Making our Shelter Strong

Presenter: Russ Ervin Funk

Country: U.S.A

Presentation PDF

Men’s Accountability Statement

Notes

Presenters:  Carina Ohlsson, Kerstin Weigl, Linda Forsell and Karin Alfredsson

Country:  Sweden

Cause of Death:  Women – Documentary

The aim of the film is to put the human face on violence against women and children.  Violence is a global problem and is not limited to certain countries.  The presenters are a group of journalists and photographers and visited 10 different countries to document stories of violence against women and children.    The group met with survivors of violence along with the families of women that have been murdered.  Violence against women and children is a world-wide problem and it has the same roots – the need to control women.  In some countries, violence against women is “non-existing” and not talked about.  At some instances, a woman has to go as far as to find her own evidence in order to prove that it is real.  The lack of women shelters and housing also prevents women from leaving abusive homes.

The project has given voice to murdered women through photographs.  It also was an opportunity to look at reasons behind violence, effects on health, economic consequences, successful anti-violence projects, and police and judicial system responses.  Further tools developed by this project can be viewed at: www.causeofdeathwomen.com

Presentation PDF

Presenters:  Helle Ostergaard and Fredskilde Braad

Country:  Denmark

Financially empowering Victims of Domestic Violence – The Mary Foundation

The Mary Foundation was established in 2006 and launched their first projects in 2008. Their objective is to prevent social isolation and help those who are socially isolated, to encourage tolerance and understanding and to create hope.   It is to help people living in Demark and builds on the principal that all people have the right to belong, be accepted and feel like a valuable member of the community.   The presenters talked about the statistics of violence.    The foundation’s initial objective was to help 300 women a year.  The foundation has mutually rewarding partnerships with key holders in the community.  One of the partnerships is with Nykredit Group.  It is a largest financial company in Denmark.  They provide volunteer staff to help with families.  They also have partnerships with local law firms.  The foundations aim for the future is to:

• Expand  to 90% of women’s shelters
• Expand to new advice centers
• Identify new and alternative chances to reach vulnerable women
• Potentially broadening of programs

The presenters spoke about one of their projects in working with children.  They spoke about the circle of violence, and the likely future tendencies of boys and girls who grew up in the environment.  The Mary Foundation showcased their comfort packs for children.  They have 6 packs for the different age groups.  The packs include practical necessities and include teddy bears, towels, school supplies and diaries.  They have provided 10 thousand packs to children in Denmark including Greenland.  The packs are simple but have proven to be a powerful tool to help children.   Upon further evaluation, it shows that drawing for children is another very effective tool.

Presentation PDF

2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters

Workshop –Improving Practice – Ensuring Consistency Across Shelters Workshops

Conference Track: Building Partnerships to Sustain and Enhance Services

Presentor: Ash Kuloo form Scotland Women’s Aid

View notes here

Presentation documents:

Summary of National Service Standards

Assessment Criteria

Guidance for Group being Assessed

Guide for Assessors

Please note: if you use any part of the documents to develop your own standards, Scotland Women’s Aid would be grateful if you could acknowledge their organisation.

Ash Kuloo also thought that it might be helpful if she gave a fuller answer on two pertinent questions that were asked in her workshop.

1. What was delivered in the training for the assessors(the content of the training)

We held 2 training workshops that were attended by around 46 shelter workers.

The workshops covered

-          The skills and confidence levels of the workers in terms of being peer assessors

-          Explored the assessment process and approach to assessments including asking the right questions and collating the evidence

-          We looked at challenges/fears and positives of peer assessment

-          We asked the workers what and ideal assessor would look like,  and from this feedback asked workers if they were happy for that person to come and assess their shelter

The workshop was also used for workers to share ideas and actually have a go at being assessors; we asked the women how that felt for them as assessors but also how that felt for the person being assessed by a peer assessor.

2. How did we engage with the shelters to bring them along with us and engage in the process being assessed and being assessors?

As I said at the workshop we involved shelter workers in the development of the standards through a working group. I always ensured that the ownership of the standards firmly sat with the working group, using language like these are your standards when facilitating the group, this really supported engagement and development. I always gave updates on how the development was progressing through shelter newsletters etc. I organised a formal launch of the standards for shelters, this launch event was very well attended. I had speakers from the shelter standards working group, I also invited the organisation that regulates care services in Scotlandto speak; it was great to get such positive feedback from an external regulator. I then followed up with shelters on the telephone. It was clear for me that the standards were a way of shelters to evidence what was unique about the specialist services they provided to women, children and young people and a way for shelters to provide information about their specialism to those that fund their services.

February 28, 2012 – Morning Workshops

Presenters:  Jessica Mindlin, Laura Mahr and Doreen Binder

Country: United States of America

Sexual Assault on the Streets – Even a single sexual assault can lead to homelessness; the homeless are exponentially more vulnerable to sexual assault.

It has been stated that the homeless are the invisible community.  There are many reasons for homelessness.  Reasons may range anywhere from mental illness to affordable housing.   There has been very little research between sexual violence and homelessness.   It is important to note that nearly 100% of the homeless women have experienced sexual violence in their lives.  Most homeless women may range between 30-50 years old.  How are they subject to further sexual assaults?  It may be the routine behavior such as interacting with other homeless, panhandlers and pimps.  There is almost no help for those people.  There are not many agencies that have as mission of “sexual assaults”.  A homeless woman is way on the bottom for help.  They are less likely to report an assault and less likely to be believed.  People often prey on those that are vulnerable.  Even in exchange for companionship, a person will need to give sex.  Who are the perpetrators?  It may be other individuals who are homeless.   There are three main reasons why a homeless woman may be attacked:  vulnerably, availability and lack of credibility.    There are many obstacles for accessing sexual assault services.   In speaking to a police officer, he asked “Do you believe her?”

The presenters showed a documentary entitled Run from the Law.  The documentary featured homeless women who share their stories of living in the streets.   They shared with us how an average day starts from sleeping in a stolen van, to consuming alcohol and drugs.  They do not feel safe as they are highly subject to rape and abuse.  They are often in distress.  They often feel less worthy of a human being.

Presentation PDF

2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters

Workshop – Suicide Prevention: Engaging Battered Women & Allies

Conference Track: Building Partnerships to Sustain and Enhance Services

View powerpoint here

View notes here

The following are some of the ideas, presentations, and information given on the first day of the 2nd World Shelter Conference (WSC)

Financial Empowerment_PDF

Technology Safety Planning_EN_PDF

Technology Safety Planning_FR_PDF

Also, there was an inspiring documentary shown called “To Catch a Dollar” by Gayle Ferraro.

Watch the trailer here

Visit the film website here

Interesting article on the importance of sharing strategies and information about domestic violence, as well as a business case to fund work on this issue

External link to Forbes

Pauktuutit has two representatives who are attending the conference and will be posting information and resources coming out of the workshops. They are also presenting on the Shelter Strong project on Thursday.

Event website: http://www.worldshelterconference.org/

Event programme: PDF_EN

Also, follow on:
Twitter -  #nnedv and #wcws

Facebook – www.facebook.com/GlobalNetworkofWomensShelters

YouTube – www.youtube.com/globalnetworkws

Pauktuutit is pleased to share two new workshop models. These how-to guides will help to create open and safe places to discuss healing.

On-the-Land Workshop Model_PDF

Inuit Elder and Youth Workshop Model_PDF