By Carrie Pohl, MSW, RSW | University of Calgary | RESOLVE Alberta

The Alliance Against Violence and Adversity (AVA) is a Health and Social Services Research Training Platform for system and population transformations in girls’ and women’s health. The objective of this training platform is to create the capacity to transform population (community) health and social services to promote health and wellness of girls and women at risk of or affected by violence and adversity over the life cycle. 

The AVA training platform has identified 3 overarching gaps in current research training to prevent and address negative impacts of adversity and family violence on girls and women’s health and wellness. Read more.

By Carrie Pohl, MSW, RSW | University of Calgary | RESOLVE Alberta

Women fleeing abusive relationships/ households are not receiving comparable levels of services, which are dependent on which part of the country they live in. The Shelter Pulse database will be a free, easy-to-use, up-to-date resource to help shelters resolve these issues. Pooling resources to create a consistent framework for policy development and service delivery will also save time and money for shelters, eliminate duplication of work, and create a standard for rural Canadian shelters. 

This project aims to equalize the level of care for women escaping domestic violence by creating a database of the most current, research-based, trauma-informed policies and practices. This online tool will assist VAW and second-stage shelters to standardize their practices to ensure that women and children across the country have access to comparable levels of services even when they’re in smaller communities. Read more.

The Tech-Facilitated Violence: An Introduction research brief explores the issue of facilitated violence and is based on the webinar, Tech-Facilitated Violence: An Introduction hosted by RESOLVE at the University of Manitoba with keynote speakers Jane Bailey (University of Ottawa, The eQuality Project) and Suzie Dunn (Dalhousie University, The eQuality Project). The research brief defines basic terms and definitions, provides an overview of tech-facilitated violence, discusses tech-facilitated gender-based violence, examines the issue of tech-facilitated IPV, and provides practical tips for safety planning along with a list of useful resources. The research brief can be downloaded here.

Kathleen is a Registered Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Work and the Ontario College of Social Worker and Social Service Workers. She has a Master’s of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Booth University College. Kathleen is currently a Play Therapy Intern with the Canadian Association of Play Therapists and has a Justice & Public Safety Certificate from Red River College. 
 
Kathleen has worked in private practice since March 2020 and works with children, youth, young adults, and families. She works primarily using Play Therapy modalities, EMDR, attachment theory and cultural safety practices in the therapy process. Kathleen has a background in criminal justice and child development and has worked in the Youth Justice System in Probation Services for 12 years. She is also a sessional instructor with the Bachelor of Social Work program with Booth University College and the University of Manitoba. Kathleen has been a Research Assistant with RESOLVE Manitoba since January of 2021. 
 
Kathleen has worked on the project entitled Caught in the Middle: Children’s Involvement in the Court Process as it Relates to Intimate Partner Violence, and she is currently writing a publication with Dr. Kendra Nixon in relation to this project. Kathleen is currently working on the COVID-19 and the Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors and Service Providers and the Examining the Nature & Context of Intimate Partner Violence in 2SLGBTQ+ Communities. 

Élyse's placement with RESOLVE offered her a unique glimpse into the world of community-driven, action-oriented research and how it can help bridge the gap between politics, academia, and the "real world". What will stick with Élyse the most is just how connected intimate partner violence is to structural inequality, both in terms of survivors themselves and the responses to survivors, and how "bad" policy, which emerges from an oppressive system makes their lives and the jobs of frontline workers much more difficult. Being involved in the type of "bridging" work that RESOLVE does has given her a greater understanding of and appreciation for exactly how research can affect tangible change at the individual, community, and societal level, ultimately improving people's lives. RESOLVE Manitoba is grateful to have had the opportunity to mentor and work with Élyse and wish her the best.

The Examining the Nature and Context of Intimate Partner Violence in 2SLGBTQ+ Communities environmental scan reports on the agencies, programs, and services available to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta who have experienced IPV. The scan includes a listing of organiza­­­tions and a brief description of the services they provide for each province. The scope of the scan includes telephone support lines, criminal justice services, shelter and housing, counselling and support services, and services related to parenting and children affected by IPV. Agencies and programs are listed under these categories. The environmental scan can be accessed here. 

RESOLVE Manitoba welcomes new Steering Committee member D/Sgt Sara Davidson. D/Sgt Sara Davidson has been a Police Officer with the Winnipeg Police Service for 19 years. Sara has enjoyed her career working in General Patrol, the Child Abuse Unit, Victim Services unit, HR, and most recently has been instructing at the Winnipeg Police Training Academy. Sara is D/Sgt Shane Wepruk’s successor in the role of Domestic Violence Intervention Coordinator, and, will be working with Domestic Violence Investigators as well as overseeing a Pilot Project in partnership with Domestic Violence Support Services with Manitoba Justice.
 
RESOLVE Manitoba says farewell to Steering Committee member, D/Sgt Shane Wepruk and thanks him for his commitment and dedication to RESOLVE Manitoba and the Network over the past couple of years.

Responding to Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Municipalities Across the Prairies
 
We have launched the environmental scan for the project with the updated information. The original scan included a listing of service providers across the three prairie provinces. The updated scan added more services, including sexual assault supports available in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The final version of the environmental scan is available on the RESOLVE website. All team members have provided inputs to the final draft of the literature review, and we aim to share the final version of the literature review in the coming weeks. The data collection has been challenging, and we continue to recruit participants, both survivors and service providers, for this research project across the three provinces. The team aims to finalize the data collection and preliminary analysis by August 2022. The development of the Geographic Information System (GIS) map is ongoing and will continue along with the data analysis and will serve as a visual communication tool for the final presentation of the findings.
 
COVID-19 and the Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors and Service Providers

Work on the Manitoba-based study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence survivors and services providers has advanced in recent months. This mixed methodology study is a collaborative effort between RESOLVE Manitoba and Brandon University.  A draft of the literature review was completed in fall 2021 and is currently being edited by members of the research team. A total of 15 interviews with survivors have been completed and there are plans to conduct 10-15 additional interviews with specific population groups (men; immigrants/refugees; Indigenous peoples; individuals residing in rural, remote, and Northern locations).  Data collection for the service provider survey has concluded and the team is in the process of organizing follow-up focus groups.  The project was granted a one-year extension (September 2022 complete date) due to delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Examining the Nature and Context of Intimate Partner Violence in 2SLGBTQ+ Communities
 
RESOLVE Manitoba is currently in the data collection phase. At present, the research team is conducting in-depth interviews with the first group of participants, as well as facilitating the ongoing recruitment of 2SLGBTQ+ victims/survivors and service providers. The project is a tri-provincial effort, in collaboration with RESOLVE offices in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and community partners Rainbow Resource Centre, Sagesse, and OUTSaskatoon. Upon completion, the project seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of intimate partner violence amongst a diverse array of 2SLGBTQ+ communities and identify barriers to help-seeking that may occur.  

RESOLVE Manitoba is looking for volunteers to take part in a study of rural women’s experiences as victims of violence in their intimate partner relationships, and their experiences of help-seeking. Participants must be adults (18 years or older), have experienced intimate partner violence (within the last 10 years), have been living in a rural area during their experiences of violence, and are no longer living with their abusive/violent partner. 

To participate in an interview, contact us at 204-890-1019 or masha.kardashevskaya@umanitoba.ca. For more information download the infographic here.

RESOLVE Manitoba is looking for volunteers to take part in a study about experiences of intimate partner violence in 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Participants in the study must be adults (18 years or older), identify as a member of a 2SLGBTQ+ community, reside in Manitoba, Canada and have experienced intimate partner violence in the last 10 years (2011-2021) and currently in a safe situation free from violence.
 
To participate in an interview, please contact us at 1-833-946-1772 or email ashley.haller@umanitoba.ca. For more information download the infographic here.