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.


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