FOR THOSE WHO COULDN’T

MAKE IT…And those who liked it so much they

want to see it all over again!

A summary of the presentation by

Angela Johnston to community partners.

Briefing #1, June 5, 2014 @NSCC

AGENDA

ANGELA M. JOHNSTON SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROJECT COORDINATOR

Back in September, 2013… A proposal was created for an Annapolis Valley Community Model of Response to Sexual Violence. 20 organizations came together to create and support this proposal for funding.

The Red Door and Chrysalis House became the co lead organizations and The Red Door is hosting the financial administration.

The 20 organizations designated a management committee… and that management committee hired me, Angela Johnston, to coordinate this 2 year project.

A BIT OF MY HISTORY…

I’ll try to keep this brief and stick to the events that have contributed to me being in this new position…

This video link does not work… (but it would have been pretty cool if it did).

The quick ‘history of me’ is that many years ago, my parents moved away from Pictou County and had my older sister in Moncton. I was born in Saskatoon, my younger sister was born in Inverness, Qc…

I went to elementary school in Edmonton, high school in Brampton, ON and then I moved to Wolfville to attend Acadia University (BA Eng., Kin)

THEN I WENT NORTH…Living in a remote First Nations community/reserve was an eye-opening experience. Although I was committed to returning to the Valley, I didn’t want to be another person to ‘come and go’ without giving something back to the community… There is an 18 min. video that describes the charitable organization and summer program that I ran from 2003-2008.

SETTLING DOWN…

And also, I got married to a local farmer (poultry & grain crops) and had a few kids (ages 5,7,9)

MAKING A LIVING IN THE VALLEY…

These are some things that I have created and/or coordinated

ENOUGH ABOUT ME… LET’S GET ON WITH THE AGENDA

PROJECT STRUCTURE (SORRY FOR ALL THE WORDS ON THIS SLIDE) When I have all of the proper links/pages/documents

gathered I will put this information together more accurately…

Short story: Rehteah Parsons case receives international attention. Increased media coverage of sexual assault leads to extraordinary

number of requests for support from across Nova Scotia. Provincial government recognizes that not enough support is in

place. Proposals requested for community-led ‘collaborative models’ for

responding to sexual violence. NDP lose office Liberals step in Projects are committed ($55 000/year x 2 years) Liberals add a 3 year Action Strategy with a $2 million/year budget

(a platform item). 6 regional projects and 1 provincial project running simultaneously. My apologies for oversimplifying and for any errors that may have

occurred in this short summary.

NEXT ITEM… THE WORK PLAN!

That’s hard to look at from this distance… I will email this pdf for you to look at more closely. When our website is ready, I will be able to post it there so that it will be easy to reference. At some point I will also add a sound file so that I can explain the details of the plan.

www.valleysvp.ca

WORK PLAN SUMMARY We are working towards having a clear

understanding of what programs and services are available in Annapolis and Kings County for responding to sexual violence.

We are documenting projects and initiatives that build community capacity to respond to SV and also documenting what is happening in our community.

We are investigating a SART (sexual assault response team) model for both counties.

We are supporting the community’s movement toward increasing our capacity to respond to sexual violence.

AND NOW IT IS TIME TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST/ROLE IN THIS PROJECT?

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend on short notice… and my apologies that it wasn’t easier to find the room we had at NSCC.

SO AFTER ALL THAT… WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND FOR THIS PROJECT? I asked everyone in the room to

describe the organization being represented, and initial thoughts about the work plan in relation to their organization.

Everyone stated a few things about what each organization is looking for, or has to offer, and what perspective or ‘lens’ should be considered/reflected in the work plan and our outcomes.

BRIEF NOTES FROM DISCUSSIONL’ARCHEInterested in serving victims, sees a need for advocacy and training for parents

AVFNLooking for be informed in order to refer/direct people to services.

AVH Addiction ServicesInterested in enhancing services for women, providing clinical therapy, improving consumer choice and safety while accessing services, supporting health promotion at community level.

BRIEF NOTES FROM DISCUSSION CONT’D…SOARProvides peer counselling services. Distributes information and education. Would like to see more resources.

STATUS OF WOMENHas experience with sustainability.

NSCCThe NSCC seeks to support students, faculty and staff. Provide services for those groups and promote increased accessibility.

NOTES CONT’D….AVDHASupports health promotion with schools. Crisis response services are currently available. Provides a clinical response and provides health promotion. Contributes to coordination and collaboration.

Kentville PolicePolice response services are reactive. Has duty to investigate with family services when an incident is suspected. Refers consumers to Victim Services. Is interested in knowing more about current services and practises.

ONE MORE NOTE…Youth ProjectProvide some programming for Queer and Trans Youth. LGBT support.

THE RESOURCE GUIDE THAT IS BEING COMPILED…

This is a draft cover of the resource guide that I/we will be using to sort projects, trainings and initiatives that contribute to improving community readiness to respond to sexual violence.

(It’s not ready enough to have a good look at it)

This is where we can highlight what is happening in our community, and what people in other communities are doing to achieve ‘improved community capacity’.

SVP RESOURCE GUIDEThe Guide will be a place to sort different activities, initiatives or campaigns that can be utilized depending on the level of readiness of the target group or organization. (activities will vary in cost and complexity or commitment)

The Guide can provide a basic description of these levels of readiness, with a link to resources for evaluating and identifying the readiness of the target community/niche.

As we move toward the second year, I expect to be spending considerable time supporting the implementation of appropriate initiatives.

CROSS REFERENCED

The activities/initiatives will also be sorted using a socioecological model. Our goal will be to have initiatives occurring in all of these areas.

WHAT’S LEFT?

GOING FORWARD I am still doing a lot of the administrative-

readiness work such as developing my data collection system and selecting software… and building the websitewww.valleysvp.ca

I think that it is useful to start letting people know that a website is coming, and that some clear options will be available to consider through that tool.

Once the website is complete, I will begin sharing project progress online and groups/individuals who want to be involved, can contribute and provide feedback.

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT… Once the project foundation is in place

(website operating with guidelines, policies, purposes outlined and documented) we will begin compiling our local resources and looking for creative ways to share and broaden our individual and organizational knowledge and skills and begin bridging the gaps in SV response services in Annapolis and Kings County.

THE END

I am looking forward to working with you as the next two years unfold. I have a lot of optimism that we are going to see some amazing things come to fruition.

I am very pleased for this opportunity to support and coordinate this community initiative. Thank you.

Angela