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Some of the ways to use parts, or all, of information in this Toolkit include:
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Crisis intervention |
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Crisis intervention The information in the kit can be shared with individuals or families coping with abuse and its related affects. The Toolkit offers information on recognizing abuse, safety planning for women and their children, and resources for getting help in a crisis. It encourages friends, neighbours and service providers who know people experiencing abuse to adopt an “I believe you” attitude that NEVER blames the victim, yet reaches out to everyone to join the healing journey, including the abuser. Knowing what to do in a crisis and what to expect if you seek help can make the journey less frightening. |
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Public Education and Awareness |
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When somebody is being abused, it harms the victim, their family, and the entire community. In other words, everyone feels the negative consequences of abuse. Everyone should have the opportunity to become part of the solution. The Toolkit provides a range of educational resources for Aboriginal communities and service providers to use to create public education and awareness of family violence issues. |
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There is information on recognizing abuse, understanding the link to multiple inter-related problems, legal options, and suggestions for mobilizing and promoting community healing. |
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Some of the information is designed specifically for particular age groups, such as youth. |
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Creating awareness of family violence issues and resources can happen at many levels – social service agencies, band councils, workplaces, schools and other places where people live, work and play. |
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Prevention |
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The Toolkit encourages communities to find ways, traditional and non-traditional, to support healing and new beginnings. Although the first step of a personal healing journey comes from within, everyone can play a role in helping to make the journey as smooth as possible. Prevention involves addressing not only physical safety, it also means dealing with people’s emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Prevention includes helping people take the time to reflect on how they act, think and feel about family violence as individuals and as a community. It means establishing a community climate of respect, caring, and healing, along with supporting or advocating for preventive services and resources including alcohol/drug rehabilitation services, social and mental health services, counselling, housing, and income generating opportunities.
The Toolkit includes posters, bookmarks, fact sheets and a variety of resources that can be shared and even discussed throughout the community. |
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