BuildingInformedServiceDelivery

inSecond-StageShelters

PhaseII

FinalReport

September 1, 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTraditionalLandsACWSacknowledgesthetraditionallandsuponwhichwelive,work,andplay.WerecognizethatallAlbertansareTreatypeopleandhavearesponsibilitytounderstandourhistorysothatwecanhonorthepast,beawareofthepresent,andcreateajustandcaringfuture.ACWScelebratesandvaluestheresiliency,successes,andteachingsthatAlberta’sIndigenouspeoplehaveshownus,aswellastheuniquecontributionsofeveryAlbertan.TheACWSofficeislocatedonTreaty6land,whichisthetraditionalterritoryofthePlainsCreeandanancientgatheringplaceofmanyIndigenouspeoplesforthousandsofyears.TheselandshavealsobeenhometoandacentraltradingplaceoftheBlackfoot,Nakota,Assiniboine,Dene,andtheMétispeopleofwesternCanada.WehonourthecourageandstrengthofIndigenouswomen.Wehonorthemaslifegiversandcaregiversaswehonorandlearnfromtheircontinuingachievements,theirconsistentstrength,andtheirremarkableendurance.Ourmembers–andtheparticipatingsheltersinthisproject-serveallnationsandallpeoples;theyarelocatedonTreaty6,7and8landsacrossthisprovincewhichincludethesixMetisregionsofAlberta.WomeninSecond-StageSheltersACWSgratefullyacknowledgesthewomenwhostayedinAlberta’ssecond-stageshelters,whogifteduswiththeirtime,personalexperiencesandperspectivesonshelterservicesandsupports,includingthebarrierstheyfacedaswellastheirsuggestionsforserviceimprovement.Second-StageShelterCommitteeMembersThankyoutoACWSmemberswhoparticipatedinthisground-breakingwork.WewouldliketoparticularlythanktheSheltersDirectorsandtheirdesignatedstaffwhoparticipatedontheCommitteeandtheinterviews:

• AlmaFourie,BrendaStraffordCentreforthePreventionofDomesticViolence,Calgary• AngelaRooks-TrotzukandCharleneRowein,LloydminsterIntervalHomeSociety,

Lloydminster• CassiePutnamandMelissaGreen,HopeHavenSociety,LacLaBiche• CindyEaston,MountainRoseWomen’sShelterAssociation,RockyMountainHouse• EbonyRempelandStaceyBudgell,GrandePrairieWomen’sResidence,GrandePrairie• IanWheeliker,CentralAlbertaWomen’sEmergencyShelter,RedDeer• JoyJohnson-GreenandMarvolynJohnson,SonshineSocietyofChristianCommunity

Services,Calgary• KarenReynoldsandCarolSiziba,CatholicSocialServices,Edmonton• MicheleTaylorandJennaMacDonald,Waypoints,FortMcMurray• MoniqueAuffreyandTanyaRossetti,DiscoveryHouseFamilyViolencePrevention

Society,Calgary

• NatashaCarvalho,CatherineOhamaandRoseO’Donnell,MedicineHatWomen’sShelterSociety,MedicineHat

• NoreenCotton,St.Paul&DistrictCrisisAssociation,St.Paul• PatGarrettandKarenKingdom,WingsofProvidenceSociety,Edmonton• RebeccaWells,WellspringFamilyResourceandCrisisCentre,Whitecourt• SherrieBotten,CarmenTaciuneandPamBaudistel,RowanHouseSociety,HighRiver• SusanWhite,Dr.MargaretSavageCrisisCentreSociety,ColdLake

Second-StageShelterStaffAbigthankyoutoallsecond-stageshelterstaffforconnectingwithwomenforfollow-upandresearchinterviews,helpingustesttheAcuityScale,diligentlyenteringdataintoOutcomeTracker,andmostofallfortheoutstandingworkyoudoincreatingsafehealingspacesforwomenandchildren.ACWSStaffThankyouto:

• CarolynGoard,DirectorMemberPrograms&Services,AlbertaCouncilofWomen’sShelters,whoprovidedoverallleadership,facilitationandsupport;

• SusanPlesuk,TrainerandOutcomeTrackerConsultant,whoprovidedassessmentandOutcomeTrackertraining,supporteddatamanagementwork,interviewedwomen,andwasalwaysavailabletoprovideindividualhelpandsupport;

• CatVanWielingenandAllieBuxton,DataandProjectAdvisors,fortheirableassistancewithprojectsupport;

• ChristophPeck,DataandMemberSupport,fortechnicalsupportwithOutcomeTracker;and,

• NicolSinclaire,OfficeAdministrator,forensuringthatmeetingshappenedinatimelyandefficientmanner.

ProjectFundersThankyoualsototheCalgaryFoundation,PolicyWiseforChildrenandFamiliesandtheIODE,fortheirgenerousfundingsupportoftheproject.PrincipalAuthorIreneHoffart,SynergyResearchGroupwithDr.KathleenCairns

AlbertaCouncilofWomen’sSheltersTreaty6Territory

600,10310JasperAveEdmonton,ABT5J2W4

Phone:780-456-7000Email:voice@acws.ca

Web:https://www.acws.ca

TableofContents

SectionI. Introduction.......................................................................................................11.1ProjectPhaseII...............................................................................................2

SectionII.ShelterServiceUse...........................................................................................42.1 AdmissionsandServiceUse...........................................................................42.2Occupancy.......................................................................................................5

SectionIII.WomenandChildreninSecond-StageShelters..............................................73.1DemographicCharacteristics..........................................................................73.2HealthandAddictions.....................................................................................8

SectionIV.TheExperienceofAbuse...............................................................................104.1 TheNatureoftheAbuse...............................................................................104.2 SafetyandReadinessAssessment.................................................................104.3 ParentingAfterAbuse...................................................................................13

SectionV.Second-StageShelterServices.......................................................................145.1 LengthofStay................................................................................................145.2 ShelterServicesandSupports.......................................................................155.3 ShelterReferrals............................................................................................16

SectionV.ServiceOutcomes...........................................................................................176.1 ServiceCompletionandGoalAttainment.....................................................176.2 HousingandLivingSituationatDischarge....................................................19

SectionVII.AcuityScale..................................................................................................227.1 IntendedUse.................................................................................................227.2 ScaleDevelopment........................................................................................227.3 ScaleDescriptionandScoring.......................................................................237.4 FinalAcuityScaleTestingResults..................................................................237.5 NextSteps.....................................................................................................26

SectionVIII.Women’sFeedback......................................................................................278.1 ClientFeedbackSurvey..................................................................................278.2 InterviewswithWomen.................................................................................298.3 Follow-upSurvey............................................................................................35

SectionIX.ShelterDirectors’Feedback...........................................................................389.1 ShelterProgramDevelopment.....................................................................389.2 Second-stageSheltersandHousingServicesSector....................................399.3 DevelopingDataManagementCapacity......................................................409.4 ShelterImpact..............................................................................................419.5 NextSteps.....................................................................................................42

SectionX.ReportHighlightsandNextSteps....................................................................44

ListofTablesTable1. ACWSMemberOrganizationswithOperationalSecond-StageShelters..............3Table2. GoalAttainmentatDischarge.....................................................................................19Table3. ReliabilityResultsSummary.................................................................................24Table4. Test-RetestReliabilityResults..............................................................................25Table5. ProportionofWomenbyFeedbackSurveyItems...............................................28ListofFigures

Figure1. NumberofWomenandChildrenServedandAdmittedbyFiscalYear.............4Figure2. ReasonsWhyApartmentsWereNotAvailable.................................................5Figure3. AverageOccupancyRatebyLocationbyYear..................................................6Figure4. HealthandAddictionIssuesbyFiscalYearofAdmission..................................9Figure5. TypesofAbuseExperienced..............................................................................10Figure6. DA/WTPTDAScorebyNumberofWomeninSecond-StageShelters..............11Figure7. DVSAAreasofChangebyNumberofWomeninEachStage............................12Figure8. ParentingStressIndexResults..........................................................................13Figure9. PercentofWomenbyLengthofStay................................................................14Figure10.LengthofStaybyWoman’sBackground...........................................................14Figure11.TypesofServicesProvidedbyPercentofWomen............................................15Figure12.TypesofSafety-RelatedActivitiesbyNumberofContactswithWomen.........16Figure13.StatusofProgramCompletionatDischarge.....................................................17Figure14.ProportionofWomenSuccessfullyCompletingtheProgrambyBackground..18Figure15.TypeofHousingatAdmissionandDischarge...................................................20Figure16.StableHousingatDischargebyWoman’sBackground.....................................21Figure17.ProportionofWomenbyTypesofCommunityServicesTheyAccessed..........36ForalladditionaldocumentationthatisreferencedthroughoutthereportpleaserefertotheseparateAddendumDocument.

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I. Introduction

Second-stagesheltersaresafe,longerterm(6monthsto2years),apartment-styleresidencesthatarepartofthespectrumofdomesticviolencesupportandhousingservicesthatincludesemergencyandsecond-stageshelters,outreachservices,anddomesticviolencehousingfirstservices.Second-stagesheltersoftenbridgethetransitionbetweenanemergencyshelterandawomanlivingonherown.Second-stagesheltersprovidewrap-aroundservicescriticaltomeetingtheneedsofabusedwomenandtheirchildren.Therearetwelvesecond-stagesheltersinAlberta.Outofthetwelveshelters,fiveareinurbanareas(EdmontonandCalgary),andtheothersevenareintownsandsmallcitiesthroughouttheprovinceincludingtwoon-reserve.1SevenofAlberta’ssecond-stagesheltersarerunbyshelteringorganizationsthatalsooperateemergencyshelters.2Tenmembersofferingsecond-stageresidentialprograms,aswellasmembersintheprocessofbuildingorplanningtobuildasecond-stageshelters,begantomeetformallyinFebruaryof2013tosupportPhaseIimplementationoftheSecond-StageShelterproject.ThepurposeofPhaseIwastocollectivelydevelopstrategiesthatpromoteacommonunderstandingofandsupportforsecond-stagesheltersinAlberta.Phase1ofthisprojectsupportedcreationofinformedservicedeliverycultureswithineachparticipatingorganization.Asshelterstaffimprovedtheircapacitytocollect,analyzeandreportdata,theywerebetterabletounderstandtheneedsofwomenandchildrenintheirshelters,supportingdeliveryofmoreresponsiveandinformedservices.Withincreasedknowledge,shelterstaffwillbebetterequippedtoeffectivelyadvocateforneededcommunityservicesaswomentransitionfromshelterlifetolivingincommunity.Ourprojectgoalswereintendedto:

• Positionsecond-stageshelterswithinthehousingandsupportsspectrumofhomelessserviceprovision;

• Demonstratetheimportantrolesheltersplayinhousingwomenandchildrenleavingdomesticviolence;

• Supportthedevelopmentofaclear,convincingrationalefortheneedandbenefitsofsafeandsupportivehousingforwomenandchildrenleavingabusiverelationships,and

• Ultimatelyresultinaccesstolong-termandsustainablefundingsupports.PhaseIoftheprojectconcludedinAprilof2015,withsubmissionofseveraldeliverablesincluding:• Promisingpracticereview• Second-stagelogicmodel• Implementationofnewdatacollectiontools• PhaseIreport

1Thetwoon-reservemembersofferingsecondstageprogramsdidnotparticipateinthisstudy.2Albertaalsohastwosheltersthatspecializeinservicestomeettheneedsofolderadultswhohavebeenabused.2Albertaalsohastwosheltersthatspecializeinservicestomeettheneedsofolderadultswhohavebeenabused.Thesesheltersalsoprovidelongertermstaysthanwhathastraditionallybeenseeninwomen’semergencysheltersandalsoofferahostofservicesandcommunitysupports.Thesesheltersdidnotparticipateinthestudy.

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1.1 ProjectPhaseIIAllmembersthatparticipatedinPhaseIremainedcommittedtocontinuewiththeinitiative,asdemonstratedbytheirparticipationinthePhaseIIinauguralwebinartraining,whichfocusedonanewgoalattainmenttooltobeimplementedinPhaseII.Othermembersalsojoined:somehadplansforopeningasecond-stageshelter;somehadjustrecentlyopenedsecond-stageshelters;andsomeothershadsimilarservices,albeitnotformallydesignatedassecond-stageshelters.PhaseIIbeganwiththelaunchofgoalattainmentdatagatheringonApril1,2015.PhaseIIbuiltontheactivitiesanddocumentationdevelopedinthefirstphase,withthefollowingmajorobjectives:

1. Womenandchildrenwhoreceivesecond-stageshelterservicesachievestabilityandsafetyasaresultoftheirshelterstay(seeLogicModelforspecificindicatorsandtoolsintheAddendumDocument).

2. ParticipatingSecond-stageshelterhavetheneededcapacitytodeliverevidence-basedandinformedservice.

PhaseIIactivitiesincluded:• Toolfinalizationandtraining:PreparationforPhaseII,includingtrainingwebinarsandsupportto

shelterstaffforenhanceddatacollectiontoolsandprocesses(seetoolsattachedintheAddendumDocument).

• DevelopmentofanAcuityScale:Acuityassessmentquantifiesthecomplexityofneedswomenandchildreninsheltersexperience(seeSectionVIIandAddendumDocumentforscaledocumentation).

• Datacollectionwithtrainingandsupport:Shelterstaffcollecteddataandindividualandgroupsupportwasprovidedtothemthroughtrainingwebinarsandtelephoneconsultation.

• Quarterlydatareview:Thedatacollectionprocesswassupportedbyquarterlymeetingsandreports.Emerginginformationhelpedinformservicedeliveryandnewquestions.

• Staffandclientinterviews:Helpeddescribeserviceimplementation,theimpactoftheprojectonshelterservices,andoutcomesforwomenatdischargeaswellasaftertheyleavetheshelter(seesummaryoftheirfeedbackinSectionsVIIIandIXandtheAddendumDocumentforinterviewschedules).

• Finalreport:SynthesizesprojectoutcomesfrombothPhasesandidentifiesnextstepsforACWSanditsmemberorganizations(thisdocument).

ParticipatingOrganizationsTheprojectinvolvedsixteenACWSmemberorganizationsthatrepresentedallAlbertaregionsandthateithercurrentlydeliversecond-stageshelterservices,plantodeliversuchservicesordeliversimilarservices(e.g.,domesticviolencehousingfirst,thirdstageshelter,progressivehousing).Twelveoftheseorganizationshadfunctioningsecond-stagesheltersortransitionalhousinginPhaseIIandcontributeddatatotheproject(seeTable1).

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Table1.ACWSMemberOrganizationswithOperationalSecond-StageSheltersorTransitionalHousing

MemberOrganization Shelter/HousingName

#ofApartments Location

BrendaStraffordCentreforthePreventionofDomesticViolence

BrendaStrafford 34 Calgary

CatholicSocialServices LaSalle 11 EdmontonDiscoveryHouseFamilyViolencePreventionSociety

DiscoveryHouse 19 Calgary

Dr.MargaretSavageCrisisCentreSociety

Joie’sPhoenixHouse 6 ColdLake

GrandePrairieWomen'sResidenceAssociation

SerenityPlace 14 GrandePrairie

HopeHavenSociety Lynne’sHouse 2(withplansforanadditional2units)

LacLaBiche

LloydminsterIntervalHomeSociety DolmarManor 5 LloydminsterMedicineHatWomen'sShelterSociety

MusasaHouse 10 MedicineHat

RowanHouseSociety RowanHouse 4 HighRiverSonshineSocietyofChristianCommunityServices

SonshineCenter 24 Calgary

Waypoints WoodBuffaloSecondStageHousing

13 FortMcMurray

WingsofProvidenceSociety WINGS 20 Edmonton

Additionalfourorganizationsthatparticipatedinthestudyhadplansunderwaytodevelopasecond-stageshelterorsimilartypesofhousingintheirlocations:

• St.Paul&DistrictCrisisAssociation,St.Paul• WellspringFamilyResource&CrisisCentreSociety,Whitecourt• CentralAlbertaWomen’sEmergencyShelter,RedDeer• MountainRoseWomen’sShelterAssociation,RockyMountainHouse

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II. ShelterServiceUse

2.1 AdmissionsandServiceUseTheinformationinthisreportdescribesexperiencesofwomenandchildrenwhoresidedinelevensecond-stagesheltersbetweenApril2013andFebruary2017:3

• Overthatperiodshelterssupportedatotalof2,704individualsincluding997womenand1,707children;

• Ofthese,112womenand146childrenwereadmittedpriortoAprilof2013;• Tenofthe997individualwomen(about1%)wereadmittedmorethanoncewithinthistime

period;• Overthesametimeperiod,860womenand1,441children–atotalof2,301-weredischarged

fromsecond-stageshelters.Mostofthesewomenandchildren(n=687,about70%)werereferredtosecond-stagesheltersbyemergencydomesticviolenceshelterstaff,confirmingtheirroleasprovidersofhousingandwrap-aroundsupportstowomenforwhomemergencyshelterstaysarenotsufficient.Othersourcesofreferralsincludedself-referralsorreferralsfromvariouscommunityagencies.AsshowninFigure1,serviceandadmissionnumbershavegrownsincethestudybegan,mostlyduetotheexpansionofsecondshelterspace(newprogramsbeganoperatingandexistingsheltersaddednewapartments),allreflectingthecontinueddemandforsecond-stageshelterservicesacrossAlberta.Thedecreasein2016-17showninFigure1couldbearesultoftheincompletefiscalyear(datacollectionendedinFebruary2017),butmayalsoreflecttheincreaseinvacancyratesinAlbertain2016.About77%ofallsecond-stageshelteradmissionsareinEdmonton(27%)orinCalgary(50%),againreflectingthenumberofsecond-stagesheltersandnumberofapartmentsineachoftheshelterslocatedinthosecities.

Figure1.NumberofWomenandChildrenServedandAdmittedbyFiscalYear

3Notethatoneofthesheltersusesadifferentdatabase,withsomewhatdifferentdataset.Thatshelter’sdataisreflectedin:Section2.1,SectionIII,portionsofSections4.1and4.2,Section5.1,portionsofSection6.1andcompleteSectionsVIIthroughX.

547 618 701575

795918

1099917

020040060080010001200

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Admiped

Served

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2.2 OccupancyTheconceptofshelteroccupancyhelpsusunderstandhowfullthesheltersareatanyonetime.Thistermwasadoptedfromthehotelindustryanddoesnotfullytranslateintotheworkofthesecond-stageshelters,aswomendonotmoveinandmoveoutwithminimaltimelaginbetween.Thereneedstobetimetochangebedding,cleanrooms,aswellasspendtimewiththewomanandherchildrenatdischargeplusconductanempatheticintakeforthenextwomanwhowillbeoccupyingtheapartment.Oftensecond-stageshelterapartmentsareunavailablebecausetheyareunderrepair,awaitinganoutoftowntransfer,closedforhealthreasonsorrenovationsandpaintingaswellasahostofotherreasonsuniquetoeachshelter.Figure2belowquantifiesafrequencywithwhichthesereasonswereidentifiedbetweenAprilof2014andFebruary2017todescribewhytheapartmentswerenotavailableeachmonth,withcleaningandmaintenanceandrepairsasthereasonsmostfrequentlysited.Figure2.ReasonsWhyApartmentsWereNotAvailable4

Inordertoaccountfortheseuniquefactorsandtomeetfunderreportingrequirementsonoccupancy,ACWSmembersdevelopedanoccupancyratecalculationformula,asfollows:

Fundedapartmentoccupancyrate=Numberofpeopleinshelterplusapartmentsthatareheldorunavailabledividedbytotalnumberofprovinciallyfundedapartments.

Figure3averagesmonthlyoccupancyresultsfortheyears2014,2015,2016andthefirsttwomonthsof2017andcomparesitacrossurbanshelters(CalgaryorEdmonton)andsheltersinothersmallermunicipalitiesorrurallocations.AscanbeseeninFigure3,theurbanoccupancyrateconsistentlyremainsatnear100%,whiletheoccupancyrateinsmallerlocationsfluctuatesandislower.Whilethepopulationsizeandaccompanyingdemandproducethe100%occupancyinCalgaryandEdmonton,therateinotherlocationsislikelyaresultofseveralfactorsincludingsizeofshelter,resourcesandhousingavailableinthesheltercommunity,averagecostoflivingaswellasthesizeoffamiliesaccessingtheshelter.

4Otherreasonsincludedinstanceswheretheapartmentswereusedforanemergency,wherethestaffwerewaitingforthereferralstobescreened,orwherefurnituredeliverywaspending.

61

41

26

17

11

25

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Cleaningandmaintenance

Inrepair

Financespending

Closedforrenovaqons

Awaiqngtransfer

Otherreasons

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Figure3.AverageOccupancyRatebyLocationbyYear

Finally,theoccupancyrateisamisleadingmeasureparticularlyforsmallershelterswith2or3apartments,whereoneemptyapartmentmaymeananoccupancyrateof50%or75%.Occupancyintheseshelterscannotbemeasuredwiththesameconsiderationasoccupancyatmid-sizedandlargeurbansheltersthataretemporaryhomesforalargernumberofwomenandfamilies.ACWSandmemberscontinuetohaveaconversationaboutthevalueoftrackingoccupancyrateandthemeaningthatithas,particularlyforsheltersinruralorsmallercenters.

100.00 98.33 97.81 98.1669.36

84.42 77.1158.35

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

2014 2015 2016 2017

CalgaryorEdmonton Other

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III. WomenandChildreninSecond-StageShelters3.1 DemographicCharacteristicsThedemographiccharacteristicsof997womenwhoresidedinthesecond-stagesheltersbetweenAprilof2013andFebruaryof2017wereasfollows:

• Womenwere,onaverage35yearsofage–asisconsistentwithresearchsuggestingthat18to34yearsistheagewhenmostwomenfirstexperiencedomesticviolence5.

• Second-stageshelterssupportfamilies:mostwomen(795or87%)6wereadmittedwithchildren,andabout60%ofthemwereadmittedwithtwoormorechildren;thechildrenwere,onaverage,sevenyearsofage,withabouthalfofthem(49%)sixyearsofageoryounger.About35%ofthesechildrenhadcurrentorpreviousinvolvementwithchildren’sservices.Childrenaregettingprogressivelyyounger–fromanaverageof9yearsforchildrenadmittedin2013/14fiscalyear,to7yearsin2014/15and2015/16and6yearsofagein2016/17fiscalyear.Thistrendsupportstheneedfortrauma-informedcareforchildrenwhoareexposedtodomesticviolenceatayoungerage.7

• Thepopulationofsecond-stagesheltersisdiverse:itwascomprisedofnon-AboriginalwomenwhowereborninCanada(39%),Aboriginalwomen(35%)andwomenwhoimmigratedtoCanadafromothercountries(26%).ThehighestproportionsofimmigrantwomencametoCanadafromIndia(8%),Pakistan(7%),Philippines(7%),Ethiopia(5%)andNigeria(4%).Onaverage,thesenewcomershadlivedinCanadaforabout9years,with28%inCanadafor3yearsorless.ConsistentwithCanadianimmigrationandpopulationtrends,theurbansheltersweremorelikelytoprovideatemporaryhomeforimmigrantwomen-about32%ofwomenhousedtherewerenewcomerstoCanadaascomparedto8%ofwomenhousedinsmallerlocations.Ontheotherhand,thesheltersinsmallerlocationsweremorelikelytoprovidesafehousingtoAboriginalwomen-47%ofallwomeninshelterslocatedinsmallerjurisdictionswereAboriginal,ascomparedto31%ofwomeninurbanshelters.

5NationalIntimatePartnerandSexualViolenceSurvey,2010SummaryReport.NationalCenterforInjuryPreventionandControl,DivisionofViolencePrevention,Atlanta,GA,andControloftheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.domesticshelters.org/domestic-violence-articles-information/domestic-abuse-topline-facts-and-statistics#.WAUEmZMrLBI6ExcludingadmissionsfromshelternotonOutcomeTracker7Baker,L.,andCampbell,M.(2012).ExposuretoDomesticViolenceanditsEffectonChildren’sBrainDevelopmentandFunctioning.LearningNetworkBrief(2).London,Ontario:LearningNetwork,CentreforResearchandEducationonViolenceAgainstWomenandChildren.www.learningtoendabuse.ca/learningnetwork/network-areas/childrens-exposure

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• Povertyisasignificantissueformostwomenandchildreninsecond-stageshelter:Regardlessoftheirincomepriortoleaving,manywomenleavingviolentrelationshipshavelimitedfinancesavailabletothem.Effortstoescapedomesticviolencecaninthemselvesresultinlossofjob,housing,healthcare,childcare,andaccesstoapartner’sincome–infact,pastexposuretodomesticviolencehasbeenshowntobelinkedtofutureunemploymentandpovertyforwomen.8Childrenwhoexperiencepoverty,especiallypersistently,areathigherriskofsufferinghealthproblems,developmentaldelays,andbehaviordisorders.Theytendtoattainlowerlevelsofeducation9andaremorelikelytoliveinpovertyasadults.10Socialassistancewasthetopsourceofincomeforwomeninsecond-stageshelters(69%)withothersourcesincludingAISH,pensions,studentfunding,childtaxcreditandincomefrompartnerorfamily.Mostofthewomenresponding(84%)describedtheirfinancialsituationasaconcernatthetimeofintakeandwereunemployed(83%);asizeableproportiondidnotcompletehighschool(38%).Assuch,second-stagesheltersupportisessentialforthesewomenandchildrentoaddresstheirbasicneedsandlinkthemwithfinancial,employment,childcare,andeducationopportunities.

3.2 HealthandAddictionsOverall,almosttwo-thirdsofthewomeninsecond-stageshelters(65%)self-reportedorwereobservedtohaveoneormoretypesofhealthconcerns.Theseconcernsincludedmentalhealthissuesordevelopmentalconcerns(54%),physicalhealthissues(39%),andaddictionissues(33%).Elevenpercentofthesewomenwereseriouslyconsideringsuicideatthetimeofshelteradmission.Thehealthandaddictionissuesamongwomenaccessingthesecond-stagesheltersaresignificant,bothintermsofthenumberofwomenexperiencingthoseissuesaswellastheseriousnessoftheissuestheyarefacing.Asfrequentlyconfirmedinliterature,mostoftheseproblemsarecausedby,orareatleastrelatedtothewoman’sexperienceofabuse11.Box1belowdescribesinmoredetailthetypesofhealthandaddictionissueswomenwereexperiencingatthetimeoftheiradmissiontosecond-stageshelter.

8Baker,C.K.,Billhardt,K.A.,Warren,J.,Rollins,C.,andGlassN.(2010).Domesticviolence,housinginstability,andhomelessness:Areviewofhousingpoliciesandprogrampracticesformeetingtheneedsofsurvivors.AggressionandViolentBehaviour,15,430-439.9http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/child-poverty.aspx#_ftn110fromDominiqueFleury,“Low-IncomeChildren,”PerspectivesonLabourandIncome9,5(Ottawa,StatisticsCanada,May2008),1(accessedSeptember9,2009).http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/child-poverty.aspx11VanBerkum,A.,Oudshoorn,A.(2015).BestPracticeGuidelineforEndingWomen’sandGirl’sHomelessness.FundedbytheGovernmentofCanadaHomelessnessPartneringStrategy;Scott,S.andMcManus,S.(2016).HiddenHurt:Violence,AbuseandDisadvantageintheLivesofWomen.DMSSResearch,UnitedKingdom.

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Box1.TypesofMentalHealth,PhysicalHealthorAddictionConcernsSelf-ReportedorObserved

Physicalhealthconcerns Mentalhealthconcerns Developmental/cognitiveconcerns

Addictions

• Seriousinjuries(e.g.,headtrauma,chronicpain,limitedmobility,brokenbones)

• Chronicillnesses(e.g.,diabetes,arthritis,fibromyalgia,seizures,thyroidproblems,asthma,heartcondition,HepC,HIV/AIDs)

• Acuteillnesses(e.g.,kidneyproblems,bronchitis,Lupus,IBS,STDs,infections)

• Anxietyandphobias• Depression• PTSD• Bipolardisorder• Eatingdisorder• Suicidalideationorattempts

• Personalitydisorders• Schizophrenia

• ADHD• FASD/FAE• Developmentaldelays

• Learningdisability

• Alcohol• Illegaldrugs• Prescriptionmedication

• Tobacco• Compulsiveshopping• Gambling• Sexaddiction

Figure4demonstratesthattheproportionofhealthissuesasexperiencedbywomeninthesecond-stageshelters-withapossibleexceptionofaddictionissuesinthemostrecentfiscalyear-hasgenerallybeenincreasingsince2013/14fiscalyear.Thisisparticularlyevidentwiththephysicalhealthissuestrend,withproportionofwomenexperiencingthoseissuesincreasingfrom36%in2013/14to46%in2016/17fiscalyear.Figure4.HealthandAddictionIssuesbyFiscalYearofAdmission

Exposuretoabuseisalsoasignificantproblemforchildren,forwhomabusecausestraumaandimpactsthedegreetowhichtheycansuccessfullytransitiontoadulthood.12Aboutathirdofthechildren(27%)werealsoreportedorobservedtohaveadisability,amentalhealthoraphysicalhealthconcern.Similartotheirmothers,theproportionofchildrenwiththeseissueshasalsoincreased,mostnotablybetween2013/14and2015/16fiscalyears,from19%to35%. 12McDonald,S.,andTough,S.(2015).The2013AlbertaAdverseChildhoodExperiences(ACE)Survey.KeyFindings.Calgary:AlbertaCentreforChild,Family&CommunityResearch;NorlienFoundation.

62%69%

70% 69%

53%59%

55%58%

36%

37%

39% 46%

33%

36%

37%28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Atleastoneissue

Mentalhealth&developmentaldisabiliqes

Physicalhealth

Addicqons

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IV. TheExperienceofAbuse

4.1 TheNatureoftheAbuseInalmosteveryinstance,menweretheperpetratorsoftheabusethatwomenandchildrenwereescaping(98%).Menwereusuallywomen’sspousesorcommon-lawpartners(65%),andotherswereex-spouses/ex-common-lawpartners(17%)orboyfriends(18%).Inmostinstances,womenreportedexperiencingmultipletypesofabuse,oftenincludingemotional/psychological/verbal(87%of980women)aswellasphysical(73%)andfinancialabuse(61%)(Figure5).Foratleast22%ofthewomen,physicalabuseresultedinsignificantphysicalinjuries,includingbrokenbones,bruises,cutsandabrasions,stabwounds,neckandthroatinjuriesfromasphyxiation,headinjuriesandconcussion,miscarriagesfrombeinghitinthestomachwhenpregnant,injuriestointernalorgans,chronicmobilityimpairments,aswellaseyetraumaandhearingloss.Figure5.NumberofWomenbyTypesofAbuseExperienced

4.2 SafetyandReadinessAssessmentDangerAssessment/WTPTDangerAssessmentTheDangerAssessment(DA)isatoolforpredictingawoman’sriskofbeingkilledoralmostkilledbyanintimatepartner.ThetoolwasdevelopedbyDr.JacquelynCampbell(1986)withconsultationandcontentvaliditysupportfromabusedwomen,shelterworkers,lawenforcementofficials,andotherclinicalexpertsonabuse.13

13Campbell,C.,Webster,D.,Koziol-McLain,J.,Block,C.,Campbell,D.,Curry,M.,Gary,F.,McFarlane,J.,Sachs,C.,Sharps,P.,Ulrich,Y.,andWilt,S.(2008).Assessingriskfactorsforintimatepartnerhomicide.NationalInstituteofJusticeJournal,no.250.

853717

594342342

225221

141124112106

7252

20

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Emoqonal/Psychological/VerbalAbusePhysicalAbuseFinancialAbuse

SexualAbuse/AssaultPropertyDestrucqon

AbusetoFamilyMembersNeglect

Non-ElectronicStalkingandHarassmentThreatsofAbuseSpiritualAbuse

ElectronicStalkingandHarassmentCulturalAbuse

HarmorCrueltytoAnimalsTrafficking

11|P a g e

TheWalkingthePathTogether(WTPT)DangerAssessmentwasdevelopedincollaborationwithDr.CampbellandbuiltontheoriginalDA.DevelopedaspartoftheWalkingthePathTogetherProjectthatinvolved5on-reservesheltersinAlberta,itwasdesignedtoensureculturalapplicabilityandrelevanceoftheDangerAssessmenttoolforAboriginalwomen.14DA/WTPTDAquestionnairemeasuresthedegreetowhichwomenareatriskoffemicide.Atotalof493womencompletedtheDAorWTPTDAatthetimeofintake.Theneedforsecond-stagesheltersisunderscoredbytheDAquestionnaireresultswhichdemonstratethatabout73%ofthewomenaccessingsecond-stagesheltersareinextremeorseveredangeroffemicide,requiringassertiveactionstoprotectthewomanandherchildrenincludinghighlevelsofperpetratorsupervision.Anadditional19%ofwomenexperienceincreasedriskofdangerwithrecommendationsforsafetyplanningandincreasedmonitoring(Figure6).Figure6.DA/WTPTDAScorebyNumberofWomeninSecond-StageShelters

Thedangerwomenareinasaresultoftheirpartner’sabuserequiresinteractionwiththelegalsystemonanumberoffronts:fortheirandtheirchildren’sprotection;tonegotiateseparationfromtheirspousewithassociatedcustodyissues,andtomanageanyfinancialorimmigrationissuesthatariseasaresultoftheseparation.42%ofthewomeninourstudyrequiredsometypeoflegalsupportswhileinshelter,including26%ofwomenwhorequiredprotectionordersand21%ofwomenwithfamilylaw-relatedissues.

14ACWS(2014).WalkingthePathTogetherTools:DangerAssessmentPhaseII.DevelopedinconsultationwithDr.JacquelynCampbell.file:///C:/Users/Irene/Downloads/Walking%20the%20Path%20Together%20Tools%20-%20Danger%20Assessment%20PhII%20Reduced.pdf

VariableDanger,41,

8%IncreasedDanger,94,

19%

SevereDanger,94,

19%

ExtremeDanger,264,

54%

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DomesticViolenceSurvivorAssessment(DVSA)TheDVSAwasdevelopedbyDr.J.DienemanninconsultationwithDr.JCampbell.15TheDVSAisbasedontheTranstheoreticalModelofChangefirstdevelopedbyProchaska.TheDVSAfocusesonindividualsandtheirstrengths,recognizesthenonlinearpathofbehaviorchangeandtheuniquecomplexityofthechangeprocesswhenleavingarelationshipcharacterizedbydomesticviolence.TheDomesticViolenceSurvivorAssessment(DVSA)examinesthestageofchangefor13personalandrelationshipissuescommonlyfacedbysurvivorsofdomesticviolence.Theseissuesaregroupedacrossfourareas:Safety(managingpartnerabuse,seekingsanctionsandaccessinghelp),Culture(viewsregardingnormsandbeliefsrelatedtoabuse),Health(managingfeelingsandmentaldistress)andSelf-strengthsandskills(self-efficacyandlifeskills).Thereadinessforchangeoneachissueisratedona1to5scale,fromPre-contemplationtoContemplation,Preparation,ActionandMaintenance.Figure7summarizesresponsestoDVSAby116womenwhocompletedthisassessment.Figure7.DVSAAreasofChangebyNumberofWomeninEachStage

Figure7demonstratesthatonlyafewwomenentersecond-stageinthepre-contemplationstageineachoftheareas,whilethereisvariabilityamongwomenindegreeofreadinesstomoveforward.ThisFigurealsoshowsthat,atthetimeofadmission,womenweremostlikelytobeinMaintenanceorActionstagewithrespecttotheareaofCultureandleastlikelytobeinthosestagesintheareaofHealth.Theseresultssuggestthatwomen’sreadinesstomoveforwardmaybefacilitatedbyaddressingtheirmentalhealthconcernsandneedforemotionalsupport.

15Dienemann,J.,Glass,N.,Hanson,G.,andLunsford,K.(2007).TheDomesticViolenceSurvivorAssessment(DVSA):Atoolforindividualcounselingwithwomenexperiencingintimatepartnerviolence.IssuesinMentalHealthNursing,28(8):913-25.

9 13 8 820 23

14 23

34 2833

39

38 27 3737

1113 19

5

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Maintenance

Acqon

Preparaqon

Contemplaqon

Pre-Contemplaqon

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4.3 ParentingAfterAbuseTheexperienceofabusewithresultingtraumaforbothwomenandherchildrensignificantlyimpactsherabilitytoparent.Thesecond-stagesheltersusetheParentingStressIndex(PSI)tounderstandtheimpactofabuseonwomen’sparentingandidentifytheareasthatwherethesheltermightbeofassistanceandsupport.ThisscreeninganddiagnosticinstrumentwasdevelopedbyDr.RichardAbidin16onthebasisthatthetotalstressaparentexperiencesisafunctionofcertainsalientchildcharacteristics,parentcharacteristics,andsituationsthataredirectlyrelatedtotheroleofbeingaparent.ThePSIisusedforearlyidentificationofdysfunctionalparent/childinteractions.SincetheprojectstartinAprilof2013,149womencompletedtheParentingStressIndexatintake.AsFigure8shows,halfthemothers’TotalStressscorewasinthehighorclinicalrange,suggestingthattheyexperiencedasignificantamountofstressassociatedwithparentingresponsibilities.About40%scoredintheclinicalrangeonDysfunctionalInteractionsub-scalesuggestingthatmoreopportunitiesforpositiveinteractionsbetweenmotherandchildwereneeded;33%wereintheclinicalrangeontheDifficultchildsub-scale–potentiallyrequiringareferraltoapediatricianorchildpsychologist;and21%exhibitedclinicallevelsofParentalDistressrequiringactivitiesdesignedtosupportmothers’increasingself-esteemandsenseofparentalcompetency.Figure8.ParentingStressIndexResults

16Abidin,R.R.(1995).ParentingStressIndex,ThirdEdition:ProfessionalManual.Odessa,FL:PsychologicalAssessmentResources,Inc.

15%33%

9%20%

36%

36%

50%40%

24%

10%

5% 8%

26% 21%37% 33%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

TotalStress ParentalDistress

DysfuncqonalInteracqon

DifficultChild

ClinicalScore

HighScore

NormalRange

LowScore

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V. Second-stageShelterServices

5.1 LengthofStayTheallowablelengthofstayvariesamongstsecond-stageshelters–from6monthsto2years–althoughthereissomeflexibilityineveryshelter.Onaverage,familiesresidedinsecond-stagesheltersforaperiodofabout6months(amedianof5months)–withabout30%remaininginashelterfor3monthsorless,another33%stayingbetween3and6months;andanother29%stayingbetween6and12months.About8%remainedinashelterforayearorlonger(Figure9).Whilethelengthofstayispartiallydeterminedbytheallowablelengthofstay,itisalsodeterminedbyavailabilityofservicesandhousinginthelocalcatchmentareaaswellastheindividualwoman’scircumstances.Figure9.PercentofWomenbyLengthofStay

WomenwhoarenewtoCanadatendtoremainintheshelterthelongestastheyoftenlackaninformalsupportnetwork,areseekingachangeinimmigrationstatus,andrequireasignificantamountofsupportandresourcesbeforetheycanleavetheshelter(Figure10).Womenwithhealthconcerns(mental,physicaloraddictions)tendtoleavesheltersearlier.Thismayreflectchallengesthatstaffexperienceinprovidingservicesandsupportstowomenwithmentalhealthandaddictionissuesinafamily-orientedshelter.ThefactthatAboriginalwomenalsostayforashorterperiodoftimerequiresfurtherexploration,focusingontheculturalcompetencyofshelterservicesandwomen’suniqueneeds.Figure10.LengthofStaybyWoman’sBackground

30%33%

17%12%

6%1% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

3monthsorless

3to6months

6to9months

9to12months

12to18months

18to24months

over24months

7.59

7.16

6.6

5.84

4.87

0 2 4 6 8

BornoutsideofCanada

Nohealthconcerns

BorninCanada,non

Atleastonehealthconcern

Aboriginal

AvgMonthsinShelter

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5.2 ShelterServicesandSupports

Inadditiontosecureandsafeapartments,second-stagesheltersprovidewrap-aroundservicescriticaltomeetingtheneedsofabusedwomenandtheirchildren.Theseservicesincludesafetyplanning,crisissupport,individualcounselling,caseplanningandsupports,supportedreferralsandadvocacy,communityoutreach,childcare,accesstospecializedservicesandsupportsaswellasanopportunitytoattendgroupsandotherprogrammingforbothwomenandtheirchildren.Figure11belowillustratesthevarietyofdifferentservicesthatwomeninsecond-stagesheltersreceivedoverthecourseofthestudyperiod.Thefocusonsafety,partnershipsandwrap-aroundsupportsisevidentfromthischartasistheimportanceoftransportationsupportforwomeninsecond-stageshelters.

Figure11.TypesofServicesProvidedbyPercentofWomen

Maintainingwomen’ssafetyisanessentialelementofshelterwork.Toquantifythisaspectofservicedelivery,shelterstrackedtheircontactswithwomen,focusing,inparticular,onunderstandingthedegreetowhichsafetyplanningorrelatedactivitiestookplace.SinceSeptember2013,second-stageshelterstrackedatotalof3,865contactswithwomen,andalmostallofthesecontactsincludedsometypeofsafety-relatedwork:e.g.,developinganewsafetyplan(46%)orchanginganexistingsafetyplan(42%).

Shelterstaffalsodocumentedmanydifferentactivitiestheyusedtoaddresswomen’sandchildren’ssafety.Inmostinstances(inabout76%ofthecontactsthatweredocumented)womenparticipatedininformalsafetychecks.Thestaffalsooftenusedtheinformationabouttheabuserthatwasavailabletothem(41%)tosupportthewoman’ssafetyplanning.Themanyothersafety-relatedactivitiescarriedoutbyshelterstaffarelistedinFigure12below.17

17OthersafetymeasuresincludedcontactswithCrownandprivatelawyersanddiscussionofcourt-relatedissues,reviewingandapplyingfortheparentingorder,supportinghousingtransfer,connectingwithvictim-servingorganizations,creatinganewidentity,andmedicationmanagement.

93%81%

79%78%

68%62%61%60%

55%49%

36%35%

30%16%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

TransportaqonDeliveredinPartnership

SafetyPlanningInformaqonProvisionOutreachorFollow-up

ReferralsCaseManagement

BasicNeedsAdvocacyChildCare

SupportServicesforChildrenSupportServicesforParentsandFamilies

CounsellingforAdultsCulturallySpecificServices

16|P a g e

Figure12.TypesofSafety-RelatedActivitiesbyNumberofContactswithWomen18

5.3 ShelterReferrals

Connectingwomenandchildrenwithneededresourcesandadvocacywiththoseresourcesontheirbehalfisanotheressentialelementofshelterwork,ensuringthatwomencantransitionsuccessfullytostabilityoncetheyleavetheshelter.Providingreferralsinsecond-stagesheltersusuallygoesbeyondjustgivingthewomanthenameoftheresourceandsuggestingthatshecall.Insteadtheshelterstaffoftenprovidesupportedreferrals,wheretheymightcalltheresourceonbehalfofortogetherwiththewomanoraccompanythewomantotheappointmenttosupportconnectionsthatareeffectiveandlong-lasting.Referralsoftenbuildontheworkthatshelterstaffdointernallytosupportthewomenandchildrenastheynegotiatetransition-relatedissues.AsshowninBox2womenandchildreninsecond-stageshelterwerereferredtomultipleresourcesreflectingthefullarrayofgoalsthatwomensetforthemselvesandtheirchildrenwhileinsecond-stageshelter.Italsoreflectscoreelementsofsecond-stageshelterworktofacilitatetransitiontohealingandstability–basicneeds,housing,healthaswellasfinancial,legalandgeneralcounsellingsupports.

Box2.CommunityReferralsbyPercentofWomenReceivingReferrals50%ormore 49%to30% 29%to20% 19%to10% Fewerthan10%

• BasicNeeds• Housing• Health

• CommunityAgencies

• FinancialSupports• LegalSupports• Counselling

• Parenting• Education• ServicesforChildren• MentalHealth• Otherprogramsprovidedbytheshelteringorganization

• Employment• AboriginalSupports• AddictionsCounselling

• Police/RCMP• EmergencyShelters

• OtherShelters• VictimsServices• ImmigrantServices• SexualAssaultServices• SpiritualServices• PregnancySupport• SuicidePrevention• SeniorsServices

18PoptartsreferstoaculturallyresponsivesafetyplanningapproachdevelopedaspartoftheWalkingthePathTogetherProject

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

InformalSafetyCheckUsedAbuserInformaqon

SafetyPlanningforChildrenDangerAssessmentTools

DiscussedSafetyTechnologyOther

ContactedPoliceCourtAccompaniment

TransportaqonorEscortProvidedTransportaqonContactedChildWelfare

ReferralsforEPOPopTarts

ContactedGunRegistry

29321592

406235

1681401249891918947231

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VI. ServiceOutcomes

Second-stageshelterlogicmodelguidesthemeasurementofserviceimpactonwomenandchildrenwhoresideinsecond-stageshelters(seeAddendumDocument).TheoutcomemeasuresthatarediscussedinthissectionderivefromthedatagatheredusingACWS/MemberSharedDatabaseandincludeservicecompletionstatus,progressofattainmentofindividualwomen’sgoalsandtheirhousingandlivingarrangementsatthetimeofshelterdischarge.ServiceoutcomesarealsodiscussedinSectionsVIIIandIX,summarizingqualitativefeedbackgatheredininterviewswithwomenandshelterstaff.

6.1 ServiceCompletionandGoalAttainmentAsshowninFigure13below,about57%(of859women)weredischargedbecausetheycompletedtheirgoals19and/orfoundsafeaccommodationelsewhere;about13%wereaskedtoleavetheshelterduetonon-compliancewithshelterpolicies;and,another9%hadneedsthatcouldnotbeaccommodatedintheshelters(e.g.,mentalhealthissues,wentbacktopartner,sheltercouldnotextendthestay,womanmoved).Thereasonsfordischargewithrespecttotheremaining1%werenotdocumentedinthedatabase.Figure13.StatusofProgramCompletionatDischarge

Predictably,womenwhostaylongerinshelterarealsomorelikelytocompletetheprogram(asdefinedindividuallybyeachwoman).Onaverage,thosewhocompletedtheprogramstayedintheshelterforabout8months,ascomparedtothosewhochosetoleavewithoutareason(anaverageof5months).Housingisanimportantconsiderationforwomenwhocometosecond-stageshelters–thosewhofoundsafeaccommodationinthecommunitybeforetheycompletedtheprogramonlystayedintheshelterforanaverageof3months.Figure14illustratesotherassociationswithsuccessfulprogramcompletion–Aboriginalwomen,womenwithaddictionissues,andwomenwithoutchildrenwerelesslikelytocompleteshelterprogramorreachtheiridentifiedgoals.19Notethatsuccessisindividuallydefinedbyeachwoman

Completedprogram422(54%)

Foundsafeaccommodaqon

27(3%)

[CATEGORYNAME],[VALUE]([PERCENTAGE])

[CATEGORYNAME]given[VALUE]

([PERCENTAGE])

[CATEGORYNAME][VALUE]([PERCENTAGE])

[CATEGORYNAME][VALUE]

([PERCENTAGE])

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Figure14.ProportionofWomenSuccessfullyCompletingtheProgrambyBackground

GoalTrackingThegoalsettingprocesswasinitiatedatthebeginningofPhaseIIandhasbecomepartofcasemanagementandactionplanningworkinsecond-stageshelters.Forevaluationpurposes,itprovidesanopportunitytobetterunderstandprogressonspecificgoalsthatwomensetforthemselveswhiletheystayattheshelter.Thegoaltrackingprocessbeginswhenwomenarefirstadmittedandendsatthetimeofdischarge.Overthecourseoftheshelterstaycounselorsencourageandcollaboratewithindividualwomentosetgoalsandevaluatetheirachievements.Womenaresupportedtodecidewhichproblemstheywanttoaddressandhowtheywanttoaddressthem.Womenmeetwithcounselorsseveraltimesoverthecourseoftheirshelterstaytoreviewprogressongoals,reevaluategoalsandconfirmand/orsetnewgoals.Second-stagesheltersbegantrackingwomen’sgoalsconsistentlyinMayof2014,and334of589(57%)womenwhoweredischargedafterMayof2014participatedinthegoalsettingprocess.Womensetupto19differentgoals(anaverageof10differentgoalseach)andparticipatedinthegoaltrackingexerciseasoftenasfourtimesoverthecourseoftheirstay.AsTable2demonstrates,87%ofwomenwereabletoachievesomeprogressonatleastoneofthegoalstheyhaveset.Womenweremostsuccessfulinachievinggoalssetintheareasofsafety,basicneeds,childsafety,linkageswithcommunityresourcesandself-careandlivingskills(between82%to72%ofwomenidentifiedatleastsomeprogressintheseareas).Womenwereleastsuccessfulinachievinggoalsrelatedtolegalissues,childwell-being,childcare,relationshipsandemployment/education(rangingfrom59%to55%ofwomenwithprogressonthosegoals).Whencombinedwiththeresultsrelatedtobarriersexperiencedbywomeninachievingthesegoals,lessprogressonlegalandemployment/educationareasarelikelyduetosystemicbarrierswomenface.Itisalsonotablethatmorewomenexperiencedbarrierswhenaddressinghousing(18%),emotionalandmentalhealth(11%)andfinancialissues(11%).Theseresultsarenotsurprising,giventhestrugglesthatshelterstafffaceinsupportingwomenwithlocatingaffordablehousing,accessingmentalhealthsupportsandnegotiatingthechallengingincomesupportsystem.

67%

60%

56%

54%

50%

44%

42%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

BornoutsideofCanada

BorninCanada,nonAboriginal

Hasnohealthconcerns

Womenwithchildren

Nochildren

Hasaddicqonissues

Aboriginal

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Table2.GoalAttainmentatDischarge

GoalAreaNumberofwomen

settinggoals

NumberwithProgressontheGoal

PercentofWomenwith

Progress

PercentofWomen

ExperiencingBarriers

Woman'sSafety 289 236 82% 6%BasicNeeds/Identification 159 120 75% 5%ChildSafety 214 160 75% 8%LinkageswithCommunityResources 207 150 72% 3%Self-CareandLivingSkills 184 132 72% 7%Parenting 166 113 68% 8%HousingandAccommodation 329 223 68% 18%CommunitySupports/SocialNetworks 177 119 67% 7%ManagingAddictions 82 54 66% 7%EmotionalandMentalHealth 224 140 63% 11%Spiritualhealth 106 66 62% 5%FinancesandIncome 273 166 61% 11%PhysicalHealth 158 96 61% 5%LegalIssues 188 111 59% 19%ChildWellBeing 51 30

59% 7%Childcare 131 74 56% 7%Relationships 123 69 56% 4%EmploymentandEducation 256 140 55% 14%

Total 334 289 87% 34%

6.2 HousingandLivingSituationatDischargeAsdiscussedpreviously,amajorityofwomenwereessentiallyhomelesswhenaccessingsecond-stagesheltersastheypreviouslyresidedinwomen’semergencyshelters.Supportingwomen’stransitiontostablehousingisoneofthekeyoutcomesofsecond-stageshelterwork.Figure15belowcompareswomen’shousingpriortotheirsecond-stageadmissiontothetypeofhousingthattheyweregoingtoatthetimeoftheirdischargefromsecond-stageshelters.Asshowninthechartbelow,therewasasubstantialimprovementinhousingstabilityamongwomenwhoweredischarged.20Immediatelypriortoadmission,abouttwo-thirdsofthewomen(67%)werehomeless,livedinashelterorhadshort-termhousing(usuallyanemergencyshelter)while17%wereinsometypeofstablehousing.Bycomparison,atdischarge,55%ofthewomenexpectedtoliveinstablehousingandonly9%expectedtoliveinashort-termhousingsituationordidnothaveaplacetoliveatdischarge.About27%ofwomencontinuetorequiresometypeofintensivesupportsaftertheirdischargefromsecond-stageshelters(i.e.,transitionalhousing,ortreatmentandhealthfacilities).20Includes523dischargedwomenforwhomhousinginformationwasavailableatbothintakeanddischarge

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Figure15.TypeofHousingatAdmissionandDischarge

Additionalanalysisshowsthatasizeableproportionofwomen(19%)wereseeking,butunabletoobtainthehousingtheyneeded,pointingagaintothehousing-relatedbarriersthatwomenexperiencewhentheyleavesecond-stageshelters.Housingshortagesappearedtobeslightlyhigherinlargeurbanareaswhere25%ofwomencouldnotfindhousingascomparedto17%ofwomeninsmallerorrurallocations.Emergencyshelterdatasuggeststhatatleast46%ofwomenwerelivingwiththeirabusivepartnerpriortotheiradmissiontotheemergencyshelter.21Bycomparison,only6%ofwomeninthiscurrentstudywereplanningtoreturntotheirabusivepartnerwhentheywereleavingsecond-stageshelters.Another17%weregoingtolivewithfriendsorfamily,someweregoingtoacommunallivingfacility(e.g.,treatment,hospital,shelter,4%),and42%wereplanningtoliveindependently.Thelivingarrangementsoftheremaining31%werenotspecified–anditispossiblethatmanyofthesewomenwerereturningtotheirpartners.Forthem,community-basedoutreachisanessentialservice,toensurethattheyandtheirchildrenremainsafe.Consistentwithearlierdiscussionsaboutassociationbetweenthelengthofstay,successfulprogramcompletionandwomen’sbackground,therearesimilarassociationswithwomen’sabilitytoobtainstablehousingatdischarge.AsillustratedinFigure16,womenwhowereaskedtoleavetheshelter,Aboriginalwomen,womenwithmentalhealthconcernsandwomenwithoutchildrenarelesslikelytoobtainstablehousingatdischarge,ascomparedtonon-Aboriginalwomen,womenwithouthealthconcernsandwomenwhocompletedtheirsecond-stageshelterprogram.Althoughtheseresultsarenotnecessarilyconclusive,theypointtotheuniquebarriersexperiencedparticularlybyAboriginalwomenandwomenwithmentalhealthconcerns,bothwithinandoutsideoftheshelters.Itisalsointerestingtonotethatnewcomerwomenaremostlikelytolocatehousing,thisispossiblyrelatedtotheirbeingmostlikelytostaylongerintheshelter(8monthsvs.5and7monthsforAboriginalandotherwomenrespectively).

21Hoffart,I.,andCairns,K.(2011).PracticalFrameworksforChange:SupportingWomenandChildreninAlbertaEmergencyShelters.AreportcompletedfortheAlbertaCouncilofWomen’sSheltersandtheStatusofWomenCanada.

67%

9%

17%

55%

13%

26%

1%3% 9%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Atadmission Atdischarge

Other

Faciliqes

Transiqonalhousing

Stablehousing

Short-TermHousing/Homeless

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Figure16.StableHousingatDischargebyWoman’sBackground

59%57%57%

52%47%

42%42%

33%16%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

BornoutsideofCanadaCompletedprogramandmet

HasnohealthconcernsBorninCanada,nonAboriginal

FamilyNochildren

HasmentalhealthconcernsAboriginal

Askedtoleaveshelter

PercentinStableHousingatDischarge

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VII. AcuityScale

7.1 IntendedUseTheACWSSecond-stageShelterAcuityScalewasdevelopedoverseveralyearsofcollaborationamongstmemberorganizationsandappliedresearchinthedomesticviolencesheltersystem.DiscussionswereheldwithACWSstaffandmemberrepresentativestoclarifythepurposesforwhichtheinstrumentwouldbeusedwhencompleted.Aftertheseconsultations,theprimarypurposesoftheproposedinstrumentwereidentifiedasmeasuring:1. Thenumberandseverityofissuesinvolvedineachparticularwoman’ssituation(i.e.case

complexity);and,2. Thenumberoftheseissuesthatwouldrequireshelterstaffsupporttoresolve(i.e.theamountof

stafftimethatwouldberequiredtoassisteachwomaneffectively).TheACWSSecond-stageShelterAcuityScaleincorporatesacuityindicatorsassociatedwithviolencerisklevels,parentingstresslevels,poverty-relatedissues,thepresenceorabsenceofaddictions,mentalhealthproblems,and/orphysicalhealthproblems,andhousing,financial,legalandsocialsupportissues.Likemanyothermeasurementtools,thescalehasanintendedrangeofuses,including:• Measuringclientcomplexity;• Understandingthestaffresourceinvestmentnecessaryforeffectivemanagementofeachcase;• Distributing‘keyworker’responsibilityinsuchawayastobalanceworkloadacrossfront-linestaff;• Informingfundersofchangesinthelevelofcomplexityandtheresultingstaffrequirements;and,• Functioningasachangemeasuretocomparecomplexityatadmissiontoshelterandatdischarge.

7.2 ScaleDevelopmentThescaledevelopmentprocessincludedthefollowingsteps:• Aliteraturereviewidentifiedtheresearchandpracticevariablesthataresupportedascontributing

tothecomplexityofinterpersonalviolence.AfinallistingofthesevariableswasthentakentotheShelterDirectorsfortheircommenttoensurethatnovariablesofimportancetothemhadbeenoverlooked.

• ThefinallistwasthenreviewedagainstthecontentsoftheACWS/Memberdatabasetodeterminewhetherallofthenecessaryvariableswerecurrentlybeingcollected.Whenscaletestingiscompletethemissingitemswillbeaddedtothedatabase.

• Thevariablelistandtheliteraturereviewwereusedtodevelopitemsforthefirstdraftofthescale.TheitemswerethentakentoseveralconsultationswithShelterDirectorstoensurethattheitemwordingwasclearandthatthescoringcategoriesforeachitem(low,mediumorhighcomplexity)wereappropriatelydefined.Theconsultationprocesswasrepeateduntilallparticipantswereinagreementthatthescaleitemswerecomprehensiveandthatthemeasurementcategorieswereappropriate,witheachlevelclearlydefined.

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• TheresearchersusedtheACWS/Membershareddatabase(OutcomeTracker)exportstoselectwomeninshelterswithrelativelycompletedata.Theresearchersusedthesesamplestodeveloptwoinitialcasedescriptions.Shelterstaffwerethenaskedtocompletethescaleusingeachofthecasestudies,allowingforcalculationofinter-rater22andtest-retest23reliability.Tosupportfurthertesting,shelterstaffalsocompletedthescalewiththeactualclientsintheirsheltersbetweenOctoberandNovemberof2016.

• ThefirstroundofreliabilitytestingusingthetwocasestudiesinAugustof2016(n=62),andtestingwithactualclientsintheFall/Winterof2016(n=24)helpedidentifyissuesandrevisethescaleforthefinalreliabilitytestthattookplaceinJanuaryandFebruaryof2017,theresultsofwhicharedescribedbelow.

7.3 ScaleDescriptionandScoringThereare28scaleitemsandeachscaleitemhasapossiblescoreof0,3or5(SeeAddendumDocumentforthefullscaleandassociatedmaterials).ThetotalscorefortheACWSSecond-StageWomen’sShelterAcuityScalethereforerangesfrom0to140,withhigherscoresrepresentinganincreasingdegreeofwoman’scomplexityatsecond-stageshelterintake.Acorrectedacuityscorecanbecalculatedforwoman’srecordsthatincludedataforatleast26ofthe28scaleitems.Scalesthathavefewerthan26itemscompletedcannotbescored.Ifanitemscoreismissing,themissingvalueiscalculatedastheaverageitemscoreforallcompleteditems(usingaminimumof26items).Thetotalscoreforthescalecanthenbecalculated.Pendingfurthertestingandanalysis,thefinalacuityscoreiscurrentlydescribedusingfourcategoriesthatreflectthelevelofacuityoverall,aswellasthenumber,typeandintensityofservicesthatarerequiredtosupportpositiveoutcomesforwomen.• LowAcuity:ascoreof35orlower• ModerateAcuity:ascorebetween36and70• HighAcuity:ascorebetween71and105• VeryHighAcuity:ascoreof106andhigher

7.4 FinalAcuityScaleTestingResultsFinalscaletestingtookplaceduringthelastweeksofJanuary(pre-test)andFebruary2017(post-test),usinganewsetofcasestudies.StaffwereinvitedtoparticipateiftheytookpartinorwatchedarecordingoftheAcuityScaletrainingwebinarandiftheirusualresponsibilitiesintheshelterincludedsometypeofassessmentand/orintakework.Atotalof40stafffrom11sheltersparticipatedinscaletesting,allofthemcompletingthescalesatpost-testand38ofthemcompletingthescalesatpre-test.Theentriesfromthreescorerswereremovedduetoerrorsindataentry.Thefinalnumberofscorerswas35forpre-testandthepre/postcomparisonand37forpost-test.

22Inter-raterreliability,inter-rateragreement,orconcordanceisthedegreeofagreementamongraters.Itgivesascoreofhowmuchhomogeneity,orconsensus,thereisintheratingsgivenbyjudges23Test-retestreliabilityreferstothedegreetowhichtestresultsareconsistentovertime.Inordertomeasuretest-retestreliability,wemustfirstgivethesametesttothesameindividualsontwooccasionsandcorrelatethescores.

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IntraclassCorrelationCoefficient(ICC)wascomputedtotestboththeinterraterreliabilityandthetest-retestreliability.AsshowninTable3,thefinalresultsdemonstrateastrong,statisticallysignificantcorrelationforboththeinterraterandtest-retestreliability,suggestingthatthereisasignificantdegreeofagreementinscalescoringamongtheratersaswellaswithintheratersovertime.Table3.ReliabilityResultsSummary Casestudy1 Casestudy2

Pre-test Post-test Pre-test Post-testNumberofValidScorers 35 37 35 37AverageScore 90.7 90.2 45.5 46.7MedianScore 90 91 47 48StandardDeviation 7.1 8.1 8.3 8.3ScoreRange 71to103 73to103 24to58 27to60InterraterReliability r=.986,p=.000 r=.992,p=000 r=.999,p=.00024Test/retestReliability r=.831,p=.000 r=.869,p=.000Moredetailedtest-retestreliabilityanalysiswasalsocarriedouttoidentifypotentialissueswithindividualscaleitems(Table4).Inmostinstances,theICCresultsshowedstatisticallysignificantmoderatetohighassociationforeachitem,withasizeablenumberofitemsshowingzerovariance–thatis–identicalresponsesfromeachrater.Theanalysisalsoidentifiesseveralscaleitemswhichshowedweakand/ornotstatisticallysignificantassociationandwhichrequirefurtherexamination,including:Casestudy1:

• #3:Engagedinstayingsafe• #8:Personal/informalsupports• #16:Suiciderisk• #24:Childprotectioninvolvement• #27:Legalissues

Casestudy2:

• #7:Transportation• #22:Ageofchildrenadmitted

ThefactthatthereisnoconsistencyacrossthecasestudiesintermsofwhichitemsshowedweakerICC,andthattheweakerICCisusuallyaresultofafewoutlierscorers,suggeststhatthereissomeconfusionintheitemdefinitionorinthecasestudyitself,ratherthanthescaleitems.Furthermore,scaleusewithactualshelterclientswillprovideanopportunityforstafftoexploreandclarifyactualissueswithclientsbeforeenteringthescore,whichisclearlynotpossiblewithacasestudy.

24Insufficientvariabilitytocalculatepreandpost-testseparately

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Table4.Test-RetestReliabilityResults

Sub-Scale/Indicator CaseStudy1 CaseStudy2Safety 1. Riskoffemicide zerovariance zerovariance2. Levelofviolence .795 zerovariance3. Engagedinstayingsafe .494 .762Poverty 4. Financialsituation .732 .5325. Education 1.000 zerovariance6. Englishandbasicliteracy .667 zerovariance7. Transportation .771 .443SupportsinPlace 8. Personal/informalsupports .485 zerovariance9. Professionalsupports .624 .71110. LengthoftimeinCanadaoroff-reserve .503 zerovarianceHousing 11. Typeofhousing .885 .88612. Numberoftimesmoved .890 .714MentalHealth/Wellness/Trauma 13. Abusedasachild zerovariance zerovariance14. Numberofpriorabusiverelationships zerovariance zerovariance15. Mentalhealthconcerns .728 .65116. Suiciderisk -.00425 zerovariance17. Addiction zerovariance zerovariancePhysicalHealth 18. Physicalhealth .701 .63619. Injuryresultingfromabuse .538 .64620. Pregnancy .807 1.000AdmittedChildren 21. Numberofchildrenadmitted .569 zerovariance22. Ageofchildrenadmitted .795 .4182623. Childmental,behaviouralorphysicalhealthconcerns .695 .74224. Childprotectioninvolvement .35527 .61525. Parentingstress zerovariance zerovarianceSystemInvolvement 26. Immigrationstatus .646 zerovariance27. LegalIssues .25928 .70328. Overallsysteminvolvement .651 .818

25notstatisticallysignificant;4outof35peoplechangingscoresfrompre-testtopost-test,withalmosteveryotherraterprovidingthesamescoreatbothpreandpost-test26notstatisticallysignificant;4of35peoplechangedscores27notstatisticallysignificant;majorityofresponsesdifferfrompretopost-test28notstatisticallysignificant;7of35individualsprovideddifferentscoresfrompretopost-test

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7.5 NextSteps

Suggestednextstepsforscaleimplementationinclude:

• Reviewweakeritemstoprovideenhanceddefinitions,ifrequired.• Carryoutfurtheranalysisoftheinstrumentusingfullscalecompositescoresasindependent

variablesanddemographics(ethnicity,citizenshipstatus,incomelevel,etc.)asdependentvariablestotesttheirimpactonscores.

• Testthescalewithactualshelterclientsandconsiderexpandingthetestingtoemergencyshelters;withapotentialtoincludetestingforinstrument’sconstructvalidity(i.e.,comparingacrossdifferentgroupsofwomenandwithothersimilartools).

• ThescaleisintendedforusewiththeOutcomeTrackerdatabasetosupporteaseofdataentryandreporting.Oncethescaleisfinalized,theitemsandthescoringinstructionsforeachitemwillbebuiltintothedatabasesothatthescaletotalcanbecalculatedautomatically.

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VIII. Women’sFeedbackTheprojectusedthreedifferentmethodstogatherwomen’sfeedbackabouttheirstayintheshelter.First,womensharedtheiropinionsusingtheShelterFeedbackSurveyatthetimeoftheirshelterdischarge.Second,selectedwomenparticipatedinaninterviewwithanACWSresearchertosharetheirperspectivesonshelterstayandprovidecontextforthesurveyresponses.Finally,shelterstaffcompletedatelephonequestionnairewithwomensometimeaftertheyleftthesheltertodeterminethedegreetowhichshelterimpactissustained.Asnotedinthediscussionbelow,noneofthesemethodsarestatisticallyrepresentativeoftheoverallshelterpopulation,however,theydocometogethertopaintaconsistentpictureofshelterservicesandimpact.

8.1 ClientFeedbackSurveyThissurveywasdevelopedbytheLongTermWorkingGroup-acollaborativecommitteewithrepresentativesfromShelterDirectors,ACWSandCommunityandSocialServices(thefullsurveyisreproducedintheAddendumDocument).Whilethissurveywasdevelopedfortheemergencysheltersandmaynotfullyreflectallsecond-stageshelterservices,itwasdeemedsufficienttoprovideanoverallsenseofsatisfactionbywomenwhostayedinsecond-stageshelters.Thesecond-stagesheltersbeganusingandenteringthisinformationinaconsistentandaggregablefashiononApril1st,2015.About30%ofwomen(119of417)whoweredischargedfrom10sheltersafterApril1stof2014completedtheclientfeedbacksurvey.Clearlyitwouldbeidealifmost,ratherthanonlyathirdofthewomencompletedthissurveyanditisimportanttonotethatsheltersarecontinuallydevelopingprocessesaimedatincreasingthisresponserate.AsillustratedinTable5below,alargemajorityofwomenrespondingweresatisfiedwiththeservicestheyreceived–between82%and98%ofthemprovidedpositiveresponsestothequestionsinthesurvey.Shelterabilitytomeetwomen’suniqueculturalneedsandtheirchildren’sneedsreceivedalower,albeitstillalargemajorityofpositiveresponses,suggestingsomepossibledirectionforshelterworkintheseareas.However,andpredictably,womenweremorelikelytocompletethissurveyiftheysuccessfullycompletedtheprogram(37%)thaniftheychosetoleave(14%),orcouldnotbeaccommodatedintheshelter(17%)orwereaskedtoleave(2%).Asnotedearlier,thisexcludesahigherproportionofAboriginalwomen,womenwithaddictionsandwomenwithmentalhealthissues,sincetheyarelikelytostayintheshelterforashorterperiodoftimeandarelesslikelytocompletetheprogram.Ultimatelythesearewomenwithamorecomplexarrayofissuesandwhoseexperienceinthesheltermaynothavebeenassuccessfulasthatoftheothergroups.Thereisclearlyalackofvariabilityintheresponsestothissurvey,withmostoftheresponsesbeingoverwhelminglypositive.Combinedwitharelativelysmallresponserateandunderrepresentationofcertaingroups,thereisaneedtoreviewthistoolandassociatedprocessesfortheireffectivenessingarneringmeaningfulinformation.

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Table5.ProportionofWomenbyFeedbackSurveyItemsSafety PercentIfeltsafeinsidetheshelter 98%IagreethatIammoreabletokeepmyselfandchildreninmycaresaferfromabuse 95%Theserviceshelpedmebetterunderstandthedangertomyself 96%Theserviceshelpedmebetterunderstandthedangertomychildren 95%MeetingNeeds Mostorallofmyneedsweremet 96%Mostorallofmychildren’sneedsweremet 88%Servicesmetmybasiclivingneeds 98%Servicesmetbasicneedsofchildren 97%Servicesmetmyuniqueculturalneeds 83%ChoicesandServiceAccess Serviceshelpbetterunderstandthechoicesavailabletome 95%Serviceshelpedbetterunderstandwhatotherservicesthatareavailabletome 91%Serviceshelpedgainaccesstootherservices 97%OverallSatisfaction Servicewasmostlyorextremelyhelpful 97%MylifeismuchbetternowbecauseIreceivedthishelp 82%Womenalsoprovidedsomecommentswithrespecttotheirexperienceintheshelter,assummarizedbyrelevantquestionsbelow:

• Whatwerethemosthelpfulservicesyoureceived?o Safeplacetocallhomeo Basicneedsmet(food,shelter,financialresources)o Staffsupportaroundtheclocko Oneononemeetings,counselling,groups,emotionalsupporto Communityreferralsandadvocacyo Childcareandchildsupportserviceso Legalsupports

• Whatcouldhavebeendonebettertohelpyouand/oryourchildren?o Betterstafftrainingre:communityresources,workingwithdiverseclients,workingwith

behaviorallychallengingchildreno Moreopportunitiesforchildren–accesstochildcare,activitiesandservicesforchildren

andforteenso Improvedbuildingmaintenance–e.g.,addressingheating,waterproblems,working

laundryo Improvedaccesstoprogrammingafterworkhourso Betterlinkageswithaffordablehousingo Longerandmoregroupssessions,moreoneononesupport

• Whatservicesorsupportsdoyoufeelyoustillneed?o On-goingoutreachandcounsellingo Basicneeds:housing,furnishings,daycare,foodbank,generalfinancialsupporto Legalservicesandcourtsupporto School/education

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8.2 InterviewswithWomenTheinterviewswithwomenhelpedcontextualizetheirresponsestotheFeedbackSurvey,providingmoreexplanationanddetailabouttheirexperienceintheshelter.Atotalof21womenfrom12sheltersparticipatedintelephoneinterviewsinFebruaryandMarchof2017.Thisgroupofwomenwasfairlydiverse,reflectinggeneralcharacteristicsofsecond-stageshelterclients.

• 4womenwereAboriginalandanother4womenwerebornoutsideofCanada;• 9womenwereexperiencingsometypeofahealthissue,includingdepression,anxiety,

addictions,andinjuries;• Thewomenwere,onaverage,34yearsofage,rangingfrom24to52yearsofage;• 13womenhadchildrenwiththemintheshelter;• Atthetimeoftheinterviewthewomenhadbeenintheshelterforanaverageof7months,

rangingfrom5to13monthseach.ComingtotheShelterMostwomencametothesecond-stageshelterfromanemergencyshelter.Thechoiceofaparticularshelterusuallydependedonshelteravailabilityanditslocationandwasoftenbasedonsuggestionsfromfriends,familyorprofessionals(e.g.,doctors,socialworkers).Alloftherespondentsdescribedthesecond-stageshelterastheonlyalternativeavailabletothem,neededtosafeguardtheirownortheirchildren’ssafetyandtoaddressthelackofaffordablehousinginthecommunity.

• [Theshelter]wastheonlyplacewithanopening.IcouldhavewaitedforanothershelterbutIwantedtogoto[thisshelter]becauseofthelocation.Ipickedthelocationbecauseitisdowntownandclosetothetrain,andtogovernmentoffices.

• Iwasinanemergencyshelterin[ashelterlocation].Ididmyresearchonthevarioussecond-stageshelters.Iknewabout[theshelter]andthentherewasanopening.Iknewtherewasasecurebuilding,therewascounselling.

• Icamefromashelterin[ashelterlocation].Iwantedtogoto[theshelter]becauseitisinmyhometown-Igrewuparound[theshelterlocation].

• IbecameafraidformysafetyandIleftwithmydaughterwhenshewasjustafewweeksoldandIwenttolivewithmyparents.WhileIwasgone,myex-partnergotcustodyofmydaughter.IreturnedandIhavebeenfightingeversincetogetcustodyofmydaughter…Myex-partnerlivesherein[shelterlocation].

• AnoutreachworkerImetwithtoldmeabout[theshelter].Iwasinthehospitalandthenmyhusbandleftmeforanotherwoman.Icamehomefromthehospitalandhewasveryemotionallyabusive.Hewasabusivetomydog.Imetwithoneoftheoutreachworkersandsheinvitedmetocomelookattheshelter.IcametoseetheplaceandIdecidedtomovein.

• Livingherein[shelterlocation]hasitsprosandcons.Ididn’thavefriendsanywaybecausemyrelationshipdidn’tallowmetohavefriends.IthinkitismaybebetterthatIamnotinthesamecityasmyex-partner.Icanbemoredetachedlivinginadifferenttown.Icanbetterfocusonmyself.MaybeifIwasin[cityname]Imightbemoretemptedtogoback.

• Iwasin[nameofcity]inaverybadrelationshipandIdidn’tknowhowtoleave.MydoctoradvisedmethatIhadtoleave.Iwaslookingaroundatallofthesheltersin[thecity]andtheywerefull….I[ultimatelyfoundanemergencyshelter]andstayedtherefor14days.OneofthestaffthereaskedmewhatIthoughtaboutgoingtoasecond-stageshelter…andtoldmeabout

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theshelterin[shelterlocation].IcalledthereandIwasin[anotheremergencyshelter]for21days.Mytimingwasgreatbecausejustthenaspaceopenedupin[asecond-stageshelter].ThiswasgoodbecauseIwasabusedasachildandIneededcounselling.Ihaveneverhadcounselling.

ShelterServicesandSupportsWomengenerallydescribedmanyshelterservicesandsupportsasveryhelpful.Theytalkedaboutshelterasasafeplace,anddescribedashelpfulindividualcounsellingtheyreceived,groupswithotherwomenandservicesfortheirchildren,includingchildcare,therapyandparentingsupports.Theyalsoappreciatedavarietyofothersupportsthathelpedaddresstheirbasic,legal,recreation,language,spiritualandhealthneeds;aswellasprovisionofgeneralinformation,referralsandadvocacyinthecommunity.

• Isaw[sheltercounsellor]forindividualcounsellingandshewassohelpful.Ialsowenttogroupeverymorning.Thegroupsweresohelpful.Ilearnedtotrustothersandtoopenuptoothers.Itwashelpfultoheartheotherwomen’sstories.Mydaughterwasveryclosedofftoo.Sheisdoingmuchbetternow.Therapyforthechildrenissoveryhelpful.

• Iseemycounselloreverytwoweeks.TheyprovidechildcareformysonwhenIseemycounsellor.Iamnotabletoqualifyforthefoodbanksotheysometimeshavefoodforusandthatisveryhelpful….Therearehousemeetingsandsometimesyoga.Theyhaveafterschoolprogramsforthechildren.Theydothingslikecrafts,bakingandmovietimes.

• Thereisacommunitykitchen–wegettogetheronceamonthandcooktogether.Thereisaspeechtherapist[forchildren].Therearegroupsforchildrenbutmychildrenaretooyoungforthegroups.Theyprovideparentingsupportandinformationwhichishelpful.Thereisahealthnursethatcomestotheshelter.

• [Sheltercounsellor]camewithmetomostofmyappointmentswiththelawyerandtocourt.Sheexplainsthingstome.EnglishismysecondlanguageandIdon’talwaysunderstandeverything…Forthecourtshehasbeenveryhelpful.ThesheltertakescareofmychildrenwhenIhavetogotothecourt.Thishelpedmealot.

• TheshelterhelpedmegetAlbertaWorksandtheyhelpmewithgroceries…Thegroupwasreallyhelpfulbecausewetalkedaboutmanythingslikeunderstandingabuseandstressandanger.Icantalktoanyofthestaffhere…ThereisalsoanexerciseroombutIhaven’tusedthatyetbutIwouldliketo…Theyhelpedmegetmilkandbabyitemsandclothingformychildren.

• TheypaidformyrentonemonthbecauseIneededtopaymyoverdueutilitybill.Theygivemefreshmilk,breadandeggsthathelpsalot.[Staff]helpsmegetafoodhampersometimes.Iamlettingherinabitmore.Ihaven’tgonetoanygroupsyet.Ihavebeenisolatingmyself.Theyaregivingmetime.TheyhavebeenpatientwithmeandIamstartingtoopenup.

• Thestaffarereallywalkingwithyou;theylistentomeandtellmetolistentomyinstincts.TheytellmeIamnotcrazy.FortenyearsIwaswithmyhusband.Ioftenfeltguiltybecausehewouldtellmehewasdepressed.NomatterwhatIsaidordidn’tsayIcouldnotmakethingsbetter.Thisdevaluatesyouropinionofyourself.Ifeltinsecure.NowIhaveconfidenceonhowImakedecisions.Ifeelsecure.Ifeelthatmychildrenareprotected.

• Itisasafeplace.Iliketherulesbecauseitisaboutmysafety.Myanxietyhasdecreased.Thecounselorsmadesureyoukeepontrack.IhavestruggledwithaddictionssomycounsellorsuggestedIgotoAADAC.IamgoingtoagroupatAADACnow.

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• Iamstayingherebecauseitiseasiertoseemydaughter….Thestaffherearedoingsuchagreatjob…TheyhavetriedtohelpmebutIamnoteligibleformanyresourcesbecauseIamnotaCanadiancitizen.Theyareprovidingmewithlotsofemotionalsupport.AtfirstIwenttocourttogetparentingrightsandstaffcamewithme.IhadalawyerforaboutayearandahalfbutIdon’thavemoneytokeepgoingtocourt.Ican’tgetLegalAidbecauseIamnotaresident.Thestaffhavemadelotsofphonecallsonmybehalf-theyhavetalkedtoalotofpeoplelikeChildProtectionandtheRCMP.Theyhaveprovidedmewithaplacetolive.

• OneofthegroupsiscalledspiritualThursdays.Ireallyenjoythisgroup.Itisnotaboutjustonereligion.Itisabouthope.Itisabouthavingfaith.Ididnothaveanybeforebutthisgroupishelpingmesomuch.Itissoimportanttohavefaithandhope.

ConnectionstoCommunityServicesandSupportsTheconnectionsshelterstaffmakesforwomeninshelterreflecttheneedsforservicesandsupportstheyexperiencewithintheshelter.Manyoftheselinkagesaremadetoaddresswomen’sfinancialsituation–whenstaffconnectthemwithhousing,basicneeds,employmentorschoolingopportunities,oradvocateontheirbehalfwithcommunityfinancialprograms.Linkagesarealsomadewithmanyothercommunitysupports,includingthoseforchildren,parentingprograms,andmentalhealthcounsellingandsupports.Theseareoftensupportedreferrals–wherestaffaccompanieswomentoappointments,oradvocatedirectlywiththecommunityresource,ratherthansimplysuggestingthatwomengothere.Women’sfeedbackalsoillustratessomeofthebarrierstheyandtheshelterstafffaceastheytrytoaccesssomeofthecommunity-basedservices–somehavingtodowomen’sreadinesstomoveforward,otherspointingtothelackoftimethatshelterstaffhaveandyetothersreflectingsomeofthesystemicbarriers.

• ThestaffgavemeencouragementandsupportwhenIwantedtostartmyownbusiness.Iwasconnectedto[community-basedorganizations].Igotsomehelptocomeupwithalong-termplan.

• ThestaffhereconnectedmetotheFoodBankandto[awomen’sorganization].Theyhaveknowledgeofanunlimitednumberofresources.Theyareallsoveryhelpfulandsupportive.

• Mysocialworkertoldmeaboutthefoodbankandhelpedmegothere.Shetoldmeabout[aCollege].

• Ihaveappliedto[ahousingprogram].Theshelterstaffdidtellmeaboutthishousing.Theyreferredmetoaprogramtohelpwomenwhohavebeenabusedgetbacktowork….TheshelterhashelpedmegetasubsidizedmembershipattheY.Itisgoodtogoactivitieswiththekids.Myolderchildwasreferredto[aprogramforchildren]tobeassessedforspeechtherapy.

• Idon’tgetverymuchmoneysotheshelterhelpsmewithdiapersandsometimesgettingfoodfromthefoodbank.Idon’tdriveso[shelterstaff]hasaskedthefoodbanktodeliverfoodforme.Thishelpsmealot.

• Thestaffhaveconnectedmetotheparentingclasseswith[agencyname].Itissohelpful.IhavefourchildrenandIamlearningsomuch.

• Thestafftoldmeaboutagriefcounsellor.Sheismostinterestingandhelpedmetolookwaybacktomychildhood.Ithasbeenextremelyhelpful.Ihavefoundotherthingsonmyownlikeamentalhealthworkerandasocialworkerwhohelpsmewithlawyerandmedicalstuff.

• Iwouldloveformykidstogetcounselling.TheycouldaccesscounsellingwhereIgobuttheirfatherneedstogivepermissionandhewillnotdothat.Itisveryfrustrating.

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• Thestaffhavenotconnectedmewithanysupports.IwasseeingacounsellorinthecommunitywhenImovedthere.BecauseIamworkingIdon’tqualifyformostcommunitysupports.

• MycasemanagerhastriedtosignmeupforafinancialinformationgroupbutIhaven’tgoneyet.Ijusthaven’tfeltlikegoingyet.Mycasemanagerdidrefermeto…agroupofvolunteersthatmakemealsandfreezethenandgivethemtomomslikeme.

IssuesorConcernsRegardingtheShelterWhilemanywomencouldnotthinkofanyissuestheyexperiencedwiththeshelterorshelterstaff,somedididentifyissuesthat,ifaddressed,wouldimproveshelterservices.Theydescribedfacility-relatedissues(e.g.,laundry,noise,smoke,garbagedisposal),shelteraccessissues(e.g.,animals,availabilityofservicesintheevenings)andservice-relatedissues(e.g.,shelterrules,staffexpertiseinaddressinghealth-relatedissuesandstaffavailability).

• Theoneissueisthelaundry.Ineverdomylaundryherebecausesomepeopledon’ttaketheirlaundryoutofthemachines….Thereisnosoundproofinghere.Itcangetverynoisy.Theotherthingisthatthesmokingareaisrightoutbytheplayarea.BothmysonandIaresensitivetosmokeandyouhavetowalkthroughthesmoketogettotheplayarea.NowItakemysontoaplaygroundfurtherawayanditdoesnotfeelassafe.

• Thisisareallygoodplace.TheonlythingisthatIbroughtmycatwithme.Irescuedherasakittenandsheislikemybaby.Icannothaveherhere.Sheislikefamilytome.Sheiswithmyex-partner.Thatistheonlythingthatisaproblemforme.

• ItfeltthreateningthatifIdidn’tdocertainthingsIwouldbekickedout.LikeifIdidn’tattendgroup.ButnowitseemslikeifIdon’twanttoattendIdon’thaveto.Itisconfusing.IwasalsotoldthattheywouldcheckmyapartmenttomakesureIwaslookingafteritbutthathasneverhappened.Itisliketheysaythingsbuttheydon’tfollowthrough.IknowrulesareaboutkeepingmesafebutIamconfusedabouttherules.

• Thestaffheredonotunderstandmyhealthissues…Ithinktheyshouldbetrainedtouseabloodpressuremachine.

• Ithinkmaybeitwouldbegoodtohavesomeonewhocandospecializedcounselling.IhavePTSDandanxietydisorder.[Theshelterstaff]isgreatbutshedoesn’tknowhowtohelpme.ShesaidshewouldlookintowhereIcouldgetcounselling.

• Ithinkthereshouldbemorestaffthatarecertifiedtoworkwithindividualswithmentalhealthissues.Ithinkthatinadditiontothemandatorygroupsinthemorningthereshouldbesomethingtodointheafternoons.Itwouldbegreatiftherewasagymtoworkoutinattheshelter.

• IworkfulltimesoIamnotabletoaccessmanyofthesupportsorthegroupat[theshelter].Icanseeoneofthestaff[intheearlyevening]andthenmychildrenareabletoaccessthedaycare.Occasionallythereareactivitiesintheeveninglikeyogaandthenmychildrencangotothedaycare.IjustfeelthatbecauseIamworkingandmychildrenareinschoolwedon’tgettoaccessmanyofthesupportsattheshelter.

• Allthethingsareformomsandchildrenduringtheweeknothingontheweekends.Itseemslikesinglewomenwithoutchildrenarediscriminatedagainst.Mostoftheresourcesareformomsandyoungchildren.Itwouldbeniceiftherewerethingslikeyogaandmeditation.

• WhenIfirstmovedinhereabouthalfofthetimethestaffcancelledourappointments.Therejustwasn’tenoughstaffsosometimesthatstaffpersonendeduphavingtodosomethingelse.Thingsareslightlybetternow.Theyhavehiredonemorestaff.

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• ItseemsasifIneedtogotothestaffwhenIwanttotalkorneedsomething.Thestaffdoesn’tcometome.Ilovehavingcompanysoitwouldbeniceifthestaffcametoseemewithoutmealwayshavingtocontactthestaff.

ShelterImpactWhenaskedabouthowtheirliveshavechangedaftercomingtothesecond-stageshelter,thewomentalkedaboutbeingsafer,feelinghealthieremotionally,havingamorepositiveoutlookonlife,becomingmoreindependent,theirchildrenimproving,and,ingeneral,feelingcalmerandlessstressed.

• Mylifewashellbefore.Iwouldcryallday.Beingherehasbeenunbelievablyamazing.WhenIfirstwentto[theshelter]iffeltlikeIcouldfinallybreathe.Ifeltsafehere.IhaveneverbeenashappyasIamnow.Iamflourishing.Iamwaymoreconfident.

• Mylifehasimprovedalot.MymindsetandthewayIthinkhavechangedforthepositive.Idon’tknowwhereIwouldbeifIhadnotcomehere.Ifeltsohopeless.Ididn’tcareaboutmylife.Iwasn’tsuicidalbutIjustdidn’tcare.Icarenow.Ihaveabetteroutlook.Itisaworkinprogress.Ihavemoreupsthandowns.BeforeIcouldn’tsleeporeat.IamsleepingmuchbetternowandIhavenoproblemeating.Ilovemyapartment.IneverhadanythingIownedmyselfbefore.NowIhavesecurity.Ihaveappliedtobeavolunteerwiththe[localorganization].Icouldnothavedonethatinthepast.

• Iexperiencedabuseforoverthirtyyearsofmylife.IdidnotrealizehowtraumatizedIhadbeen.Iseeacounsellorat[theshelter]whohasexperiencewithtrauma.Shehasbeenveryhelpful.IwouldneverbewhereIamrightnowifIhadnotcometoliveat[theshelter].IhavesupportandIfeelsafe.Ifeellikeanewdoorisopeningforme;theyarehelpingmestepoutmore.Iamsafe.

• Thereissuchabigdifferenceformychildren.Therearesomanyactivitiestheygettodobecausewelivehere.Theolderchildrenhaveimprovedtheirgrades…Theygettodonormalthingsthatotherkidsgettodo.

• [Theshelter]helpedmeemotionally,physicallyandmentally.Theyhavehelpedwithclothesandallthebasicthings.LifewouldnothavebeenthesameifIdidnotcomehere.Theyhavepreparedmeemotionally,helpedmyself-esteem.Myidentitywastakenawayandmywonderfulcounsellorhashelpedmegetitback.

• Livingherehascompletelyturnedmylifearound360degrees.Beforemovingheremylifewasnotverygood.Iammuchmoreindependentnow.Ihavemoreconfidence.IwouldneverhavebeenabletostartmyownbusinessifIhadn’tcometothe[shelter].

• Ihavechangedalotsincemovinghere.Ihavestruggledwithdepressionforalongtime.Iwasonantidepressantsforalongtime.Livingwithmypartnerworemedownalot.Igaveupalotofmyself.Iwasunsureofmyself.WhenIlefthimIwasunsureifIhaddonetherightthing.Ifeelsafenow.IusedtoalwaysbeonedgeandnowIcanrelax.IamnotonmedsrightnowandIamfeelingprettygoodwithoutthem.IfIbegintonoticesignsthatIamnotdoingokayIwilltalktomycounsellor.Ithinkmydepressionwassituational.NowthatIamoutoftherelationshipIfeelbetter.

• IfinallyfeellikeIhaveahome.Ihaveprivacyandaplacetobewithmydaughter.It’swonderfultohavemyownspace.Idon’thavetodriveanhourthereandanhourbackwhenIseemydaughter.IamamuchstrongerpersonthanIwasthreeyearsago.Igetemotionalsupporthere.

• Mykidsarecalmer.Icanmanagethembetter.Isleepbetter.Idon’thavetoworryanymore.We’rehappy.Thereislessstress.

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• Mylifeisalotbetter.Livingherehasgivenmetimetothinkaboutmylife.Thebestpartoflivinghereisitisasafeplaceformykidsandme.BecauseIfeelsafeIamabletothinkclearer.

PlansfortheFutureMostwomendescribedplansaftershelterasbuildingstabilityintheirlives–focusingonhousing,educationand/oremployment.Manywerealsohopingthattheywouldcontinuetoreceivesomecounsellingoremotionalsupporteitherfromshelterstafforcommunityprogramsandidentifiedadditionalgoals,suchasworkingtowardsbetterhealth,andresolvinglegal,custodyorimmigrationissues.Somewomenalsoexpressedworriesanduncertaintyaboutwhatwouldhappenwhentheirshelterstayisover.

• Ihavebeenmeetingwiththehousingcoordinator.SheishelpingmealottofindhousingforwhenIleavehere.IhavebeenthinkingaboutgoingbacktoschoolbutfirstIneedtofindhousingandgetsettled.IknowthereisanoutreachworkerthatwillhelpmewhenIleavehere.Iwantbetterformysons.

• IamgoingtostartschoolinSeptember.Iamgoingtocollegein[shelterlocation].IjustheardbackfromthecollegethatIhavebeenaccepted.Iamtakingacoursethatis2years.Iwilllookforhousinginafewmonths.IknowthatwhereIamlivingnowistransitionalhousingonlyfor2yearssoIamthankfulthatIhavebeenabletoliveherenow.

• IwanttogetmyfinancesinorderbeforeIleavetheshelter.IcanstayhereayearwiththeoptionofstayinglongerifIneedto.Ineedtogetthischildtaxcreditthingandmaintenancesettled.Iwanttosomedaytakehairdressingcourse.

• Iamtomoveout[soon].Iplantostayin[shelterlocation]IhavealreadyconnectedwiththehousingcoordinatorheresoIwillgetmyownplaceinthecommunityformydaughterandme…IwanttobemorefinanciallystablebeforeIhavemyotherchildrenlivewithme.Ihopetogotouniversity.Thestaffhelpmemakeatodolistandachecklist.Theyhelpmesetgoalsformyself.Ialsohopetostartmyownbusiness.Iamworkingonabusinessplan.AsocialenterprisebusinesswhereIcanmakemoneyanddogood.

• IcanstayhereforayearandthenIthinkthecounsellorcancontinuetoseemewhenImoveout.Ihopetogeta[subsidized]apartment.Mycounsellorwillhelpmemakeplanswhenitistimetomoveout.Iplantoregisterforschoolandthengetajob.Iamregisteredinaprogramnowthatisalifeskillsprogram–tohelpmegetbackintotheworkforce.Iwilllearncomputerskills,andotherlifeskillstohelpme.

• Iamhopingthatallmydoctorscanworktogethertohelpmegethealthier.Thatismymainfocus….Ihaveschoolingtobeanestheticianandacareaid.Ialsousedtobuildandrefinishfurniture.ButIneedtogethealthierfirstbeforedoinganyofthosethings.Thestaffwillhelpmefindanotherplacetolive.

• Iwanttokeepfightingtogetcustodyofmydaughter.Iamworkingongettingaworkpermit.OnceIhavethatitshouldbeeasiertoapplyforresidencybutitwillstilltakealongtime.RightnowIcan’tworkbecauseIdon’thaveaworkpermit.Idon’thaveanyIDandIcan’tgetabankaccount.MyyearisuphereattheendofJuneandIdon’tknowwhatisgoingtohappen.

• Theapartmentisfurnishedwhichisagoodthing.ButwhenImoveoutIwillneedtogetmyownthings.WhenIcamefrom[anothercity]Icameintheshelter’svanandIcouldonlybringafewthings.IheardthereisachurchthatisabletohelpwhenIamreadytomoveout.Theywillhelpwithgettingfurniture.

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• IworryabouthavingtogetthingsforanapartmentinProgressiveHousing.Hereinsecond-stageIdon’tneedmyownfurniturebutyoudoinProgressiveHousing.Thisseemslikeabigproblemforme.Maybethecounselorsherecanhelpme.

OverallSatisfactionWithoutexception,allofthewomenspokeofthesecond-stagesheltersasapositiveandextremelyimportantpartoftheirrecoveryfromabuse.Inparticular,theyspokeaboutthestaff,thefacilityandthesupportsasthekeyelementsthatcontributedtotheeffectivenessoftheirstaythere.

• Thestaffhereareincredible.Itisanamazingfacility.Thestaffgoaboveandbeyond.• Thestaffareamazing.Theyaretryingsohardtohelpmebutitissodifficult.Idon’tknowhowI

wouldhavemanagedwithoutthem.• Thisisagoodplace.Thestaffarepatienttobewithus.Iamwithotherwomeninthesame

situation.Thisisveryhelpful.Iamlearningtools.Thereisnothinglikethisin[thehomecountry]• Thestaffhavesomuchinformationforme.Theylistentomeanddonotjudgeme.Ilike

everythinghere.• Ithinkitistoobadthatthereisstigmaaboutgoingintoaplacelikethis.Toomanywomenare

stuckanddon’thaveanywheretogo.Iwasfeelingstuckanddidnotknowaboutthesecond-stageshelter.IwasluckyIgottocomehere.

8.3 Follow-upSurveyAsurveywasdevelopedtogatherinformationaboutwomen’ssituationbetween3and6monthsaftershelterdischarge.ShelterstafffromtenshelterstelephonedwomenwhoweredischargedbetweenJulyandNovemberof2016andwhocontinuedtoreceivesometypeofservicesorsupports,whichcouldhaveincludedoutreach,housingsupports,orsupportgroups.Theywereabletoreach57womenofthe120thatweredischargedinthattimeperiod.29Thisgroupofwomenwascomparabletotheoverallgroup–aboutahalfstayedintheshelterlessthan6months,athirdwereimmigrantand25%wereAboriginal,42%wereexperiencingsometypeofhealthoraddictionissuesand65%successfullycompletedtheirshelterstay.AswiththeFeedbackSurveyhowever,therearelimitationstothisexercise,asnotallwomenwhoweredischargedcouldbecontactedandtheonesthatweredidnotnecessarilyrepresentallofthewomeninsecond-stageshelters.Theresultsofthesurveyaresummarizedbelow:Situationatfollow-upAlthoughmostofthesewomenwerelivingindependently,financialsituationcontinuestobeachallengeforatleastathirdofthem.Manyareaddressingthisissuebyupgradingorbyactivelylookingforfull-timeemployment.

• 79%(n=45)womenwerelivingontheirown,3werelivingwiththeabusivepartner,andtheremainingwomenwerelivingwiththeirfamily,friends,anewpartnerorinashelter.

29Wewouldexpectbetween30%and50%ofwomenwhoaredischargedtocontinuewithsometypeofsheltersupport

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• 28%(n=16)wereemployedand26%(n=15)wereattendinganeducationalinstitution.Anadditional8women(14%)wereunabletoworkoftenbecauseoftheinjuriestheysustainedasaresultoftheabuse.Theremaining32%ofwomenwereunemployedandlookingforwork.30

• 28%(n=16)womenjudgedtheirfinancialsituationasaproblemrequiringassistance.MostofthemreliedonAlbertaWorks,ChildTaxCreditorStudentFunding.

Servicesprovidedpostsecond-stageThewomenappeartobewell-connectedwithneededservices,asprovidedbytheshelterstaffaswellasothercommunityorganizations.Financialstabilityandmentalhealthcontinuetobethemostpressingissuesforwomenpostshelterdischarge.

• Allofthesewomenandchildrenhavebeenreceivingshelterservicessincetheirdischargeincluding:individualsupport(n=51),basicneedsupport(n=44),individualorgroupsupportfortheirchildren(n=24),andgroupsupport(n=19)

• Allbut5ofthesewomenhaveaccessedcommunityservicessinceleavingsecond-stageshelter.AsillustratedinFigure17,manyofthesewomenaccessedservicesaddressingfinancialandbasicneeds(56%),46%connectedwithcounsellingtoaddressemotionalormentalhealthissues,andabout40%accessedlegalsupportsinordertodealwithlegalissuesrelatedtotheirexperienceofabuse.Otherwomenalsoaccessedsupportsfortheirchildrenorparentingsupports(30%),medicalsupports(25%)andservicestoaddressaddictionissues(16%)

Figure17.ProportionofWomenbyTypesofCommunityServicesTheyAccessed

Women’sfeedbackWomen’sfeedbackatfollow-upconfirmsthatsecond-stagesheltershavemadeapositiveimpactintermsofsafetyandstability,howeverasizablenumberofwomencontinuetostrugglewithavarietyofissuesgenerallyincludingfinances,mentalhealth,parentingandlegalissues.Thisisnotunexpected,asitmaytakeuptoseveralyearsforwomentostabilizeoncetheirhousingandsafetyconcernsareaddressed.31

30Notethatmanyofthosewhowereemployedorwerestudentswerealsolookingforwork.31Tutty,L,Radtke,L.,andNixon,K.(2009).TheHealingJourney:ALongitudinalStudyofMothersAffectedbyIntimatePartnerViolence,PerceptionsoftheirChildren’sWell-BeingandFamily-RelatedServiceUtilization.ReportPreparedforTheAlbertaCentreforChild,FamilyandCommunityResearch.

56%

46%

40%

30%

25%

16%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

FinancialSupport

Emoqonal/MentalHealth

LegalandJusqce

SupportforChildrenorParenqng

MedicalSupports

Addicqon

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• Allbutthreewomenagreedorstronglyagreedthatasaresultoftheirsecond-stageshelterstaytheyhavegainedknowledgeabouthowtokeepthemselvesandtheirchildrensafe.

• Allbutfourwomenagreedthattheyfeltsafersincetheirstayinsecond-stageshelter.

• 31womensharedtheirself-assessmentofhowwelltheyweremanagingassummarizedandillustratedbyselectedquotesfromtheinterviews:o 16womenindicatedthatthereweredoingwellwithoutanysignificantproblems:

- Womanrecentlyreportedthatsheandherfamilyaredoingwell.Sherecentlyreturnedtopartnerafterheattendedcounselling.Shehasasafetyplanifhebecomesabusiveagain.

- [Thewoman]ismanagingverywell.ShemaintainsherbudgetwiththeHandsUpBursaryandisdoingwellwithhereducation.Shemakescontactwiththeworkerif/whenshehasneeds...forinstance...foodbankdelivery.Otherwisesheisindependent.

o 11wereontheirwaytostability,butwerestillexperiencingissues(usuallyincluding

financial,mentalhealthandparentingconcerns):- Sherealizesshewouldnothavemadeallofthesepositivechangesifshehadnot

completedthesecond-stageprogram(s);lookingahead,feelinghopefulandmakinglong-termplansforherselfandherchildren…stillstruggleswithdepressionwhichistreatedwithmedication.

- [Thewoman]hascomealongwayfromwhenshefirstcametoshelter.Shehasworkedthroughasignificantamountofissuesonherownandhasproventobeindependentandsuccessful.Shehasenrolledherselfintoaday-treatmentfacilitythatissupportingherwithalcoholaddiction.Shehasalsofoundday-careforherchildindependently,andhasexpressedanumberofgoalsthatshewouldliketoaccomplishwithinthenextfewmonths.Shewouldliketogobacktoschoolandworkonherrelationshipwithfamilymembers.

- Womanismanagingwellinthecommunity.HerstruggleshavebeenwithAlbertaWorksandlegalissues.Sheishappiernowthatsheisattendingschoolfulltime.

o 4describedtheirsituationas“coping”or“struggling”:

- Sheneededthecontinuedsupportsafterleavingtheshelter,re-appliedtothesecond-stageandwasreadmittedtosecond-stageprogram.

- Sheisstruggling;hasalotofdebtandlittleincome;wantslegalsituationtoberesolvedastrialdateforherexcontinuestobepostponedandnowitisputoffforanotherentireyear.

- Womanstillstrugglesfinanciallyandhastriedtogetfulltimeemploymentbuthasn’tgottenoneyet.Sheisgratefultogetsupportforherfamilythroughtheshelter.

- Clientismanaging,butherwell-beinghasbeenaffectedduetoCFSAinvolvementwithherchildren.Sheisreceivingcounsellingandsupportfromouragency.

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IX. ShelterDirectors’FeedbackProjectparticipantssharedtheirperspectivesandfeedbackinafocusgroupaswellasindividualinterviewsthatoccurredoverthecourseofFebruaryandMarch2017.Altogether,therewere21directorsand/ortheirdesignateswhorepresented13shelteringorganizations.ThefocusofthediscussionwasonthechangesinshelterprogrammingsincecompletionofProjectPhaseI,anticipatedshelterimpactaswellasthenextstepsfortheSecond-StageShelterCommittee.

9.1 ShelterProgramDevelopmentGovernmentFundingShelterDirectorsreflectedthattheprojecthelpedgainmorerecognitionforthesecond-stagesheltersfromthegovernment,resultingintherecentinjectionofdollarsbytheprovincialgovernmentintosecond-stageshelterwork,withninepreviouslyunfundedsecond-stagesheltersreceivingrenewablegrantsforprogramingaswellasIntensiveCaseManagementandChildTraumapositions.Twosecond-stagesheltersfundedformanyyearsbygovernmentreceivedadditionalfundingforIntensiveCaseManagementandChildTraumapositions.Alloperationalsecond-stagesheltersinAlbertaarenowfunded.ShelterDirectorsjudgedthisdevelopmentashavingasignificantpositiveimpactonshelteroperations.Priortothis,manyofthesheltershadtorelyonunpredictablefundraisingactivitiesand/orhadtodivertallocationsfromotherprograms,ultimatelynotbeingabletodeliverthescopeorthequalityofservicesneeded.Asaresultofthesenewdollars,thosesheltersthathistoricallyhavenothadgovernmentfundingarenowabletoprovidecoreservices,ensurethatshelterpremisesaresafeandsecure,implementsomefacilityimprovements,havefull(qualified)staffcontingent,andareabletodelivermoremindfulandformalizedservices.Allsecond-stagesheltersintheprovincearealsonowabletosignificantlystrengthenserviceofferingsforchildren,astheycouldhirechildtraumainformedcounsellorsandaddnewchildcarestaff,ultimatelybeingabletoaddressthesignificantandlife-longimpactoftraumathatchildrenexposedtodomesticviolenceexperience.Furthermore,thedollarsfortheIntensiveCaseManagement(ICM)positionsstrengthenedsheltercapacitytosupportwomen’stransitiontoindependenceandprovidewrap-aroundservicesandsupports,asthesestaffhelpedwomenlocatehousing,connectedthemwithneededresourcesandprovidedcounsellingandemotionalsupport.Government’sflexibilityinallocatingtheavailabledollarswasalsowelcomebythesheltersassomeofthefundscouldbeusedtosupportstafftraininginareasofparticularinteresttoshelters.NewProgrammingInadditiontooverallstrengtheningofshelterservicesresultingfromnewgovernmentfunding,second-stageshelterscontinuedtoengageinprogramdevelopmentandimplementationofpromisingpracticesintheirfacilities.Someofthemoresignificantchangesandimprovementstoprogramsinclude:

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• Shiftingtotrauma-informedservices,includingtraining,andintentionalconsiderationofimpactoftraumainallfacetsofservicedelivery(e.g.,focusonchoices,experientialservices,women’sneedsvs.programneeds);

• Bringingmorefocustochildreninsecond-stageshelters(e.g.,buildingtherelationshiporconnectionbetweenmomandchild,addressingtheimpactofFASD);

• Increasingoutreachprogramsize,inresponsetotheincreasedvacancyratesinsomelocations;• Whilerecognizingandaffirmingthatdomesticviolenceisagenderedissue,providingfamily-

centeredservices,focusingonfamilystructure,familyoforiginaswellasmentalhealthandaddictionissues;

• Developingmethodsformedicationcontrolanddisbursement;• Adoptingaresponse-basedpracticewithaprimarymessagethatwomenarenotbrokenand

theyjustneedenoughtimetoprocessthingsandtorecognizethattheyarestrongandcapable;• Requiringthatwomennotworkforthefirst6monthsofshelterstay,allowingthemtofully

commitandparticipateinprogramofferings;• Requiringthatwomenspendsometimeinanemergencyshelterbeforemovingontothe

second-stagesheltertoensurethattheyareabletoliveindependently;• Developingasharedintakeprocessamong3urbansecond-stage,andcreatingonepointof

contactforwomenwhoseekadmission.9.2 Second-stageSheltersandHousingServicesSectorDiscussionswithShelterDirectorshighlightedtheirperspectivesonhowsecond-stagesheltersfitwithinthespectrumofhousingservices.Theywereveryclearastothevalueanduniqueplaceofsecond-stagesheltersinthecontinuum,supportingwomenandchildrenwhosesafetyisatriskandwhoarehomelessbecauseoftheirexperienceofabuse.Somestatedthat,asaresultoftheprojecttheyarenowbetterabletoarticulatewheresecond-stagesheltersfit,howtheyaredifferentfromwomen’semergencysheltersortransitionalhousing,thecomplexityofthewomen’sneedswhostayinsecond-stageandthevalueofshelterwork,bothemergencyandsecond-stage.Finally,someShelterDirectorsthoughtthattheroleofthesecond-stagesheltersisnotyetfullyunderstoodinthecommunityandthatmoreworkisrequiredinthisareaaswellasto‘bridgethegap’withthehomelessservingsectoranddeterminehowsecond-stageshelterscanworkbetterwithinthehousingservicecontinuum.Therecontinuetobesomedifferencesbetweenexperiencesofurbansheltersandshelterslocatedinsmallerjurisdictions.Highdemandinurbanlocationskeepsthosesheltersalwaysfullwithadmissionslimitedtowomenandchildrenfleeingdomesticviolence.Sheltersinsmallerlocationsoftentimesare“theonlygameintown”forallwomenwhoarehomeless.Therefore,theymayadmitwomenforwhomhomelessnessistheprimarypresentingissue,althoughmosthavehadsomeexperienceofdomesticviolenceinthepast.Forthesereasons,theycannotalwaysbeseenasfocusingentirelyondomesticviolenceandinsteadsomewouldratherbedescribedas“socialhousingforwomen”.Notwithstandinghowthesheltersdefinethemselvesuniquelyintheircommunities,theyallemphasizedtheimportanceofcontinuedoutreachandfollow-upworkwhenwomenleavesheltertoensurewoman-centered,wrap-aroundservicedeliveryapproach.Tosupportthisidea,severalsheltershaveinitiatedcommunitybasedhousingprojects(e.g.,domesticviolencehousingfirst,progressivehousing),wherewomenliveindependentlybutwithcontinuedsupportfromtheshelterstaff.Manyalsohaveanexpectationoffollowupsupportwitheverywomanwholeavessecond-stageshelter,insomesheltersforaslongasayear.

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9.3 DevelopingDataManagementCapacityOneofthegoalsoftheSecond-StageShelterProjectwastoestablishaprocessforcollectiveoutcomemeasurementinAlbertasecond-stageshelterstosupportsheltereffortstosecurecorefunding.Asnotedinthediscussionabove,ACWSandsecond-stagesheltershavebeensuccessfulinobtainingcorefundingforsecond-stageshelterscurrentlyoperatinginAlberta.Developingdatamanagementcapacitytogetherwasoneimportantelementcontributingtothissuccess.ShelterDirectorsindicatedthattheywouldnothavehadthecapacityinternallytodevelopwhattheyachievedasagroup.Comingtosecond-stagecommitteemeetingshelpedthemhelptheirstaffunderstandtheimportanceofevaluation,gavethemthelanguagetoexplaintheimportanceofevaluation,andhelpedthembecomemoreproactiveintheirwork.Overthecourseoftheprojectsecond-stagesheltershaveexpandedandfine-tunedtheiruseoftheACWSMemberSharedDatabase,improvingtheaccuracyandcompletenessofdataentry,usingthedataforreportsandfundingapplicationsandstartingtousethedatatoinformdevelopmentofservicesandprogramsaswellasforshelteradvocacyandlocalpublicawarenessactivities.ShelterDirectorsdescribetheirstaffasgenerallybeing“onboard”andunderstandingthevalueofinformedservicedeliveryand,insomeshelters,regularprocessesareunderwayforidentifyingemergingresearchquestionsandusingtheshareddatabasetoanswerthem.Staffespeciallyappreciatetheopportunitytohaveaccesstodatasummariesorreportswheretheycanseetangibleresultsoftheirwork.Theworkofdatamanagementisalsomoreformalizednow,withclearerroles,responsibilitiesandexpectationsandgroundedinthesecond-stageshelterlogicmodeldevelopedcollectivelyinPhaseI.Dedicatingstaffpositionstoevaluation,researchanddatamanagementactivitieshelpssignificantlyinthisregard.Whilesomesheltershavesuchpositionsinplace,otherswithoutdedicatedpositionsarestillstruggling,withstafffeelingoverwhelmedwithdatamanagementandreportingresponsibilities.Second-stageShelterDataCollectionToolsThesecond-stageshelterprojectintroducedseveralnewdatacollectiontoolstosupportmeasurementoftheindicatorsidentifiedinthesecond-stagelogicmodel.ThesenewtoolsincludeGoalAttainmentScaling,ParentingStressIndexandImpactofEventsScale.Theprojectalsosupportedimplementationoftoolsthatshelterswereusingpriortoprojectimplementation–includingtheDangerAssessmentorWalkingthePathTogetherDangerAssessmentandCalendar,theDomesticViolenceSurvivorAssessmentandtheClientFeedbackQuestionnaire.ShelterstaffalsohelpeddevelopaSecond-StageAcuityScale,andtheresultsofthisprocessaresummarizedinSectionVIIofthisreport.ShelterDirectorstalkedaboutthevalueofthesetoolswithassociatedstandardsandconsistencyofuseemergingasoneoftheimportantlearningsthatoccurredoverthecourseoftheproject.Whileallofthesetoolsweredescribedaspotentiallyvaluable,andhelpingshelters‘makesenseoftheirwork’,theShelterDirectorshighlightedafewtoolstheythoughtwereparticularlyuseful:

• DangerAssessment:isstandardtoshelterpractice;hasalwaysbeenhelpfultounderstanddangerandrisk;also,helpfultocomparehowwomen’srisklevelschangeovertime;andsomehavebeenabletouseDAinformationtosupportwomenincourt;

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• AcuityScale:auseableandpotentiallyveryvaluabletool–itisimportanttobeawareofandbeabletodescribethelevelofacuityoftheclientsweserve;itwillhelpusmakesurethatstaffareequippedtoservethewomeninsecond-stageshelters;

• ParentingStressIndex:sheltersappreciateACWS’helpinpurchasingthistool;thetoolconcretelyidentifiesmothers’strengthsandchallenges;however,perceivedcomplexityofscoringisachallengeforsomesheltersandhascontributedtoafewdecidingnottouseit;

• Goalattainmentisveryvaluablefromthecasemanagementperspectiveandtosupportservicedirection;itisaflexibletoolallowingwomentosettheirowngoals;italsohelpsspeakcollectivelytosecond-stageshelterwork;

• DomesticViolenceSurvivorAssessment:enhancedstaffunderstandingofsituationswomenfindthemselvesin,andwasespeciallyvaluableforstaffwhomaynothavehadsignificantbackgroundindomesticviolence.

TheShelterDirectorsoftenexpresstheirappreciationofthesupportfromACWSinassistingsheltersdeveloptheirdatamanagementcapacity.TheyparticularlyvaluedtheresponsivenessofACWSstaffwhenaddressingquestionsabouttheshareddatabase,theirhelpinensuringthatdataandreportswereaccurateandcomprehensive,andthatindividualandcollectivedataanalysisreportssupportedmovingprojectworkforward.Theywouldlikethissupporttocontinue,alongwithassistingallshelterstomovebeyondsimplygatheringdatatousingdatatoinformshelterpractice.

9.4 ShelterImpactInadditiontosupportingtheideathateachwomanworktowardsachievingheruniquegoals,ShelterDirectorsidentifiedthefollowingoutcomestheywerehopingforwomenleavingsecond-stageshelters:

• Affordable,stableandsecurehousing;• Financialindependence(i.e.,educationalupgradingandemployment);• Enhancedabilitytoaccessresourcesinthecommunity;• Forwomenwithchildren,securingcustodyoftheirchildren,improvedparentingskills,and

betterunderstandingofchildhoodtraumaandtheimpactthatithasonchilddevelopment;• Achievingalifefreefromviolence;and,• Ingeneral,becomingavibrantpartofthecommunity.

Theydescribedseveralsuccessstoriesofwomenwhoaccessedtheirshelters,womenwhoarrivedintheshelterindiresituationsemotionally,physicallyandfinanciallyandwhowouldhavebeenableto,aftertheirshelterstaytostabilizetheirlivesbyfinishingtheireducation,findingemployment,housingandchildcare.TheytalkedabouthowthefocusondatagatheringhelpedenhancetheworkoftheshelterstaffandhownewIntensiveCaseManagementpositionsarehelpingcreatemoresuccessstoriesforwomen,asthelikelihoodthatwomenwillbesuccessfullyhousedandconnectedwithneededresourcesisenhanced.Theyalsodescribedwomen’sprogresstowardsintendedimpactasajourneythatmaytakesometimeandthatmayrequirethatsheaccessthefullspectrumofservicesincludingemergencyandsecond-stageshelters,progressivehousingandoutreachservices.Forexample,womenwhowecontactedbetween3and6monthsafterleavingthesheltermaybehousedbutmightstillbelookingforworkoreducation,solidifyingtheirfinancialsituationandstillworkingongoalattainment.Manycontinuetorequiresupportforemotionalhealing,somemayhavetoreturntoshelterortransitionalhousingandsomeothersmayreturntotheirpartner.

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Thedirectorsalsoemphasizedthat,astheyworktowardsindependencewomencontinuetoexperiencemanysystemicbarriers,mostsignificantbarriersincluding:

• Povertyandassociatedlackoforinadequatefinancialsupports(e.g.,insufficientincomesupportfromthegovernment,notreceivingchildsupport);

• Lackofaffordablehousing–womenmayhavealloftheabilitiesandskillstomoveforwardbutmaynotbeabletodosowithoutaccesstohousing;

• Childwelfaresystemthatisnotresponsivetotheneedsofmothersandchildren;• Challengingaccesstoeverydayservicesandsupports,suchastransportationthatisparticularly

problematicforshelterslocatedinruralareas;aswellaslackofaffordablechildcareandaccesstofurniture;

• Lackofservicesandsupportsforimmigrantwomen,especiallyinterpretationandculturalawareness;

• RacismandlackofculturalawarenessthatAboriginalwomenface;• Challengesthataddictionsandmentalhealthpresentwhenintegratingintothecommunityand

lackofsuchservicesinsomesmallerjurisdictions.Shelterdirectorsalsospoketothechallengesforsomewomenwhostayatsecond-stageshelters,particularlythosewithmentalhealthandaddictionsissues.Second-stagesheltersdonotalwayshavestaffwithrequisiteexpertiseandmanyhavepoliciesguidingbehaviorandalcoholuse.Eventhoughsheltersarenotwellequippedtosupportthesewomen,someshelters,particularlythoseinsmallerjurisdictionsfacesignificantpressuretoacceptwomenwithaddictionsandmentalhealthconcernsbecauseofthelackofspecializedservicesinthearea.

9.5 NextStepsTheparticipantsthoughtthatingeneral,theprojecthelpedsheltershelpwomen,helpedgovernmentunderstandwhatthesecond-stageshelterdo,andhelpedenhanceshelterstafflearningbygatheringdataabouttheimpacttheserviceshaveonwomen.AllSecond-stageShelterCommitteemembersdescribedtheprojectasvaluableandthegroupmeetingsas“extremelyhelpful”.Theywereunanimousaboutthevalueofcontinuingtomeetasagroup.Theyalsoprovidedseveralsuggestionsforthecontentanddirectionoffuturemeetings:

• Continuetoaggregatecollectivedata,developbenchmarksfordatacollection,compareindividualshelterdatatotheaggregate;continuetousedatatoinformcollectiveandindividualshelterprogramdevelopment;continuewithtooldevelopment;

• Developdatabridgingprocessesforthoseusingadifferentdatabaseordifferenttools(e.g.,OutcomesStarvs.GoalAttainmentscaling);

• Continuetoprovideanopportunityforgroupsharingwithrespecttolearnings,shelterpractices,policies,challengesandfundingconsiderations;considercreatingsimilaropportunitiesforfront-linestaff;

• Continuetohelpshelterspositionthemselvesintheircommunities,continuesupportingshelteradvocacyandaccesstocontinuedfundingtoensurewrap-aroundqualityserviceprovisionforwomeninsecond-stageshelters;

• Jointlyaddressoperationalissuesandhelpsheltersbuildinfrastructuretosupportsheltergrowth:e.g.,humanresources,hiring,training,positiondescriptions;

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• Continuetheworkofdevelopingthesecond-stageshelterstandards,includingmoreconcreteandpracticaldirectionsforprogrammingandstaffactivities;

• Providetraininganddevelopatrainingplanthatmakesconsistenttrainingavailabletosecond-stageshelterstaffoncontinuousbasis(e.g.,ethics,trauma,basicstandards,culturalcompetency);

• Implementresearchactivitiesaimedatspecificclientgroups(e.g.,bestpracticeswithAboriginalandImmigrantwomen,supportingmentalhealthchallenges,understandingmoreaboutwomenwhoreturntotheshelter);

• Worktobridgethegapwiththehomelessservingsector;lookingtodeterminehowsecond-stageshelterscanworkbetterwithinthehousingservicecontinuum.

ThevalueofthecollectiveworkisillustratedinthesequotesfromtwoShelterDirectors:“Iwouldlikethefunderstoknowthatthisprojecthasmadeasignificantdifferenceinthequalityofservicethatweareabletoprovidetofamilies,thistrickledallthewaydowntothewomenandchildren–[wenowhave]informedprogramming,ithelpedusevaluateourservices,havethelanguagetohelpusunderstandwhoweareandhowtoworkwithpeople–that’sbeenremarkable.”

“IsovalueACWSandmyco-directorswhethertheyarefromsecond-stageorelsewhere–becauseIwouldbeveryconcernedifweweredoingasecond-stageshelterfromscratchwithnoconnection.It’sbecauseofthatconnectionandgreatnetworkingthatsmallorganizationslikeoursfeelsconfidenttostepforward…andIthinkthat’snotalwaysavailabletonot-forprofitandisinvaluable.Ourmembershipduesdon’treflectthecontributiontheymake.”

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X. ReportHighlightsandNextStepsSecond-stagesheltersaresafe,longerterm(6monthsto2years),apartment-styleresidencesthatarepartofthespectrumofdomesticviolencesupportandhousingservicesthatincludesemergencyandsecond-stageshelters,outreachservices,anddomesticviolencehousingfirstservices.Second-stagesheltersprovidewrap-aroundservicescriticaltomeetingtheneedsofabusedwomenandtheirchildren.Therearetwelvesecond-stagesheltersinAlberta.Outofthetwelveshelters,fiveareinurbanareas(EdmontonandCalgary),andtheothersevenareintownsandsmallcitiesthroughouttheprovinceincludingtwoon-reserve.SevenofAlberta’ssecond-stagesheltersarerunbyshelteringorganizationsthatalsooperateemergencyshelters.32Second-stagesheltersaswellasothershelteringorganizationsthatareintheprocessofbuildingorareplanningtobuildasecond-stageshelterbegantomeetformallyinFebruaryof2013tosupportPhaseIimplementationoftheSecond-StageShelterproject.Thepurposeoftheprojectwastocollectivelydevelopstrategiesthatwillpromotecommonunderstandingofandsupportforsecond-stagesheltersinAlberta,withPhaseIdeliverablesincludingapromisingpracticereview,alogicmodel,andintroductionandimplementationofnewdatacollectiontools.PhaseII(April1,2015–February28,2017)builtontheworkinPhaseI,expandingdatacollectionandintroductionoftools,providingtrainingandsupport,implementingclientfollow-upanddevelopinganewAcuityScale.

10.1 WomenandChildreninSecond-stageSheltersEachyearsecond-stagesheltersacrossAlbertasupportoveronethousandwomenandchildrenwhoarefleeingdomesticviolenceandabuse(basedon2015/16fiscalyear).Undoubtedly,thesenumbersrepresentjustafractionofthenumberofwomenwhorequiresecond-stagesheltersupports,asdemonstratedbythewaitingliststhateachsecond-stageshelterhas,andreflectedinthenear100%occupancyrates,particularlyinsheltersinurbanlocations.TherecentinjectionofnewAlbertagovernmentfunding(December2015)isawelcomeadditionforthesesheltersastheyworktoaddressthedemandforservices.

Thedemographiccharacteristicsofwomenandchildreninthisstudyarecomparabletothewomeninsheltersacrosstheprovince.Theyare,onaverage35yearsofage,overathirdareAboriginalandanother26%areimmigrantstoCanada.Similartowomen’semergencyshelterslocatedacrossAlbertaandconsistentwithimmigrationtrends,sheltersinthesmaller,morerurallocationsaremorelikelytohouseAboriginalwomen,whilesheltersinthelargercitiesarewelcomingmoreimmigrantwomen.33However,whileinsomewayswomenaccessingsecond-stagesheltersaresimilartowomenlivinginemergencyshelters,womeninsecond-stagesheltersareatahigherriskforfemicidethanthewomeninemergencyshelters34.Theyarealsomorelikelytobeadmittedtotheshelterwithchildren,andthese

32Albertaalsohastwosheltersthatspecializeinservicestomeettheneedsofolderadultswhohavebeenabused.Thesealsoprovidelongertermstaysthanwhathastraditionallybeenseeninwomen’semergencysheltersandalsooffersahostofservicesandcommunitysupports.33Hoffart,I&Cairns,K.(2012).StrengthinNumbers:ATen-YearTrendAnalysisofWomen’sSheltersinAlberta.AreportpreparedfortheAlbertaCouncilofWomen’sShelters.34Cairns,K.,andHoffart,I.(2009).KeepingWomenAlive–AssessingtheDanger.AreportcompletedfortheAlbertaCouncilofWomen’sShelters.

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childrenaregettingyoungereachyear,beingonaverage6yearsofageinthemostrecentfiscalyear.Torespondtotheseneeds,second-stagesheltersprovideasafeandsecureenvironment,including24-hourstaffingaswellasindividualized,intensiveandlong-termcasemanagementandwrap-aroundservicesforbothmothersandtheirchildren.Poverty

Povertyisasignificantissueforwomeninsecond-stageshelters.Abouttwo-thirdsofthewomenaccessingtheshelterswerehomeless(theylivedinawoman’semergencyshelterpriortotheirsecond-stageshelteradmission),andmostofthemdescribedtheirfinancialsituationasaconcernatthetimeofintake(84%).Theyneededthetimeandsupportsprovidedbythesecond-stagesheltersinordersecurestableemployment,upgradetheireducationandfindaffordablechildcareandhousing.Manyofthesewomenrelyonsocialassistanceinordertosupportthemselves(69%)andtheirsocialassistanceentitlementsoftendonotmatchthecostofhousingandotherlivingexpenses.Alberta,inparticular,hasthelowestsocialassistanceratesinCanadaforasingleparentwithchildrenandthoseratesarenotsufficienttocovertheaveragerentalprices.35Increaseinsocialassistanceratesisneededtosupportwomen’stransitionintothecommunity,aconsiderationforfutureadvocacyeffortsbyACWSandmembers.HealthandAddictionsAlmosttwo-thirdsofthewomeninthisstudyhadeithermentalorphysicalhealthconcernsoraddictionsoracombinationofthoseconcerns.Overhalfwereexperiencingmentalhealthconcerns,about40%wereexperiencingphysicalhealthissuesandoverathirdwerestrugglingwithaddiction–manyoftheseissueslikelyaresultoftheabusetheyexperienced.Theirchildrenaresimilarlyimpacted–aboutathirdofthechildren(27%)werealsoreportedorobservedtohaveadisability,amentalhealthoraphysicalhealthconcern.Thisdataconfirmsreportsinliteraturethatasignificantnumberofdomesticviolencesurvivorsfaceserioustrauma-relatedmentalandphysicalhealthissuesincludingdepression,anxiety,suicidalideationandstress.Literaturesuggeststhatifthesewomenarenotgivensupportstoaddresstheirtraumasymptoms,thelikelihoodoftheirachievingresidentialstabilitymaybeseriouslycompromised.36Inlightofthis,manysecond-stagesheltersareworkingtointegratetrauma-informedapproachintheirservicedelivery,forbothwomenandtheirchildren.

35EdmontonSocialPlanningCouncil(2015).AProfileofPovertyinEdmonton.AreportforEndPovertyEdmonton,theMayor’sTaskForcetoEliminatePoverty.http://www.iaaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PovertyProfileJanuary2015.pdfForexample,inthe1981/1982onewomenwithonechildreceived$370permonth–theamountwhichonlyincreasedslightlyin2014to$546.36Hayes,M.,Zonneville,M,Bassuk,E.(2013)TheShiftStudy:FinalReport.ServiceandHousingInterventionforFamiliesinTransition.AmericanInstitutesforResearch,TheNationalCentreonFamilyHomelessness.

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TheExperienceofAbuseWomenandchildreninsecond-stagesheltersareoftenfleeinghorrificabuseatthehandsoftheir(almostalwaysmale)partners,havingexperiencedmanydifferenttypesofabuserangingfromemotionaltophysical,thelatterresultinginsignificantphysicalinjuriesforatleast22%ofthewomen.Atthetimeoftheiradmissiontosecond-stageshelter,over70%ofthewomenwereinextremeorseveredangerofbeingkilledbytheirpartners.Itisnotsafeformanyofthesewomentoliveunprotectedinthecommunity.Womencometosecond-stagesheltersinvariousstagesofreadinesstomoveforwardinaddressingtheabusetheyhaveexperienced.Comprehensiveassessmentoftheirsituation,needsandreadiness,followedbyindividualizedandflexibleservicesandsupportsarerequiredtosupporteffectivetransitions.Inparticular,and,again,supportingtheneedfortrauma-informedcare,isthefactthatmanywomenareincontemplationorpreparationstageswhenitcomestomanagingtheirfeelingsandmentaldistress.Theexposuretoabusealsocauseswomentoexperienceasignificantamountofstressassociatedwiththeirparentingresponsibilities.Manyofthesefamilieswouldbenefitfrommoreopportunitiesforpositiveinteractionsbetweenmotherandchild,workingtostrengthensenseofparentalcompetency,andsome,fromreferralstopediatricianorchildpsychologist.

10.2 ServicesandServiceOutcomes

Thestudydemonstratedthatsecond-stagesheltersinAlbertaprovideaspectrumofmulti-facetedservices.Likeinemergencysheltersservicesincludesafetyplanning,counseling,basicneedssupport,andadvocacy.Incontrastwiththeemergencyshelters,however,theyalsoprovidelongertermsupport(from6monthsto2years),programmingforchildren,aswellaspost-shelterfollow-up,thathelpwomen’stransitiontostabilityuponconclusionofshelterstay.Intheirinterviewswomenusuallytalkedaboutshelterasasafeplace,anddescribedashelpfulindividualcounsellingtheyreceived,groupswithotherwomenandservicesfortheirchildren,includingchildcare,therapyandparentingsupports.Theyalsoappreciatedavarietyofothersupportsthathelpedaddresstheirbasic,legal,recreation,language,spiritualandhealthneeds;aswellasprovisionofgeneralinformation,referralsandadvocacyinthecommunity.Manyoftheseservicesaredeliveredtogetherwithothercommunityservicestoensuresmoothtransitionforwomenandchildren.Staffalsoadvocateandsupportwomentoconnectwithawidearrayofservicesinthecommunity,mostoftenincludingbasicneedsandfinancialsupport,housingsupports,healthservicesandlegalsupports.

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ServiceOutcomesShelterprogrammingappearstobesuccessfuloverall:

• almost90%ofthewomenwereabletoachievesomeprogressonatleastoneofthegoalsthattheysetforthemselves;

• over80%ofwomenweresatisfiedwiththeservicestheyreceived;• about60%completedshelterprogramming;• atdischargeoverhalfwereexpectingtoliveindependentlyinstablehousingupondischarge

andatfollow-up79%werelivingontheirown(thiscomparedto67%whowerehomelessatshelteradmission);

• only6%wereplanningtoreturntotheirabusivepartners.Intheirinterviewsandwithoutexception,allofthewomenspokeofsecond-stageshelterasapositiveandextremelyimportantpartoftheirrecoveryfromabuse.Inparticular,theyspokeaboutthestaff,thefacilityandthesupportsasthekeyelementsthatcontributedtotheeffectivenessoftheirstay.Whenaskedabouthowtheirliveshavechangedaftercomingtothesecond-stageshelter,theytalkedaboutbeingsafer,feelinghealthieremotionally,havingamorepositiveoutlookonlife,becomingmoreindependent,theirchildrenimproving,and,ingeneral,feelingcalmerandlessstressed.Furtheranalysishelpedidentifyareasforfurtherwork.Womenwereleastsuccessfulinachievinggoalsrelatedtolegalissues,childwell-being,childcare,relationshipsandemployment/education(rangingfrom59%to55%ofwomenwithprogressonthosegoals).Someofthisresultisduetosystemicbarrierswomenface,particularlywhentheyaretryingtoaccesslegal,employment/education,housingandfinancialservicesandsupports.Also,sheltersuccessvariedinaccordancewithwomen’sbackgroundandtheiruseofshelterservices.Predictably,womenweremostlikelytobesuccessfulintheshelteriftheystayedlonger.Thosewomenwhostayedintheshelterforshorterperiodsoftimewerealsolesslikelytocompletetheprogram,achievetheirgoals,andlocatestablehousinguponleavingtheshelter.ThesegroupsincludedAboriginalwomen,womenwithhealthconcernsandparticularlymentalhealthandaddictionsissuesaswellaswomenwithnochildren.ThattherearechallengesinsheltersforwomenwithmentalhealthandaddictionissueswasalsoconfirmedindiscussionswiththewomenandShelterDirectors.SomeworkisalreadyunderwaywithACWSandmembersworkingcollaborativelytobuildasustainableoverarchingsheltertrainingplanfocusingonseveralkeytrainingissues(e.g.,ethicsandtrauma-informedservicedelivery,developingaStatementofPrinciplesandValuesguidingworkwithAboriginalwomen).Moreworkwillberequiredtobuildontheseinitiativesandexplorefurthertheseissuestodevelopworkableguidelinesandpoliciesforimprovingsecond-stageshelterservices.

10.3 AcuityScaleDevelopmentTheACWSSecond-stageShelterAcuityScalewasdevelopedoverseveralyearsofappliedresearchinthedomesticviolencesheltersystemandthroughthecollaborationbetweenthesheltersandtheAlbertaCouncilofWomen’sShelters(ACWS).

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Itincorporatesacuityindicatorsassociatedwithviolencerisklevels,parentingstresslevels,poverty-relatedissues,thepresenceorabsenceofaddictions,mentalhealthproblems,and/orphysicalhealthproblems,andhousing,financial,legalandsocialsupportissues.Ithasanintendedrangeofuses,including,amongothers,measuringclientcomplexityandfunctioningasachangemeasure.Thescaledevelopmentprocesswascomprisedofseveralsteps,includingaliteraturereview,consultationwithShelterDirectorsandstaff,severalrevisions,andusingtwohypotheticalcasestudiestosupportinterraterandtest-retestreliabilitywithshelterstaff.Thefinaltestsdemonstratedstronginterraterreliability(r=.986tor=.999)andtest/retestreliability(r=.831,r=.869).Severalnextstepsforscaletestingweresuggested,includingexpansionoftestingtoemergencysheltersandautomatingthescalethroughACWSSharedDatabase.

10.4 ProjectImpact

Shelterdirectorsjudgedtherecentinjectionofdollarsbytheprovincialgovernmentintosecond-stageshelterworkasoneofthemostsignificantrecentchangesintheshelteroperations,allowingthemtodelivermorecomprehensive,mindfulandformalizedservices.Theyespeciallyemphasizedhowtheincreaseinfundinghelpedsignificantlystrengthentheirserviceofferingsforchildrenandbettersupportwomen’stransitiontoindependenceaftershelterstay.TheprojectalsohelpedShelterDirectorsbetterarticulatewheresecond-stagesheltersfitinthehousingservicecontinuum,howtheyaredifferentfromwomen’semergencysheltersortransitionalhousing,thecomplexityofthewomen’sneedswhoaccesssecond-stageandthevalueofshelterwork.Manysheltershavestrengthenedthecontinuityofservicedelivery,havinginitiatedhousingprograms,andexpandedexpectationsforfollowupsupportforaslongasayearaftershelterservicecompletion.Therecontinuetobesomedifferencesinshelterexperiencesbetweenurbanandsmallerjurisdictionswiththelatterexperiencingpressuresforsupportingwomenwithhomelessnessasaprimaryissue.TherearealsodifferencesamongjurisdictionsinhowsheltersworkwiththehomelessservingsectorleadingsomeShelterDirectorstosuggestthatmoreworkisrequiredinthisarea,especiallydetermininghowsecond-stageshelterscanworkbetterwithinthehousingservicecontinuum.Thatshelterdatamanagementcapacityhassignificantlyimprovedoverthecourseoftheprojectwasreflectedincompletenessandaccuracyofdatathatwasavailableforanalysisinthisreport.ShelterDirectorsalsosupportedthisfinding,describinghowtheprojecthelpedthemexpandandfinetunetheuseoftheACWSMembershareddatabase,enhancetheunderstandingamongsttheirstaffofthevalueofinformationgatheringandingeneral,beginningtodevelopcultureofinformedservicedelivery.Theyalsospokepositivelyaboutthevalueofthetoolsthattheyhaveimplementedaspartoftheproject,andtheassociatedimprovedstandardsandconsistencyofuse.

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10.5 NextStepsAlloftheSecond-stageShelterCommitteemembersdescribedtheprojectasvaluableandthegroupmeetingsas“extremelyhelpful”.Theywereunanimousaboutthevalueofcontinuingtomeetasagroup.Theyprovidedseveralsuggestionsforthecontentanddirectionofthesefuturemeetings,includingcontinueddataanalysisanduseofdatatoinformshelterservices,continuedadvocacytohelppositionsecond-stagesheltersintheircommunities,continuingtodevelopsecond-stageshelterstandards,andimplementingresearchactivitiesaimedatimprovingshelterservicesforspecificclientgroups(e.g.,Aboriginalwomenandwomenwithmentalhealthissues).Theirfeedbacktogetherwiththedatagatheredinthisreportprovidessomedirectionsforfurtherstudy,discussionandanalysis,assummarizedbelowacrosskeyareasofwork:DevelopingDataCollectionTools

• Thestudyhadidentifiedseveralmeasuresofsuccess,includingalifefreeofviolence,stabilityatdischargeandfollow-up,progressandachievementofgoalsthatwomensetforthemselves,women’ssatisfactionwithshelterservicesaswellasprogramcompletionatdischarge.Thelattermeasureisnotyetclearlydefined,anditsdefinitionmaydifferacrosssheltersandamongindividualwomen.Morediscussionisrequiredaboutprogramcompletionasameasureofsuccessandaboutotherwaysofunderstandingshelterimpactandhowtheycanbestbemeasured.

• TheparticipatingACWSmemberorganizationsimplementedavarietyoftools,includingtheDA/WTPTDA,DVSA,PSI,IES,GoalAttainmentScalingandClientFeedbackSurvey.Althoughmostoftheparticipantssawvalueinallofthesetools,therecontinuetobesomechallengesand/orquestionswithrespecttoacross-the-boardimplementation.ACWSandthememberscouldcollectivelyreviewthesetoolsandjointlyaddressanyissuesorchallengesassociatedwiththeiruse.

• Thisstudyprovidedanopportunityforaggregatingsecond-stageshelteroccupancydatausingthenewformuladevelopedbyACWSmembers.Theanalysisshowedthatoccupancynumbersmaybemisleading,particularlywhenaggregatedwithinformationfromsmallershelter.ACWSandmembersmaycontinuetheirconversationaboutthevalueoftrackingoccupancyrateandthemeaningthatithas,particularlyforsheltersinruralorsmallercenters.

• AcuityScaledevelopmentprocesshadproducedsomestrongresults,supportingfutureuseofthisscalebysecond-stageshelters.Beforewholesaleimplementation,however,itisrecommendedthatthescalebefurthertestedwithemergencyshelters,analyzedforconstructvalidityandintegratedintotheACWS/Membershareddatabase.

• ThisstudyrepresentsthefirsttimethatDangerAssessmentinformationwasavailableforwomeninsecond-stagesheltersinbothurbanandsmallerjurisdictions,andthatusedthenewWTPTDAtool.Areviewand/orrepeatofaDangerAnalysisstudymaybeofbenefittobetterunderstandanycurrenttrendswithrespecttoriskoffemicideforwomenacrosstheprovince.37

37Cairns,K.,andHoffart,I.(2009).KeepingWomenAlive–AssessingtheDanger.ReportpreparedfortheAlbertaCouncilofWomen’sShelters.

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BestPracticeResearch

• AsmoreandmoreACWSmembersintroducetheconceptoftrauma-informedcareintheiragencies,itmaybehelpfultostudyimplementationofthoseservicestodeterminewhatadditiveimpactstheyhaveonwomenandchildreninsecond-stageshelters.

• Someofthestudyresultsspeaktothepositiveexperienceofimmigrantwomeninsecond-stageshelters,notnecessarilyreflectingthefullcomplexityoftheirneeds.Furtheranalysisandfocusonimmigrantwomen,thebarrierstheyfaceandhowthosebarrierscouldbeaddressedmaybeofbenefit.

• Thereisasubstantialproportionofwomenwhosereasonforleavingtheshelterisunknown(18%)orwhoselivingarrangementsatshelterdischargeareunknown(31%).ACWSandthesheltercollectivecouldworktodevelopprocessestobetterengagewiththesewomen,sothattheirsituationcouldbebetterunderstoodandsupported.

• Almosttwo-thirdsofthewomeninthisstudyself-reportedorwereobservedtohavephysicalhealth,mentalhealthoraddictionconcerns.Thesewomenalsoleavesheltersearlierandarelesslikelytocompletetheprogramorobtainstablehousing.Moreworkneedstobedoneinsecond-stageshelterstodeterminehowtobestaddresstheirneeds.

• Aboriginalwomenaremorevulnerabletoabuse–bothintermsoffrequencyandseverityoftheabuse.Aboriginalwomenarealsolesslikelytobenefitfromsecond-stageshelterservicesthantheothergroupsofwomen.Whentheyleavethesheltertheyalsofacemultipleaccessbarriersresultingfromdiscriminationandlackofculturalcompetence.SomeworkbyACWSandmembersisalreadyunderway(e.g.,aStatementofPrinciplesandValuesguidingworkwithAboriginalwomen)andmoreworkwillberequiredtodevelopworkableguidelinesandpoliciesforimprovingsecond-stageshelterservicesforAboriginalwomen.

DirectionsforAdvocacy

• Povertyisasignificantissueformostwomenandchildreninsecond-stageshelter:regardlessoftheirincomepriortoleaving,manywomenleavingviolentrelationshipshavelimitedfinancesavailabletothem.Theyhavetorelyonincomeassistancethatisofteninsufficienttoaccessstablehousingandaddressbasicneeds.Continuedadvocacywithrelatedsystemsisnecessarytoaddressthisveryseriousissueforwomenandchildreninsecond-stageshelters.

• Accesstolegalservicesandsupportscontinuestoemergeasoneofthemostsignificantbarriersforwomeninsecond-stageshelters.Issuesoftenincludeproblematicserviceaccess,narroweligibilityrequirementsandhighservicecost.Workingwithsystemstofacilitatebetteraccesstolegalservicesforwomenandchildreninsecond-stagesheltersrepresentsanotherimportantareaforadvocacybyACWSanditsmembers.

• Asnotedinthereport,someShelterDirectorsthoughtthattheroleofthesecond-stagesheltersisnotyetfullyunderstoodinthecommunityandthatmoreworkisrequiredinthisareaaswellasto‘bridgethegap’withthehomelessservingsectoranddeterminehowsecond-stageshelterscanworkbetterwithinthehousingservicecontinuum.