Violence prevention initiative holds first meeting

Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, recently met with committee representatives of the newly formed Provincial Coordinating Committee of the provinces�s Violence Prevention Initiative during their two days of meetings in St. John�s, September 21-22.

During the meetings, the committee reviewed the current situation regarding violence in the province and laid the groundwork for an action plan for the next five years. The committee recognized the importance of intervention in the early stages of education, the growing concerns around youth violence, the over-all pervasiveness of violence in every facet of our society. They also discussed a number of other issues such as: the challenges of meeting the needs of rural communities, access to services for victims, and changes in justice legislation.

After the meetings, Minister Bettney said: "The Violence Prevention Initiative is one of our government�s most important social initiatives. It is aimed at seeking long-term solutions to an issue which is of concern to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. An integral part of the initiative is the community-government partnership which has been formed. The Provincial Coordinating Committee brings community and government representatives together to provide leadership and advice to government on the direction of violence prevention.

"It is very encouraging to witness the level of commitment of the community groups and the time and effort they have invested in taking part in this first meeting of the Provincial Coordinating Committee."

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Women�s Policy Office (709) 729-3570.

The Violence Prevention Initiative was originally announced by Premier Tobin and Minister Bettney in March of 2000. It is a five year initiative which builds upon the Provincial Strategy Against Violence. $2.25 million was allocated to the initiative with a high proportion ear-marked for community-based initiatives.

Six regional coordinating committees will receive funding to assist with the coordination of violence prevention activities in the regions. Some of these committees have been operating primarily on a volunteer basis for a number of years. Funding through the initiative will allow them to build upon their previous work and extend their outreach into the many communities in their regions. The funding to the groups will be phased in over the first two years with the central, western and eastern Avalon regions receiving the majority of funding in year one.

A representative from each regional committee has a seat on the Provincial Coordinating Committee. They are joined by representatives from government representatives from the departments of Human Resources and Employment, Justice, Health and Community Services, Education, the Strategic Social Planning Unit and the Women� Policy Office, which is responsible for coordinating the initiative.

Regional Coordinating Committees Contacts:

Regional Coordinating Coalition Against Violence (Eastern Avalon Region, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Joyce Aylward, (St. John�s) Co-Chair (709) 753-7273
Helen Murphy, (St. John�s) Co-Rep. on Provincial Coordinating Committee (709) 739-6759

Eastern Regional Coordinating Committee Against Violence
Connie Fredette, (Marystown) Provincial Coordinating Committee Member (709) 279-1167
Tammy Tucker, (Placentia) Chair, Eastern Regional Coordinating Committee (709) 227-5501

Committee Against Violence- Central Region
Darlene Rideout, (Grand Falls-Windsor) Co-Chair (709) 489-8181

Western Regional Coalition To End Violence
Kathleen Jason, (Corner Brook) Contact (709) 634-4199

St. Anthony and Area Anti-Violence Committee
Judy Ward, (St. Anthony) Co-Chair (709) 454-0371

Labradorians for Peaceful Communities
Shirley Barr, (Happy Valley-Goose Bay) Co-Chair (709) 896-3484

2000 09 29 9:30 p.m.