Family & Children's Services’ Post

Advocating for Change: Supporting Survivors of Gender-Based Violence As we immerse ourselves in the #16DaysOfActivism, I invite you to a pivotal conversation aimed at driving tangible change for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Join me tonight, November 29th, from 8 pm to 9 pm EAT, for an illuminating live session on Instagram. Key Takeaways: 💡Integrating Survivors into Our Social Fabric : We'll delve into the critical significance of integrating survivors of GBV into our communities and social circles. Understanding the nuances of support networks is pivotal in their journey towards healing and empowerment. 💡 Holistic Approaches for Lasting Impact : Beyond policy advocacy, our discussion will emphasize the need for holistic approaches. We'll explore how creating programs and fostering conversations can contribute significantly to the support and rehabilitation of survivors of GBV. 💡 Collaborative Insights : I'm thrilled to announce that this live conversation will feature incredible collaborators: @chebet_birir, @itszahranjoki, and Maryanne Waruguru. Their expertise and shared commitment to this cause will enrich our dialogue. This live session seeks to foster candid, informative discussions that can inspire actionable steps towards a more inclusive and supportive environment for survivors of GBV. Join us this evening for this impactful conversation : Date & Time: November 29th, 8 pm - 9 pm EAT Platform: Instagram Live ➡ https://lnkd.in/dnWH5b7Y Hashtags: #16DaysOfActivism #SurvivorsOfGBV #IGLive Let's come together, amplify our voices, and advocate for meaningful change in the lives of survivors of Gender-Based Violence. Your participation and support are invaluable in this collective endeavor. See you there! 🧡

Women who have experienced domestic violence have been through trauma, and it needs to be treated as such. Women In Transition (WIT) empowers people to transition into freedom, from violence, from fear, and from control. Their free services include client advocacy, peer support groups, crisis counseling, self-defense classes, and individual empowerment counseling. See more of the impactful things they are doing here: https://helpwomen.org #Every1KnowsSome1 #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #DomesticAbuse

ADVOCACY UPDATE: 62% of children in Australia grow up with family violence abuse yet there's currently a gap in dedicated, age-appropriate family violence responses and resources for young people. This leaves them at risk of devastating harm like death and suicide, as well as an increased risk of experiencing homelessness, mental illness or leaving school early. What's more, when young people use violence, they're often victim-survivors themselves. 💡 What can we do about this? 💡 YACVic made a joint submission to the action plan to end family violence in Victoria with Melbourne City Mission (MCM), RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice, Berry Street Y-Change, and young survivor advocates - including YACVic Young Peer Facilitator alumni Conor Pall. We make 28 recommendations, focusing on how to recognise and respond to young people in their own right. Read our report: YACVic.org.au/pave-the-way

Strategic, coordinated efforts = better outcomes for those at risk of or experiencing trafficking in our community.   Thanks to the expert leadership of Dr. Jill Sharkey, the SB County Human Trafficking Task Force developed a 3-year Strategic Plan to address human trafficking countywide. A group of 29 key decision-makers in the Task Force gathered in January 2023 to evaluate the work of the past 10 years – to celebrate past successes and look ahead to future goals. Out of this careful analysis came the priorities SAFE SB County is seeking to fund today! You can read more about our priorities and goals here: www.safesbc.org.   Your gift to SAFE SB County directly supports the individuals and agencies working to reach these Strategic Plan goals. Your partnership is key to: -Helping school social workers and counselors in SB County schools learn to identify the risk factors for human trafficking and offer care to the youth they serve -Increasing survivor input and representation across all efforts -And developing a drop-in center for vulnerable women   The above isn’t possible without our whole community working together. Help us create a community that’s SAFE for all who live in it! #AntiHumanTrafficking #NoOneBoughtOrSoldSBC

📢 FACT: State investment in preventative measures reduces child maltreatment. ✔️ For every $1,000 spent by states on benefits per person living in poverty, there is an 8% reduction in child fatalities due to maltreatment. ✔️ Every additional 13.3% states invest annually in public benefit programs results in a 3x reduction in child maltreatment-related costs. For #ChildAbusePreventionMonth, we are raising awareness on how to better support families and prevent child maltreatment across the state and country. Read our blog post to learn about CLM's advocacy priorities and how government and community-based providers work hand in hand to safeguard and support the most vulnerable and in need in our communities. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dawGKdGr #mapoli #childwelfare

Why did we start using Restorative Justice in our programs? Because we listened to the voices of those we serve. Despite high violence rates in our community partners and SERniña offering free violence response services, many victims and families wouldn't report incidents or accept support. Talking to other organizations, we realized this was a common trend. Early in our Whole Family Healing Program, feedback and data collection showed most incidents of violence happened at home, involving a family member as the perpetrator. This fear historically silenced victims, especially young girls, allowing violence to persist without justice or healing. Survivors shared they wanted healing for themselves, their family, and even the perpetrator; however, they usually didn't want legal action for fear of serious consequences such as incarceration or child removal. In response to this, we knew we made the decision to incorporate a restorative justice approach in all aspects of our program, which included: 📖 Workshops for girls, boys, women and men 🌱 Therapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families 🩺 Comprehensive violence response services, including legal support, psychological support, and therapeutic support To learn more about Restorative Justice and its impact, check out this week’s blog: “Listening to the Voices of Survivors: The Importance of Incorporating Restorative Justice Approaches in Guatemala.” ➡️ Read the blog today! https://lnkd.in/g8dNz-74 #REALgirl #SERniña #WholeFamilyApproach #FIT #GlobalAffairsCanada #Guatemala #restorativejustice #healing #genderequity #genderequality

Had a discussion yesterday about WHY we need community support in the advocacy work we do. Answers filled a white board. What stood out to me, in a moment of political polarity, is that thoughtful, equitable policy MUST have the voice of the majority middle to work. To pass the legislative bodies. To have the changes created by the policies fully integrate and become normal and acceptable parts of our culture. The problem is, the majority middle often feels tired of politics--and can be difficult to engage. But we need all-hands-on-deck for all of our projects. And definitely for this one--The Safe Child Project. Any effort to end a problem as pervasive and pernicious as child sexual abuse--which has been entrenched and hidden in society, likely since the beginning of time, is going to take a lot of voices to change. Please help us save the one in seven children who experience this type of abuse from the hell it creates. We'll be doing a statewide tour of Utah--with events in five counties from north to south. Come. End apathy. Change lives. I'll be posting all events here. Register for the first below. The Policy Project Nina Raynor Barnes https://lnkd.in/gKjdwGjp

In recognition of National Social Worker's Month, let's spotlight the indispensable role of social workers in addressing Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) by fostering resilience in impacted children. Hundreds of thousands of these dedicated professionals serve as a critical line of defense by providing counseling and support to impacted children and families, plus advocating for policies that prioritize their well-being. 🚨 Early Detection: Social workers, engaging with the whole family, are often the first to identify signs of CDV, ensuring early intervention to protect children. 🤝Holistic Family Support: Offering counseling and advocacy, they assist both impacted children and mothers in navigating the complexities of CDV and addressing its lasting impact. 🌐 Policy Advocacy: By focusing on public policy, they contribute to the development of programs and laws preventing Childhood Domestic Violence, fostering healthier family environments. Today we celebrate their tireless work in the trenches to help change the odds for those impacted by CDV. #SocialWork #FamilyWellbeing #Advocates #Intervention #Awareness #CDV #ChildhoodDomesticViolence #ChildhoodTrauma #ACEs

Great read from the International Journal on Homelessness (IJOH) @IJOHjournal 👀 Trauma Informed Care in a Homeless Women's Shelter: A Mixed Method Evaluation NEW ARTICLE! Available now as open access, online first at: https://lnkd.in/e_JsrRg3 Trauma-informed care is an evolving best practice across a many contexts, including supporting people experiencing #homelessness. This article presents research out of Northern Ireland: "Continuous evaluation and reflection are crucial in determining whether the training is implemented and guiding trauma-informed practice to ensure improved outcomes for all." withYOU 💛 #traumaInformed 👇 https://lnkd.in/e_JsrRg3