Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association tackle domestic violence

Working to improve cultural awareness among service providers

Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association has developed training modules to help community service providers better assist newcomers who are experiencing domestic violence. (Image from CAIWA Facebook page)

Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association has developed educational material to increase cultural awareness among those helping immigrants experiencing domestic violence.

In collaboration with Red Deer Polytechnic and with support from the City of Red Deer, Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association (CAIWA) has developed six training modules on domestic violence.

“Our aim is to share this training with everyone and all service providers who work with newcomer families in every sector,” said Tabitha Phiri, Safe Homes co-ordinator with CAIWA.

A launch for CAIWA’s Culturally Competent Domestic Violence Training Modules was held April 7 and training packages were distributed to about 100 central Alberta community service providers who attended, like RCMP and Victims Services, Alberta Health Services, legal services, educators and many others.

Phiri said cultural competence is key to understanding the barriers immigrants may face while trying to access services.

She said they may fear the system because they don’t know what will happen to them, feel they don’t have the language skills to explain what it going on at home, worry about what will happen to their children and perpetrator.

CAIWA also developed a Newcomer Empathy Map to provide the perspective of immigrants experiencing domestic violence.

Phiri said research to investigate domestic violence among immigrant communities in central Alberta began a few years ago and a committee was put together to develop the training modules.

The modules, funded by the City of Red Deer, are currently available by email by contacting CAIWA.

“The launch was just the beginning. Our aim is to share this training with everyone and all service providers who work with newcomer families in every sector,” Phiri said.

The DV Collaborative Committee included Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association; Red Deer Polytechnic; Collaborative Change, & Innovation Group; Community Legal Clinic Central Alberta; Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters; Outreach Centre; Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre; Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre; City of Red Deer Victim Services; and Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership.

szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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domestic violence