NLIS 5
February 21, 2002
(Human Resources and Employment)
Government responds to
recommendations of
Working Group for Supports to Victims of Violence
Gerald Smith, Minister of Human Resources and
Employment, and Sandra Kelly, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women,
today responded to recommendations on how government�s income support
program can more effectively meet the needs of persons who are victims of
violence.
The recommendations were presented by the
Working Group for Supports to Victims of Violence in a report entitled Moving
Forward: Responding to the Needs of Victims of Violence; Social Policy
Development through Collaboration and Partnerships. The Working
Group was set up by the Department of Human Resources and Employment to
review the department�s current income support program and its
responsiveness to victims of violence. The Working Group included a diverse
representation of community advocacy and support groups, including
representatives from transition houses across the province, the Provincial
Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the Women's Policy Office. In
addition to Human Resources and Employment, the working group also included
representatives from other government departments, including Health and
Community Services and Justice.
"Since 1998 the Department of Human
Resources and Employment has been redesigning its income support program to
better meet the needs and concerns of clients," said Minister Smith.
"The Victims of Violence working group has presented a productive and
informative report which assesses our income support program and how we can
better meet the needs of persons who are victims of violence. For many
victims, securing access to appropriate financial support is critical to
ensuring their immediate safety. My department is very happy to accept this
report and to work together with other departments and community agencies to
ensure the recommendations are acted upon."
Recommendations made by the Working Group for
Supports for Victims of Violence include improving the timely response of
the income support program to persons applying for social assistance for
reasons related to being a victim of violence, improved response to requests
for transportation to a shelter, other emergency accommodations, support
groups, or for the purpose of moving household furniture. Clarification of
policies related to the receipt of social assistance while temporarily
residing in a shelter, provision of funding to assist in setting up a new
household after leaving a violent situation, staff training and improving
the referral procedures to Health and Community Services were also some of
the recommendations.
"This consultation process was a very
positive one," said Kathleen Jason, a member of the Working Group and
Administrator at the Transition House in Corner Brook. "We were able to
look at policy and procedure from both an administration and front-line
perspective, which helped us form recommendations that reflect current
government and community resources but also improve the quality of support
for a victim of violence."
"This latest initiative is a great
indicator of how we can better meet the needs of Victims of Violence in our
province through important partnerships and collaborations," said
Minister Kelly. "Thanks to the valuable insight of the Working Group,
individuals who find themselves in an abusive situation will now have easier
access to services that actively respond to their unique needs in a timely
manner. This is in keeping with the Violence Prevention Initiative of the
Provincial Government, begun in 2000."
The presentation of the report and government�s
response to the recommendations is the latest initiative under the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador�s Violence Prevention Initiative.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through its commitment to the
Violence Prevention Initiative, is consistently working to ensure victims of
violence have access to effective services, that legislation does not impose
additional burdens upon those affected by violence and that violence in the
province is reduced and prevented.
"I would like to thank all participants
for lending their time and expertise," said Minister Smith. "The
Working Group�s recommendations will be taken very seriously by
government. We look forward to future collaborations and partnerships to
better serve those in our province who may need assistance in leaving a
violent situation."
Media contact: Paul Power, Communications,
(709) 729-4062.
BACKGROUNDERS:
The Working Group for Supports
to Victims of Violence
- The Department of Human Resources and
Employment established the Working Group for Supports to Victims of
Violence to ensure the department understands the issues and concerns of
victims of violence. This initiative is part of the overall redesign of
the department�s income support program to better meet the needs of
clients and make services more accessible.
- Members of the Working Group included
representatives from various community organizations, including the
Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Provincial
Association Against Family Violence and Shelters and Transition Houses,
along with representatives from the Women�s Policy Office and the
Departments of Human Resources and Employment, Health and Community
Services, and Justice.
- This Working Group has identified 16
issues, along with proposed solutions to improve income support services
to victims of violence. The working group, in the identification of
issues and solutions, sought input from various stakeholders, including
the Provincial Association Against Family Violence and the Provincial
Advisory Council on the Status of Women, along with various Women�s
Centres and Transition Houses.
- The values that guided the Working Group
included respect for the dignity of all persons, the right to live
with risk, respect for individual choice, responsive and holistic
service that is pro-active in the prevention of abuse and violence, and
that interventions are non-judgemental and validating.
- The Working Group presented their
recommendations to Gerald Smith, Minister of Human
Resources and Employment, in late January. The department then
responded to each of the 16 recommendations and the end result has been
presented to the public in a report entitled, Moving Forward:
Responding to the Needs of Victims of Violence; Social Policy
Development through Collaboration and Partnerships.
- This is the latest initiative in
government�s ongoing commitment to address violence in Newfoundland
and Labrador as outlined in government�s Violence Prevention
Initiative (VPI). Introduced in 2000, the VPI outlined a five-year,
multi-departmental, government-community partnership to find long-term
solutions to the problem of violence against those most at risk.
- The Violence Prevention Initiative and in
particular the Supports to Victims of Violence Working Group are great
examples of the type of productive cross-sectoral collaboration
articulated in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador�s Strategic
Social Plan.
- February is Violence Prevention Month in
Canada. The department is pleased to take these step to improve its
service commitment to victims of violence during this very special
month, aimed at improving society�s awareness of these issues.
Supports to Victims of
Violence Working Group
Name |
Position |
Agency |
Kathleen Jason |
Administrator |
Transition House, Corner Brook |
Renee Byrne |
Victims Service Coordinator |
Department of Justice |
Mona Wall |
Coordinator of Violence Prevention
Initiative |
Women�s Policy |
Darlene Rideout |
Social Worker, Family and
Rehabilitative Services |
Health and Community Services, Central
Region |
Debbie Keats |
Administrator |
Iris Kirby House |
Allan Corbett |
Manager, Adult Programs |
Department of Health & Community
Services |
Marilyn Adams |
District Manager |
Human Resources & Employment,
Mount Pearl, Bell Island and Ferryland |
Roxie Wheaton |
Regional Manager |
Human Resources & Employment,
Avalon Region |
Suzanne Anderson |
Administrator |
Nain Shelter |
Joyce Hancock |
President |
Provincial Advisory Council on the
Status of Women |
Doris Hancock |
Manager, Planning and Quality |
Health and Community Services,
St. John�s Region |
Patti MacPherson |
Support Application Social Worker |
Human Resources & Employment,
Gander
formerly Coordinator, Provincial
Association Against Family Violence |
Working Group for Supports to
Victims of Violence Recommendations and
Response from the Department of Human Resources and Employment
Issue |
Proposed Solution |
Human Resources and
Employment
Response |
Household Furniture |
|
1.Victims
of violence who must leave their homes are basically homeless and as
such require additional support to start over. |
Introduce a start-up fund which is
intended as a more responsive approach to victims of violence. |
Accepted in principle.
Committed to a pilot approach to be
initiated for the purpose of collecting additional data that will help
confirm the cost analysis. |
Transportation To Support/Empowerment
Groups |
|
2.
Inconsistent application of policy concerning transportation to
support/empowerment groups. |
Revise current policy to clearly to
state that transportation to support/empowerment groups is supported
by the Department. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Transportation Outside Of The Province |
|
3.
Inconsistent application of policy concerning transportation outside
of the province. |
Revise current policy to clearly state
that transportation outside of the province is supported by the
Department. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Transportation To Move Household
Furniture |
|
4. Inconsistent
application of policy concerning transportation to assist with moving
household furniture. |
Revise current policy to clearly state
that transportation to assist victims of violence move household
furniture is supported by the Department. |
Accepted as recommended. |
5.
Inconsistent application of policy recognizing transportation cost to
and from a shelter or a safe location to work as a legitimate
employment expenses.
|
Revise current policy to clearly state
that transportation expenses to and from work for victims who must
leave their home town for a temporary period to stay in a shelter
etc... is a legitimate expense when calculating eligibility for a
supplement for transportation. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Determining eligibility for Income
Support |
|
|
6(1&4).
It is not always possible for victims of violence to provide
documentation of birth and Social Insurance Number within the required
60 days. |
With Supervisory approval extend the
required time to 90 days. Clearly state in policy the role of HRE
staff in assisting victims of violence to acquire documentation. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Issue |
Proposed Solution |
Human Resources and
Employment
Response |
6(2&3).
The nature of violent relationships is that the abuser often has
control of all assets. It may be difficult for victims of violence to
provide the necessary documentation without placing themselves in
danger. |
Clearly state in policy that, for
safety reasons, it may be necessary for the department to wait a
temporary period before requiring the client to acquire the necessary
documentation or access available assets. |
Accepted as recommended |
7.
Income Support applicants are often required to access all available
assets including child support, which may be arranged through a
Support Application Social Worker. Client Services Officers do not
always explain to the client that a referral to a Support Application
Social Worker does not mean that they will be forced to pursue child
support. |
Clearly state in policy that a victim
of violence does not have to pursue child support if contact with the
spouse could endanger the client or lead to increased stress.
Client Services Officer should also be
made aware of this exception. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Rent For Single Clients |
|
8.
Current policy states single individuals are only eligible for
coverage in board and lodging accommodations rather than rental
properties, the only exception being rental accommodations for medical
reasons. |
Re-write existing policy so that Client
Services Officers must work with the client to determine the most
appropriate accommodations option, whether that be board and lodging
or rental accommodations. Clearly indicate that it is not necessary
for the client to get a letter from a doctor to qualify for rent or
the higher rental rate. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Exit Planning |
|
9.
Current policy does not identify the role of Client Services Officer
in assisting victims of violence in establishing a exit plan |
That the policy clearly outline the
role of Client Services Officers in responding to victims of violence
in establishing an exit plan. |
Accepted as recommended.
|
Issue |
Proposed Solution |
Human Resources and
Employment
Response |
10.
A temporary stay in a shelter can cause a significant disruption in
the ability of women who are in receipt of Income Support to manage
their financial affairs as benefits are suspended in lieu of a
personal allowance.
Non-income Support clients who have no
resources at the time they enter the shelter have to wait up to 30
days before they can qualify for a personal allowance. |
Women who are in receipt of Income
Support at the time they enter the shelter will continue to receive
their benefits.
For women not in receipt of Income
Support, that the Department of HCS enter into an arrangement with
individual Transition Houses to provide the personal allowance. |
Accepted as recommended
Accepted by Health and Community
Service |
11a. Victims
of violence who call a shelter must either wait while the shelter
calls the on-call worker to seek approval for transportation or the
victim must call for approval. |
That the department enter into a
service agreement with Transition Houses throughout the province to
provide them with the authority to approve transportation . |
Accepted as recommended. |
11b.
Currently, there are inconsistencies in the interpretation of policy
regarding whether emergency transportation can be provided to victims
who are non-clients. |
Clearly state in policy that victims of
violence who request transportation to safety be eligible for
transportation regardless whether or not they are in receipt of Income
Support. |
Accepted as recommended. |
11c.
District transportation policies in most instances do not allow for
approval for transportation within the same community. |
Clearly state in policy that safety
must be the first priority; therefore, transportation should be
approved regardless of the distance involved. |
Accepted as recommended. |
11d.
In certain circumstances it may be necessary to relocate a victim of
violence from one shelter to another. |
Clearly state in policy that for safety
purposes it may be necessary to move an individual or family from one
shelter within the province to another. |
Accepted as recommended. |
12a. Occasionally
Transition Houses are full to capacity. In such situations current
policy is unclear as what should be the appropriate response. |
That the department enter into a
service arrangement with Transition Houses that in the event the
shelter is full to capacity, after hours the shelter has the authority
to approve alternate accommodations. |
Accepted as recommended. |
12b. In
some situations victims of violence may live in an area of the
province where there is no shelter and the victim is reluctant to
leave the area to travel a long distance especially in the middle of
the night or due to adverse weather conditions. |
The Department in conjunction with
Transition Houses work out an arrangement with local hotels and motels
whereby staff of the shelter can approve emergency accommodations and
meals at partnering hotels and motels. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Issue |
Proposed Solution |
Human Resources and
Employment
Response |
13.The
staff of HRE have identified a number of training issues with respect
to supporting victims of violence. |
Provide all staff, including
management, with Awareness training.
Provide managers with training on the
proposed policy changes and issues presented in this report. |
The Department is currently in process
of arranging training for all staff, including managers.
Training is being planned concerning
the policy changes and issues presented in this report. |
14.
Victims of violence, like other client groups who apply for or are in
receipt of Income Support, do not know what their rights are or what
services/benefits are available. |
Develop plain language, gender
inclusive brochures that describe what programs and services are
available. Develop a plain language policy manual that is available to
the public. |
The Department already has plans to
develop brochures and a new policy manual in 2002-2003. |
15.
Related services and collaboration of HRE and Health and Community
Services need to be strengthened so both departments can work together
to provide full service to victims of violence based on their economic
and social needs.
HRE�s current delivery model does not
support the needs of victims of violence who require support beyond
Income Support. |
HRE, in conjunction with HCS, develop
an integrated service agreement that defines specific and mutual
responsibilities for both partners as it relates to victims of
violence. That such an agreement include input from community
partners.
That the department examine its current
service delivery model to ensure its responsiveness to victims of
violence. |
Accepted as recommended
|
Accountability |
|
16a. A
cultural shift is required within HRE as it relates to supports to
victims of violence. The kinds of issues presented in this report will
require on-going monitoring to ensure the solutions are understood and
implemented. |
Front-line managers, Regional Managers,
and Executive must play a key role in the on-going monitoring of
services to victims of violence. |
Accepted as recommended. |
16b. The
Department of HRE and Transition Houses share a common responsibility
in supporting the needs of victims of violence. Many of the solutions
presented in this report will require that both partners work more
closely together to monitor the on-going effectiveness, challenges and
costs associated with these changes. |
Transition Houses and the Department
meet on a regular basis to review the outcomes of the proposed
solutions.
That both partners work to establish an
on-going relationship dedicated to on-going monitoring and development
of government and community services for victims of violence. |
Accepted as recommended. |
Report
of the Victims of Violence Working Group
2002 02
21
2:15 p.m.
|