Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program Name:

Violence Is Preventable (VIP) Program

Organization/Community:

BC Society of Transition Houses

Location:

Vancouver, British Columbia

Website:

http://www.bcsth.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To break the silence on domestic violence by making it safe for children and youth to speak up in schools about domestic violence and the issues that impact upon their lives.

Target Group Description:

Children (ages 3 – 18)

Program Description:

The program offers: Awareness Presentations that aim to educate the educators, parents and other adults about children's risks to exposure of domestic violence; Violence Prevention Presentations that are designed for classrooms and to enable children to learn about domestic violence, unhealthy vs. Healthy relationships, develop communication skills and self-esteem; and Group Interventions that consist of multi-week psycho-educational group meetings that offer the support needed to cope with the impact that domestic violence has had on the lives of participants.

Program Successes/Impact:

The development of partnerships with schools and their continued interest and participation in the program has been a huge success.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Insufficient funding has been an issue. Overcoming the reluctance of some schools to adopt a program of such sensitive subject matter.

Program in operation since:

2004 years.

Program:

Ongoing.