City of Toronto: City Council, Taking action against woman abuse



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		Toronto City Council
		Taking action against woman abuse The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto consists of representatives from key sectors in the community who have come together to develop a coordinated community response to woman abuse in Toronto. The Council membership is made up of police, shelters, support service agencies, hospitals, community health centres, probation, survivors, etc. The Woman Abuse Council was initiated under the sponsorship of Alan Tonks, the former Metro Chairman. Violence against women and children has dire consequences for communities, families, and individuals. Estimates indicate that one in every six women in Canada is abused by her partner each year. Women with disabilities are up to ten times as likely to be abused as non-disabled women Over 60% of female homicides are due to family violence. Estimates of annual health related costs of violence against women in Canada is $1, 539, 650, 387. (Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children, 1995.) A significant problem in various attempts to address this issue has been the lack of coordination and fragmentation of programs and services across all sectors. The 1998 Provincial Coroner's Inquest into domestic violence made over 200 recommendations. These recommendations speak to the need for a seamless system that requires all sectors to work together as partners. In order for victims not to "fall through the cracks" a coordinated response to woman abuse is essential. (Provincial Coroner's Inquest, 1998.) Why is the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto important to the city of Toronto? Why should the Council have city of Toronto support? Background Role of the Council Successes of the Council Current and projected activities Why is the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto important to the city? The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto is the only woman abuse coordinating body in Toronto, which has such a diverse and all-encompassing membership. Coordination, collaboration and consistency are the key elements in ensuring the safety of abused women and their children. It is, therefore, an essential component of an infra-structure which works towards ensuring that Toronto is a safe city. The Council has been faced with many challenges arising from the size and diversity of the population of Toronto. In its approach it serves as a model to other large communities facing similar challenges. To have a centralized, autonomous body focussing on the issue of woman abuse, enables sectors to negotiate and resolve common issues/conflicts more expediently and effectively. Although the Council does not profess to be the voice of all those working towards ending violence against women, it does speak from a strong community-based position. Similarly, when investigating or responding to a relevant issue, the city of Toronto can access the Council for consultation. The Woman Abuse council began as a small community-based initiative and has grown to a membership of 175 organizations and sectors. As such it is a significant body, which potentially has the ability to affect change, within the community of Toronto. Why should the Council have city of Toronto support? The Funding for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto has come from a number of different sources including the Provincial Government, the Trillium Foundation, Breaking the Cycle Municipal Grants, Federal Status of Women Funding, along with fund-raising activities such as the Nissan Run, and donations. As of 1995, the Province of Ontario severely limited the funding that was made available to the Council for our groundbreaking work. The Council has received numerous grants for special projects, however, the base budget required by the Council for its ongoing survival is $ 110, 000 based on the continued in-kind support from the City of Toronto. This covers the cost of the Council coordinator, office administrator, limited office supplies and expenses and honorariums for women survivors, who participate through an Accountability Committee. Since 1991 the City of Toronto has supplied in-kind support to the Council in the form of space and limited office supplies. The Council now requires a firm commitment for an operating budget in order to build on our successes and to ensure that the coordination work to date will not be lost in the newly amalgamated City of Toronto. Background of the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto Research in 1990 identified that the response to woman abuse in Toronto was ineffective, inconsistent, inefficient and fragmented. In 1992 the Metro Woman Abuse Council of Toronto was formed to "Create a Metro-wide integrated community response to woman abuse which promotes effective and efficient provision of services for assaulted women and their families." The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto ( name changed in 1998) has the voluntary participation of a diverse cross-section of organizations and sectors, including membership from the Toronto Police Service, Office of the Crown Attorney, Probation and Parole Services, Shelters for Abused Women and Women's Services. The organization fulfills its mandate through activities of an 18 member Council, five standing committees, and a number of time-limited workgroups. Role of the Council The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto is an inter-sectoral body that provides a unique mechanism for: Ensure that all policy development and systemic changes reflect the voice, experience, and reality of women survivors of abuse. Increase the understanding and awareness of the different roles various organizations and sectors play within the community response to woman abuse. Development of Best Practice Guidelines for Community Agencies, and Health Practitioners for responding to woman abuse in an accountable and consistent manner. Development of Accountability Standards and Guidelines for Batterers' Programs to ensure a common framework for intervention which maximizes the safety of victims. Work closely with police in reviewing police response by providing feedback and consultation regarding necessary changes to current police policy/practice. Provide a mechanism through the formal standing Council to hold individual sectors accountable regarding the services they offer to abused women and children. Initiate the development of inter-sectoral partnerships and protocols to create a better integrated system. (ie. The Police / Shelter Working Group.) Develop innovative projects and models for a more effective response. For example, the Specialized Domestic Violence Criminal Courts, which includes a coordinated model for providing batterers' programs for abusers mandated through the criminal courts. Successes of the Woman Abuse Council 1995 Hosted a province wide Conference for Woman Abuse Coordinating Committees. 1995 The Council developed a Best Practice Resource Manual for community support service agencies, which includes tools and resources to assist in the implementation process. 1997 Completed Best Practice Guidelines for Responding to Woman Abuse for Health Practitioners. The document was adopted by the Ontario Hospital Association and is being promoted through distribution to all O. H. A. members. 1996 Promoted and assisted in the development of two specialized domestic violence court pilot projects in Toronto. The courts have since become models for six new Courts across the Province. 1997 Accountability Standards and Guidelines for Intervention Programs for Abusers. The Guidelines are currently being used by community agencies who are providing programs for offenders mandated through the two new specialized domestic violence criminal courts in Toronto, as well as by other community agencies. 1997 - present Develops and provides project management to a coordinated model for the provision of batterers' programs for offenders mandated through the two Toronto specialized domestic violence courts. This intervention model includes a centralized intake function, case tracking and monitoring, managing and coordinating a roster of agencies, who provide batterers' programs, based on the accountability guidelines and a systematic review and ongoing support to the programs. Key to the intervention model is the bringing together of all relevant sectors, i.e. batterers' programs, Police, Probation, Crowns and Women's Services, to review the system on a regular basis and make necessary revisions in order to ensure a consistent, coordinated response. As of September 1998, 340 offenders have participated in this initiative. 1997 Ongoing monitoring of current practice and policies within the criminal courts and in particular monitoring of judicial decisions in woman abuse cases through the Women's Court Watch Project. 1998 *Jointly sponsored and organized a Toronto Conference: Partner Abuse - Integrating Community Responses. Held in partnership with the Toronto Police Services* and Police Services Board the Conference had over 150 participants, almost one half of whom were police officers. Recommendations from the Conference were reviewed in a strategic planning workshop and were used to develop a strategic plan for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto for the next two years. 1998 Consultation and participation with two other courts in Toronto regarding a proposal to develop a specialized domestic violence court. Current and Projected Activities 1998 - 1999 Participation in an ongoing review and evaluation of the specialized domestic violence courts. The Woman Abuse Council is committed to ensuring the participation of community agencies and women survivors working together with representatives from the criminal justice sectors. As the Domestic Violence pilot courts were developed in Toronto, they continue to play a lead role as a model for similar initiatives that are being developed across the province. Develop and get formal commitment to implementing a Police / Shelter Guidelines, which will identify roles and responsibilities of Toronto Police and community based women shelters. Continue to manage and evaluate the Male Batterers' Program, which is an integral part of the Specialized Domestic Violence Courts. Continue to monitor the Specialized Domestic Violence Court, in order to streamline and increase effectiveness and sensitivity of the courts. Host a Toronto workshop for a provincial initiative creating ways to make the criminal courts more accessible and sensitive to women with disabilities and provide a mechanism for implementation of changes. Review and revise the Best Practice Guidelines developed by the council in order to assess the utility and level of implementation of the Guidelines. Participate in a formal review of the Police Domestic Violence Policy. Create opportunities for all participating sectors to review and work toward implementation of the massive recommendations coming out of the 1998 Provincial Coroner's Inquest into Domestic Violence. Conclude a two year Court Watch Project where women survivors monitor the criminal courts and judicial decisions in domestic violence cases; in particular the final report will include data on the two specialized domestic violence courts in Toronto as compared to the normal court process.