Research Centres, Institutes, Projects and Units

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Open Access
No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies
(2016-04) Dozois, Elizabeth; Wells, Lana; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Esina, Elena
In December 2015, Shift released the Men and Boys Violence Prevention Project: Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women. One of the key priorities identified within this action plan was the need for new funding and support to increase positive fatherhood involvement as a key prevention strategy for domestic violence. To meet this need, Shift produced No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies (to download report, click on PDF below). This report draws on five different research methods to provide findings and recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta. It is our hope that this report will lead to a robust discussion along with policy, practice and investment changes throughout Alberta. For the details of the research that supported the development of this report, please see the Fatherhood Involvement Reference Report. Shift welcomes any feedback and would be pleased to present the research and recommendations to groups throughout Alberta.
Open Access
Fatherhood Involvement Reference Report for No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies
(2016-05) Wells, Lana; Exner-Cortens, Deinera
In December 2015, Shift released the Men and Boys Violence Prevention Project: Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women. One of the key priorities identified within this action plan was the need for new funding and support to increase positive fatherhood involvement as a key prevention strategy for domestic violence. To meet this need, Shift produced No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies (to download report, click on PDF below). This report draws on five different research methods to provide findings and recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta. It is our hope that this report will lead to a robust discussion along with policy, practice and investment changes throughout Alberta. For the details of the research that supported the development of this report, please see the Fatherhood Involvement Reference Report. Shift welcomes any feedback and would be pleased to present the research and recommendations to groups throughout Alberta.
Open Access
Evaluation Findings and Recommendations for a Strategic, Coordinated Approach to Violence Prevention Programming for Children and Youth in Calgary, Alberta: 2012-2015
(2016-01) Dozois, Elizabeth
Violence prevention programming in schools has proven an effective means of reducing interpersonal violence such as bullying, sexual violence and domestic violence. In Calgary, these types of programs are currently offered by over a dozen different service providers, each having developed or adopted a different approach. The need to coordinate these efforts has long been recognized in this city, with coordination initiatives extending back as far as 2002. To date, however, attempts to develop a more cohesive and strategic approach in Calgary have been unsuccessful. In 2012, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence approached two funders – the United Way of Calgary and Area and the City of Calgary’s Family and Community Support Services – to support renewed efforts to coordinate violence prevention programming in this city. The need for coordination was heightened by the fact that Fourth R (Relationship), a teacher delivered evidence-based violence prevention program for youth in grades 7-9, was going to be scaled by Shift across Alberta. Having been alerted to this change in the programming landscape, service providers were eager to come together to consider the implications for their programs. While the project produced a number of good resources for educators and service providers, stakeholder engagement in VPP steadily declined, and the initiative began to lose momentum. As a result, the project was placed on hold in the Spring of 2015, and an evaluation consultant was contracted to gather feedback on the initiative, document learnings, and develop recommendations for next steps. This report offers a brief summary of the findings and recommendations arising from the VPP evaluation.
Open Access
Men and Boys Violence Prevention Project: Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women
(2015-12-29) Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Cooper, Merrill; Esina, Elena; Froese, Ken; Boutillier, Sophia
Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. As a result, we have been working over the past five years to advance this area of research, and in 2014 partnered with the Family and Community Safety Branch within the Ministry of Human Services-Government of Alberta (GOA) to build the first comprehensive government plan to engage men and boys in violence prevention. (This was undertaken as part of the GOA’s Family Violence Prevention Framework). Our research team (Lana Wells, Elizabeth Dozois, Deinera Exner-Cortens, Merrill Cooper, Sophia Boutillier, Elena Esina, and Ken Froese) conducted a literature review, consulted with leaders throughout Alberta and completed a provincial e-scan to understand both the evidence and current efforts in Alberta to advance a primary prevention approach with men and boys. From this, we identified specific recommendations to inform the Government of Alberta on an Action Plan to engage men and boys in violence prevention to advance gender equality and stop violence against women. These recommendations were compiled in the following report that was submitted to the Family and Community Safety Branch within Human Services in December 2015. The report is currently being reviewed by cross-ministry partners to explore opportunities to advance the findings. Follow the download link below to access a full report.
Open Access
Supporting the Supporters to Prevent Domestic Violence Initiative: Exploring the Role of Informal Supports in Preventing Domestic Violence in Calgary and Area
(2015-10) Boodt, Casey; Wells, Lana; Esina, Elena
This paper describes the Supporting the Supporters Research initiative that aimed to understand: 1) the value of informal supports in the lives of those dealing with domestic violence, 2) how best to support informal supports to effectively respond to the needs of the victim, 3) the service provider perspective on the perceived reluctance of friends and families to intervene, 4) the services already being offered to informal supports in Calgary, and 5) how organizations that specialize in domestic violence in Calgary can start to build customized education programs and supports that are geared towards informal supports including the general public to prevent domestic violence. Implications for the service delivery context in Calgary and area.
Open Access
Consulting the Community on Advancing an LGBTQ Alberta Framework on the Prevention of Domestic Violence
(2015-10) Hansen, Brian; Wells, Lana
This report contains the findings from a series of six consultations that Shift conducted throughout Alberta to better understand risk factors related to domestic violence victimization and perpetration within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, as well as barriers to help-seeking. A total of 81 individuals from across Alberta were involved in the consultations, including representatives from the LGBTQ communities, the domestic violence sector, health services, school systems and law enforcement. Participants agreed that there is a need for improved capacity among government and community-based organizations to provide better services to LGBTQ victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. In particular, many participants noted that a lack of appropriate and informed services presents a significant barrier to LGBTQ individuals who are trying to exit unhealthy relationships and/or violent circumstances. Domestic violence service providers themselves acknowledged the limitations of their knowledge about the unique experiences of LGBTQ individuals; however, these providers also demonstrated a genuine desire to learn about, and improve, the provision of care to prevent domestic violence within the LGBTQ community. Specific recommendations directed at the Government of Alberta and community-based agencies are included.
Open Access
Resources for Teachers and Program Leaders from the Violence Prevention Program Calgary Initiative
(2016-01) Wells, Lana; Claussen, Caroline; Abboud, Rida
For three years (2012-2015), a group of community-based agencies, school boards, funders and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence came together to develop a strategic and coordinated approach to violence prevention programming (VPP) in Calgary.
Open Access
Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women
(2015-12-29) Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Cooper, Merrill; Esina, Elena; Froese, Ken; Boutillier, Sophia
At this moment in Alberta, Canada, we all have an opportunity to better support men and boys to play a positive role in the movement to end violence against women. For this reason, we have proposed recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta to inform the development of their Action Plan to positively engage men and boys to advance gender equality and promote healthy masculinities in order to stop violence against women. However, we envision this report as an interim strategy because once men have been invited into the movement in positive ways and they become true allies and leaders in stopping violence against women, they can then be included in a more general strategy to engage all genders in violence prevention. In this sense, engaging men and boys is a bit like preferential hiring or reverse discrimination policies – that is, something that is needed for a period of time to redress a particular oversight or injustice, but is relinquished once that issue has been addressed. As a result, this report was written with the following assumptions in mind: • That the work with men and boys must be done in partnership with women’s organizations. All genders must be engaged to achieve gender equality and stop violence against women. • Funds must not be taken away or diverted from existing women’s organizations in order to advance an engaging men and boys strategy. New funds and resources must be found. • Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. As such, this work must be informed by a human rights based approach in order to empower all genders to claim their rights and to ensure accountability of individuals and institutions who are responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling rights. • Experiences of masculinity are affected by class, location, ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and many other factors. We need to reflect this intersectionality in our analysis, funding, program design and evaluation strategies. • We live in a patriarchy that reinforces structural inequities and reinforces violence against women. We therefore must work towards dismantling the existing structures and norms that breed men’s sense of entitlement and maintain their privilege, power and control over women. • Gender equality is in the best interest of everyone. This report is written with the intention of: 1) changing the discourse on men and boys from perpetrators to allies and violence disrupters: 2) promoting the inclusion of men and boys in efforts from which they have been largely absent, and 3) promoting the use of research and evidence to inform our violence prevention approach. Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. Shift is committed to advancing this area of research and invites you to contact us to continue the dialogue and learning. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary (lmwells@ucalgary.ca)
Open Access
Domestic Violence in Alberta’s Gender and Sexually Diverse Communities: Towards a Framework for Prevention
(2015-02) Lorenzetti, Liza; Wells, Lana; Callaghan, Tonya; Logie, Carmen
This report provides an overview of domestic violence within gender and sexually diverse communities, with a focus on Alberta and Canada. Included are specific risk factors for gender and sexually diverse communities, as well as information about barriers to accessing safe and appropriate services. The report highlights areas for prevention, including promising practices aimed at decreasing rates of violence, promoting attitudinal and norms change, and providing safe, welcoming and appropriate domestic violence services. The findings from this report are currently being shared across Alberta with the objective of catalyzing a much-needed discussion about how discrimination, stigma and systemic barriers negatively impact the lives of gender and sexually diverse communities. Pam Krause, President and CEO of the Calgary Sexual Health Centre and Brian Hansen, Shift Research Associate have been leading a series of consultations across Alberta, sharing the research findings and trying to identify solutions at the local and policy levels. If you would like more information, please contact bhansen@ucalgary.ca
Open Access
Building capacity in Alberta to prevent domestic violence: Results from a community of practice project
(2015-02) Wells, Lana; Claussen, Caroline; Aspenlieder, Laura
In 2011, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence entered into a formal partnership with the Government of Alberta to rebuild the recently released (November 2013) family violence prevention framework. Both partners agreed on the importance of ensuring that the research on which the prevention framework was based was accessible for practitioners, service providers, policy makers and system leaders throughout the province. Shift also realized that local communities would need to develop the capacity to implement the primary prevention strategies being proposed in the new provincial prevention strategy. As a result, Shift explored evidenced-informed models on knowledge translation, mobilization, and integration and (through a SSHRC Partnership grant and Canadian Women’s Foundation grant) engaged in a pilot project to test a particular Community of Practice (CoP) model in two regions in Alberta. The CoP model piloted was designed with the understanding that the best way to build community capacity for domestic violence primary prevention would be to work through the current research and support practitioners and system leaders to understand how it applies to their local context and communities. We believed this approach would support changes, not only at the individual practitioner level, but also support shifts in decision-making at the organizational, systems, and policy level.
Open Access
Preventing Child Maltreatment: A Critical Strategy for Stopping Intimate Partner Violence in the Next Generation
(2014-09) Cooper, Merrill; Wells, Lana
This paper makes the case for strengthening child maltreatment prevention efforts as a critical component of the Government of Alberta’s Family Violence Prevention Framework and the Early Childhood Strategy. A timely paper given the recent mandate letter to Minister of Human Services, Heather Klimchuk, which has a strong focus on early childhood development and poverty. The paper demonstrates the link between child maltreatment and domestic violence; provides an overview of the scope and consequences of child maltreatment; articulates the risk factors for child maltreatment; provides a description of programs and interventions that may prevent child maltreatment; and outlines key policy, research, and program recommendations to strengthen child maltreatment prevention efforts specifically in the Alberta context.
Open Access
Developmental Insights and Observations from Calgary’s Shift Project: What We’ve Learned about Social Change Initiatives
(2014-03) Dozois, Elizabeth
This report draws on selective findings emerging from Shift’s retrospective study to highlight key learnings about social change efforts and is intended for anyone who is working on large social change initiatives. This paper draws on Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence as a case study to illustrate some of the dynamics involved in social change efforts. It presents learnings in seven key areas: Managing complexity reactions Building in time for learning and preparation Building a knowledge structure that supports development Developing multidimensional strategies Identifying a niche Changing practice Changing policy We hope that by sharing our learnings, we can support the efforts of others to create positive change.
Open Access
Building a Provincial Positive Fatherhood Involvement Strategy: Results from the Nov 21, 2013 Consultation in Red Deer, Alberta
(2013-12) Hansen, Brian; Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth
This report summarizes the information gathered from a consultation session conducted on Thursday, November 21st, 2013, in Red Deer, Alberta. Participants included academics whose research areas include involved fathering, as well as service providers, and leaders in the community who work with fathers in a variety of capacities. Prior to the consultation, the report “Promoting Positive Father Involvement: A Strategy to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence in the Next Generation” was sent to each participant. This research paper focuses on positive father involvement as an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) prevention strategy, that is, a strategy to prevent IPV before those behaviors develop in the next generation. The report provides a rationale for new investments in positive father involvement strategies including specific recommendations in the areas of research, policy, and programming. This report is situated within a broader research agenda designed to build a comprehensive strategy to engage men and boys in violence prevention. The goal of this full day session was to disseminate knowledge about new research and trends in positive father involvement strategies in Alberta, as well as to explore recommendations and next steps in the areas of research, policy, and programming in Alberta.
Open Access
Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence in Alberta 2013-‐2018
(2012-11) Wells, Lana; Strafford, Brenda; Ferguson, Janay; Government of Alberta, Interdepartmental Committee on Family Violence and Bullying
In 2011, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, was engaged by the Government of Alberta to bring forward research in prevention science and contribute to the redesign of their family violence prevention framework: Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence in Alberta. A significant portion of the content within the Framework is based upon research conducted by Lana Wells, the Brenda Strafford Chair at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary along with Janay Ferguson, Elizabeth Dozois, Caroline Claussen, Liza Lorenzetti, Casey Boodt, Merrill Cooper and Elena Esina. The strategies are rooted in evidence and incorporate primary prevention approaches to move “upstream” and prevent violence from happening in the first place. The Brenda Strafford Chair submitted a source document to the Government of Alberta in November 2012. Highlights of the source document include: Promoting gender equality, reducing poverty, strengthening Albertan’s connections and social networks, and building parenting skills all contribute to preventing and reducing family violence. Investing in evidence-based programs such as Home Visitation, Violence Prevention and Healthy Youth Relationship programs, and Parenting programs is key to healthy relationships Ending corporal punishment and supporting parents to use positive discipline is a key strategy in prevention Working with men and boys as leaders and allies in family violence prevention with an explicit role in supporting positive father involvement is key to significantly reducing rates of violence Focusing on preventing dating violence because of the escalating rates Supporting the supporters – investing in helping friends, families and neighours recognize, respond and refer as the majority of Albertans go to them first Recognizes the diversity of Albertans (e.g., Aboriginal peoples, immigrants, refugees, newcomers and ethno-cultural communities, disabled people, GLBTQ, victims of sexual violence), thus recommended a targeted approach that must be in consultation with key leaders from these communities Identified a need for a sexual violence action plan and more resources in this area as a key prevention strategy
Open Access
Promoting Positive Father Involvement: A Strategy to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence in the Next Generation
(2013-09) Cooper, Merrill; Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth
This research paper focuses on positive father involvement as an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) prevention strategy, that is, a strategy to prevent IPV before those behaviors develop in the next generation. The report provides a rationale for new investments in positive father involvement strategies including specific recommendations in the areas of research, policy, and programming. This report is situated within a broader research agenda designed to build a comprehensive strategy to engage men and boys in violence prevention.
Open Access
The Role of Alcohol Outlet Density in Reducing Domestic Violence in Alberta
(2013-03) Dozois, Elizabeth; Esina, Elena; Wells, Lana
In this paper, we examine the relationship between alcohol use and domestic violence, and explore whether policy changes - in particular the regulation of liquor store density - can be effective in preventing and reducing domestic violence. This paper outlines a rationale for implementing liquor outlet density controls in Alberta and offers examples of effective research, policy and enforcement strategies from other jurisdictions. It concludes with a list of ways that municipalities in Alberta could take action.
Open Access
Surveying the Landscape: Sexual Violence Plans from Around the World
(2013-01) Wells, Lana; Claussen, Caroline; Aubrey, Danielle; Ofrim, Jenny
This report was created in partnership by the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence to facilitate a discussion about primary prevention of sexual violence and to inform the development of a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta. The purpose of this research is: 1) to present a synopsis of the scoping review of sexual violence plans from around the world; 2) to provide an overview of common elements among all plans reviewed; 3) to identify areas for inclusion in a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta.
Open Access
Engaging Men and Boys in Domestic Violence Prevention: Opportunities and Promising Approaches
(2013-02) Wells, Lana; Lorenzetti, Liza; Carolo, Humberto; Dinner, Tuval; Jones, Clay; Minerson, Todd; Esina, Elena
This report outlines seven ‘entry points’ for engaging men and boys in domestic violence prevention: 1. Engaging fathers in domestic violence prevention; 2. Men’s health and domestic violence prevention; 3. The role of sports and recreation in domestic violence prevention; 4. The role of the workplace in domestic violence prevention; 5. The role of peer relationships in domestic violence prevention; 6. Men as allies in preventing domestic violence; and 7. Aboriginal healing and domestic violence prevention. This research provides an analysis of the literature and highlights 67 promising approaches in the areas of policy, programs and practices, and citizen-led initiatives.
Open Access
Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence: Preliminary Research
(2013-01) Wells, Lana; Claussen, Caroline; Aubrey, Danielle; Ofrim, Jenny
The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence acknowledge that domestic violence and sexual violence are interconnected. They have joined together to facilitate a discussion about primary prevention of sexual violence, and to support the development of a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta. This report has several objectives: 1. To understand the scope of sexual violence both internationally, nationally and locally, as well as the factors that both prevent and contribute to sexual violence; 2. To identify theories and paradigms that are currently being used to understand sexual violence, as well as approaches and models used to develop sexual violence primary prevention strategies in other jurisdictions; and 3. To present the best available research evidence in the area of sexual violence primary prevention that makes sense in the Alberta context.
Open Access
Developing a Strategic and Coordinated Approach to Violence Prevention Programming for Children and Youth in Calgary
(2013-01) Wells, Lana; Claussen, Caroline; Abboud, Rida; Pauls, Monica
The purpose of this research is threefold: 1) to provide an overview of research pertaining to best and promising practices in the area of violence prevention programming for children and youth; 2) to provide an analysis of children- and youth-focused violence prevention programs currently offered by non-profit organizations in Calgary, Alberta; and 3) to provide recommendations to inform subsequent phases for developing a strategic coordinated community approach to violence prevention programming for children and youth in Calgary.This research identified various types of violence prevention programming offered throughout Calgary, specifically identifying the differences between school and community-based programs and universal/targeted approaches.