Without A Room of Their Own: How Community Collaborations Can Support Families in Transition

Alison Robinette, M.S.W.Child and Family Clinician

Angelique Jenney, M.S.W.Director, Family Violence Services

OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION

Overview of the Program How We Work What Works Importance of

partnership Testimonials

A Powerful Paradox

Children are often the reason that women stay in abusive relationships, entrenching parenting patterns over significant periods of time under the stressful influences of living with violence…but are often the most powerful motivator to leave (Hilton, 1992).

Mother and child can sometimes serve as constant reminders to each other of earlier traumatic experiences (Lieberman & VanHorn, 2005) …and yet the child’s relationship to the mother is the most powerful predictor of positive outcome for the child….(McGee, 2000)

Overview of our Services for Families Residing in Shelters:

FV/SA Shelters Program:Shelter-based children’s mental

health servicesViolence Against Women

servicesSchool Liaison Program:School-based support services

for children residing in shelters

Spanish-speaking FVS

Funded By: Ministry of Community and

Social Services, Violence Against Women Initiative

United Way of Greater Toronto

8 Urban Shelters part of the partnership since early 1980s

How We Work:

Supportive and educational counselling around parenting, VAW issues, child development

Assessments (psychometric/trauma)

Activity/play based work with kids (and moms)

Safety Planning

Theoretical Frameworks:

Feminist-Informed, Gender-based analysis of VAW

Developmental Theory (attachment and child development)

Strengths perspective with Empowerment Practice

What Our Partner’s Say:

This service is valuable for many reasons. We can refer clients to the shelter worker and she will see the clients quickly and work flexibly to determine what kinds of interventions are appropriate for each family. Having these services on site is especially helpful, as it is often difficult for an overwhelmed mother to get herself and her children to an outside location on a regular basis.

- Shelter Staff Member

What Client’s Say About What Was Most Important For Them:

“Getting my children to open up with their feelings so I could learn ways to help them”

“Not having to feel that am judged. Knowing that I can call and someone call me back and I can have the service at my home.”

“la consejeria puesto que esta me hace sentir un poco mejor” (The therapy, since this helps me feel a little bit better)

Why it Works and the Challenges:

Clear roles, expectations, timely/appropriate referrals Flexibility - Short term nature of work (transitions/no

closure/families in crisis) Collaboration with community resources (e.g. CPS) Systemic housing delays - longer stays Communication between shelter staff and residents re:

services (confidentiality etc.)

Getting Started in Your Community:

Identify possible community partners for services that meet the needs of your shelter and residents (e.g. children’s/adult mental health services)

Identify possible funding options (Ministry, UW, foundations)

Collaborate on development of a proposal or pilot project

THANK YOU! CONTACT INFO:

Alison Robinette, M.S.W.Child and Family Clinician Family Violence Shelters Programarobinette@childdevelop.ca

Angelique Jenney, M.S.W.Director, Family Violence Servicesajenney@childdevelop.ca

Child Development Institute197 Euclid AvenueToronto, Ontario Canada M5B 2P7416-603-1827 www.childdevelop.ca