Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Family Violence Interventions

Program name:

Tahsahtaweyaht Transitional Housing for Victims of Violence and Aboriginal Youth

Organization:

At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc.

Location:

Southwold, Ontario

Target Group:

Male and female youth and older people

Contact Name:

Dennis Whiteye, Manager of Community Support and Outreach Services

Phone:

(519) 438-0068

Email:

admin@atlohsa.com

Website:

www.atlohsa.com

Program Overview
History:

The program began in 2006 and has been ongoing since that time.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To provide transitional and housing support and services for women and their children, who have experienced abuse, to help them connect with community supports, and find and maintain housing. Also to support the development of a transitional support plan and a safety plan for women and their children, who have experienced abuse, and to provide services that are reflective of these plans.

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

Cultural support services are also offered in the form of pipe ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, language workshops, sunrise ceremonies, community feasts, water ceremonies, naming ceremonies. All of these cultural ceremonies are designed to encourage the clients to find the motivation to make their lives better.

Components of program:

Each woman will have an individual transition plan that identifies individually determined short and long term goals and the steps necessary to achieve those goals. The transition plan will identify the specific services/supports to be received by the individual, the expected outcomes and will be based on the principles of person-centred planning, self-determination and choice. The Transition Housing program takes referrals (i.e. from schools calling about youth) and self referrals. In the assessment of young people, they develop safety plans; if they have nowhere to go, they are provided with housing. The intent of the program is to prevent violence against young women by providing a safe place to live. The housing initiative was a response to a homeless youth initiative, which was funded by a government initiative prior to 2006. The aim is to help young offenders coming out of jail to reconnect to the community. Youth are provided with support through this independent living. For youth in care, often when they turn 16-18, they are left on their own without further assistance. This housing initiative assists those youth as well.

Services/How they work:

Services are provided on site at the facility.

Funding:

An Ontario Trillium Grant was established in 2010 for 3 years to staff the program.

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

Every two years, a conference is held, inviting the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community. The conference provides a complete demonstration of the programs and services that the organization provides to the public. The organization has subsidies to help children and youth to attend by providing them with travel and accommodations. It is usually standing room only. The community comes out and provides feedback.

Partners:

Namerind; Nokeekway; Western Student Association; Western First Nations Student Centre; Fanshawe College First Nations Student Centre; Domestic Court Advisory committee for the City of London and Middlesex; Infants and High Risk Environment Committee; Children who Witness Violence Program Advisory Board; City of London Police Consultants Committee; Centre for Research to End Violence Against Women Board; SW Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre Board; National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence; Southwest Ontario Shelter Association; No More Silence Network; Community Advocates for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability; City of London Homeless Coalition; and the Coalition against Human Trafficking.

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

No evaluation has been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

N/A

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success is measured by clients continuing to make healthy life choices after leaving the program.

Achievements:

Seeing the positive changes in clients' lives. Clients living lives free of violence and addictions.

Challenges:

The maintenance of housing with limited human resources.

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The program is considered replicable. Community involvement on all levels of the program is key to ensuring its success.

Resources:

Adequate funding, properly trained staff and facility space for the programming would be necessary to ensure the program's success.