Browsing by Author "Esina, Elena"

Now showing 1 - 14 of 14
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    Building a Case for Using “Coercive Control” in Alberta: Discussion Paper
    (2020-09) Lee, Lianne; Wells, Lana; Gray, Shawna M.; Esina, Elena
    As part of Shift’s collaboration with IMPACT (a provincial collective impact initiative to eradicate domestic and sexual violence in Alberta), a series of papers and trainings modules are being developed to help build an evidence-informed primary prevention framework in Alberta. This particular report was focused on helping members of IMPACT better understand the coercive control model and examine the potential of adopting the model to inform the development of Alberta’s primary prevention framework. A presentation of the findings was also developed and shared with IMPACT members. Findings from this review suggest that the coercive control model has many strengths; however, adoption of the model in Alberta will require additional research to address its limitations and understand the usefulness of the model in advancing primary prevention.
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    Canadian Scan on Domestic Violence Prevention Policies at the Municipal Level
    (2018-10-09) Wells, Lana; Esina, Elena
    The purpose of this project is to conduct a preliminary national scan of municipal websites to identify council adopted policies, plans, frameworks, strategies or initiatives that focus on preventing domestic violence and/or sexual violence (referred to as “policies” in this report).
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    A Case and Recommendations for Building Punjabi Community Health Services in Calgary, Alberta
    (2014-06) Abboud, Rida; Wells, Lana; Esina, Elena
    A small steering committee of individuals (see Appendix 1) in Calgary is interested in exploring the feasibility of a community-service organization that would target South Asian communities. Coupled with interest from the Minister of Human Services, the Honorable Manmeet Bhullar, this group is interested in understanding the best practices of the Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) organization based in Toronto, Ontario, which delivers a comprehensive service delivery model. This model, developed by PCHS-Toronto, implements culturally appropriate interventions in the South Asian communities in the areas of addictions, mental health, aging, health promotion, domestic violence, and parenting (Punjabi Community Health Services, 2010). PCHS started in 1990 by delivering one service – a support service for men with addiction problems – and continued to build its service model by including research and community-level assessments.Today, the organization delivers 24 programs, to various South Asian communities, including public events, educational workshops, and cultural competency training. Shift is interested in supporting community organizations in their pursuit to prevent domestic violence in their communities. This report will support the Calgary committee to understand the essential components of PCHS-Toronto that are required to build a similar organization in Calgary. The model proposed in this report draws on PCHS-Toronto, but does not attempt to replicate it in its entirety because any organization in Calgary needs to be sensitive to, and borne of, the Calgary context.
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    The connection between professional sporting events, holidays and domestic violence in Calgary, Alberta
    (The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, 2017-06) Boutilier, Sophia; Jadidzadeh, Ali; Esina, Elena; Wells, Lana; Kneebone, Ron
    There are some days in Calgary, Alberta when domestic violence is more likely to happen than other days. There is a statistically significant connection between higher rates of domestic violence and certain Calgary Stampeders’ football games as well as the arrival of the Calgary Stampede. During the 10-day-long Calgary Stampede, domestic violence calls on the seventh, ninth and tenth day of Stampede, were up 15 per cent compared to an average day. Weekends and summer months were also generally associated with the highest rates of domestic violence reports in Calgary. When it came to Calgary Stampeders’ football games, calls were higher only when the Stampeders faced off against the rival Edmonton Eskimos – with a 15 per cent increase in domestic violence reports. Grey Cup games in which Calgary played were associated with a 40 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence. However, games played by the Calgary Flames seemed to have no relationship to domestic violence calls, even those against the rival Edmonton team. Also, New Year’s Day appears to be associated with a significant spike in domestic violence, going by a four-year count of phone calls reporting domestic violence to both police and a local help line for those experiencing domestic and sexual abuse. There are also increases in calls associated with Good Friday, Easter, Canada Day, Labour Day, Valentine’s Day and Halloween. Meanwhile, the 2013 catastrophic floods in Calgary resulted in an increase in reports of domestic violence to police and the Connect help line, averaging an additional 6.6 reported incidents of domestic violence per day during the flood, 14 per cent higher than average.
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    Engaging Men and Boys in Domestic Violence Prevention: Opportunities and Promising Approaches
    (2013-02) Wells, Lana; Lorenzetti, Liza; Carolo, Humberto; Dinner, Tuval; Jones, Clay; Minerson, Todd; Esina, Elena
    This report outlines seven ‘entry points’ for engaging men and boys in domestic violence prevention: 1. Engaging fathers in domestic violence prevention; 2. Men’s health and domestic violence prevention; 3. The role of sports and recreation in domestic violence prevention; 4. The role of the workplace in domestic violence prevention; 5. The role of peer relationships in domestic violence prevention; 6. Men as allies in preventing domestic violence; and 7. Aboriginal healing and domestic violence prevention. This research provides an analysis of the literature and highlights 67 promising approaches in the areas of policy, programs and practices, and citizen-led initiatives.
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    High-Level Summary of Nine Rapid Evidence Reviews: Innovative Approaches to Mobilize More Men to Prevent Violence and Advance Equity
    (2022-05) Pascoe, Laura; Wells, Lana; Baker, Elizabeth; Akbary, Hamid; Hansen, Brian; Esina, Elena
    As part of the Calling In Men research project, nine rapid evidence reviews were conducted on evidence-informed primary prevention approaches to engage and mobilize men to prevent and disrupt violence and inequalities, with the goal to share these findings with those funding and working with men and male-identified people to prevent violence and advance equity. To support and advance work to engage and mobilize men, both well-known and emergent approaches that show promise in engaging and mobilizing men were identified for review. This report is a summary of the findings from all nine rapid evidence reviews.
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    Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women
    (2015-12-29) Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Cooper, Merrill; Esina, Elena; Froese, Ken; Boutillier, Sophia
    At this moment in Alberta, Canada, we all have an opportunity to better support men and boys to play a positive role in the movement to end violence against women. For this reason, we have proposed recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta to inform the development of their Action Plan to positively engage men and boys to advance gender equality and promote healthy masculinities in order to stop violence against women. However, we envision this report as an interim strategy because once men have been invited into the movement in positive ways and they become true allies and leaders in stopping violence against women, they can then be included in a more general strategy to engage all genders in violence prevention. In this sense, engaging men and boys is a bit like preferential hiring or reverse discrimination policies – that is, something that is needed for a period of time to redress a particular oversight or injustice, but is relinquished once that issue has been addressed. As a result, this report was written with the following assumptions in mind: • That the work with men and boys must be done in partnership with women’s organizations. All genders must be engaged to achieve gender equality and stop violence against women. • Funds must not be taken away or diverted from existing women’s organizations in order to advance an engaging men and boys strategy. New funds and resources must be found. • Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. As such, this work must be informed by a human rights based approach in order to empower all genders to claim their rights and to ensure accountability of individuals and institutions who are responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling rights. • Experiences of masculinity are affected by class, location, ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and many other factors. We need to reflect this intersectionality in our analysis, funding, program design and evaluation strategies. • We live in a patriarchy that reinforces structural inequities and reinforces violence against women. We therefore must work towards dismantling the existing structures and norms that breed men’s sense of entitlement and maintain their privilege, power and control over women. • Gender equality is in the best interest of everyone. This report is written with the intention of: 1) changing the discourse on men and boys from perpetrators to allies and violence disrupters: 2) promoting the inclusion of men and boys in efforts from which they have been largely absent, and 3) promoting the use of research and evidence to inform our violence prevention approach. Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. Shift is committed to advancing this area of research and invites you to contact us to continue the dialogue and learning. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary (lmwells@ucalgary.ca)
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    Men and Boys Violence Prevention Project: Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women
    (2015-12-29) Wells, Lana; Dozois, Elizabeth; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Cooper, Merrill; Esina, Elena; Froese, Ken; Boutillier, Sophia
    Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. As a result, we have been working over the past five years to advance this area of research, and in 2014 partnered with the Family and Community Safety Branch within the Ministry of Human Services-Government of Alberta (GOA) to build the first comprehensive government plan to engage men and boys in violence prevention. (This was undertaken as part of the GOA’s Family Violence Prevention Framework). Our research team (Lana Wells, Elizabeth Dozois, Deinera Exner-Cortens, Merrill Cooper, Sophia Boutillier, Elena Esina, and Ken Froese) conducted a literature review, consulted with leaders throughout Alberta and completed a provincial e-scan to understand both the evidence and current efforts in Alberta to advance a primary prevention approach with men and boys. From this, we identified specific recommendations to inform the Government of Alberta on an Action Plan to engage men and boys in violence prevention to advance gender equality and stop violence against women. These recommendations were compiled in the following report that was submitted to the Family and Community Safety Branch within Human Services in December 2015. The report is currently being reviewed by cross-ministry partners to explore opportunities to advance the findings. Follow the download link below to access a full report.
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    No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies
    (2016-04) Dozois, Elizabeth; Wells, Lana; Exner-Cortens, Deinera; Esina, Elena
    In December 2015, Shift released the Men and Boys Violence Prevention Project: Informing a Government of Alberta Action Plan to Engage Men and Boys to Stop Violence Against Women. One of the key priorities identified within this action plan was the need for new funding and support to increase positive fatherhood involvement as a key prevention strategy for domestic violence. To meet this need, Shift produced No Man Left Behind: How and Why to Include Fathers in Government-Funded Parenting Strategies (to download report, click on PDF below). This report draws on five different research methods to provide findings and recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta. It is our hope that this report will lead to a robust discussion along with policy, practice and investment changes throughout Alberta. For the details of the research that supported the development of this report, please see the Fatherhood Involvement Reference Report. Shift welcomes any feedback and would be pleased to present the research and recommendations to groups throughout Alberta.
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    Perceptions of Gender Norms amongst Men and Boys
    (2018-08-31) Esina, Elena; Wells, Lana; Caroline, Claussen; Nicole, Mallay
    Research on gender norms has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve gender equity and equality. Increasing evidence suggests that inequitable gender norms negatively impact many men’s behaviours, their health and well-being which in turn have implications for their partners and communities. Consequently, in 2018 Status of Women Canada wanted to explore research regarding the perceptions of gender norms amongst sub-groups of men and boys in Canada and abroad. As a result, we conducted a scoping review with the focus on individual perceptions of gender norms amongst men and boys. Based on collected literature, we identified sub-groups of men and boys using a lifespan approach (boys, teens, young adults, adults, older adults) and intersectional approach. Our findings identify the state of current knowledge, gaps and opportunities and will inform the development of a federal strategy to engage men and boys in advancing gender equality.
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    The Role of Alcohol Outlet Density in Reducing Domestic Violence in Alberta
    (2013-03) Dozois, Elizabeth; Esina, Elena; Wells, Lana
    In this paper, we examine the relationship between alcohol use and domestic violence, and explore whether policy changes - in particular the regulation of liquor store density - can be effective in preventing and reducing domestic violence. This paper outlines a rationale for implementing liquor outlet density controls in Alberta and offers examples of effective research, policy and enforcement strategies from other jurisdictions. It concludes with a list of ways that municipalities in Alberta could take action.
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    A summary of the public’s perceptions of domestic and sexual violence in Alberta
    (2020-09) Lee, Lianne; Wells, Lana; Esina, Elena
    As part of Shift’s collaboration with IMPACT (a provincial collective impact initiative to eradicate domestic and sexual violence in Alberta), a series of papers and training modules are being developed to help build an evidence-informed primary prevention framework in Alberta. This particular report was focused on helping members of IMPACT better understand existing public perceptions on the issues of domestic violence and sexual violence in Alberta. A presentation of the findings was also developed and shared with IMPACT members. Findings from this review suggest that there are many gaps in Albertans’ perceptions about domestic and sexual violence, particularly among Albertan men. Segmented and targeted campaigns are needed to support more Albertans to understand gender equality and behave in ways that reinforce this understanding in communities, workplaces, and homes.
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    Supporting the Supporters - How friends and families can help to prevent domestic violence
    (2013-09) Esina, Elena; Wells, Lana; Koziey, Lynne
    This paper is the first in a series examining effective societal responses to prevent domestic violence. The paper challenges the belief that domestic violence is a private matter between two people and argues that, as a result of that long-held belief, we are ignoring one of the most under-utilized prevention strategies: informal networks. While formal services and supports are critical, research shows that informal networks – including friends and family – play a pivotal role in preventing domestic violence. This issue brief explores the value of informal networks in victims’ lives, how to support those networks to respond to the needs of the victim, the perceived reluctance of many friends and family to intervene in what is often viewed as a private matter, and how organizations that specialize in domestic violence can start to build customized education programs and supports geared toward friends and families, as well as the general public. Considerations outlined in the paper focus on what domestic violence service providers and government can do, suggesting strategies to better support informal networks through intervention and primary prevention activities.
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    Supporting the Supporters to Prevent Domestic Violence Initiative: Exploring the Role of Informal Supports in Preventing Domestic Violence in Calgary and Area
    (2015-10) Boodt, Casey; Wells, Lana; Esina, Elena
    This paper describes the Supporting the Supporters Research initiative that aimed to understand: 1) the value of informal supports in the lives of those dealing with domestic violence, 2) how best to support informal supports to effectively respond to the needs of the victim, 3) the service provider perspective on the perceived reluctance of friends and families to intervene, 4) the services already being offered to informal supports in Calgary, and 5) how organizations that specialize in domestic violence in Calgary can start to build customized education programs and supports that are geared towards informal supports including the general public to prevent domestic violence. Implications for the service delivery context in Calgary and area.