purpose / Membership
• Challenges
• Key Considerations
• Scope
• Relationship to Joint Health & Safety
• Relationship to community resources

67. Suggested Protocol re:
Communicating with Employees
at Risk
.
• Shows how to use 3 step process:
Recognize / Respond / Refer
• Suggests quick list of DOs and DON’Ts
• Provides some “scripts” and conversation
starters to help you voice your concern and
support
• Lists additional resources

68. Brochures
Recognize / Respond / Refer
Warning Signs and Risk Factors
At Risk at Work
How to Keep Yourself Safe and
Supported

69. Outcomes, Evaluation and
Challenges
Lessons learned from the NFF
Experience to date

70. Evaluation
• Participant evaluations from community and
workplace training (pre and post)
• Stats collection (# participants, resources
distributed, media events, etc.)
• Qualitative Evaluation Report “At Grass Level” (2008)
• Evaluation Report “Evaluation of NFF” (2009)
• Annual reports to funders

71. Evaluation NFF Workplace Training
Ontario Public Service Initiative (OPS)
2008- present
 West region 10,000 staff completed Level 1
 5,000 have had the Level 2 training
 50 trained facilitators in multiple ministries
(level 3 training)
 21 Ontario ministries participated in training
 Eastern Region 9,000 staff completed Level 1
 40 trained facilitators (Level 3 training)

72. OPS Evaluations (n1500)
• 87% felt the content is very effective
• 90% indicated they learned important
information about warning signs.
• 93% strongly agree that they have a role to
play in ending woman abuse.
• 85% have an idea about the role they can
play.
• 94% strongly believe the NFF content is
important for all OPS employees

73. NFF Resource Distribution
2006-2008
• 450,000 English brochures / safety cards
• 60,000 French brochures / safety cards
• 385,000 other language brochures / cards

74. NFF Results (2008 Evaluation)
• 15 communities reported 165 media activities
• 1,600 community members attended
community presentations
• 91% of participants reported they felt more
prepared to identify warning signs.
• 87% reported they were more prepared to
provide referrals
• 100% it‟s important to offer NFF in their
workplaces and communities

75. Lessons Learned
• Program resonates in diverse communities
and workplaces, and is very effective
• Specific direction wanted – what do I say?
• Community development model extremely
successful
• Using circles of influence delivers the
program in unique and effective ways
• Starting assumption key

76. Lessons Learned
• Challenges with mobilizing funding to pay
for community implementation
• Challenges with evaluation – collecting
statistics is difficult in communities
• Sustainability planning is incomplete -
program requires ongoing provincial
funding support

77. In Progress
Development of DisAbility strategy
Development of Diversity strategy
Evaluation of NFF Community and
Workplace programs
Sustainability Planning
 Development of new Resources for
Workplaces

78. Coordination
SVAP
Bill 168
Provincial
Government DVAP Elder
Abuse

79. Neighbours, Friends and Families
Most Ontarians feel a personal responsibility
for reducing woman abuse...
recognizing it is the first step
Take the warning signs seriously
79

80. For more information
• www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca
• Barb MacQuarrie
Provincial Coordinator NFF Workplace
Campaign, Centre for Research and
Education on Violence Against Women and
Children, University of Western Ontario
bmacquar@uwo.ca