PARTNERS IN PREVENTION GRANT RECIPIENTS

Abbotsford Community Services – Village of Men - $150,000

Partners: Information Services Vancouver Society, Channel M Multivision Television

· This project will use traditional village community meetings to work with South Asian men who have been, or are at risk of being violent toward their partners, piloting its first Village of Men support group in Abbotsford.

· Based on the success of similar projects in Australia and Minnesota, the long-term goal of the project is to prevent domestic violence in the South Asian community.

· The project will develop and broadcast public service ads and distribute an information booklet on services in Punjabi and English.

BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Program – Renewing Resources for Safer Communities – $150,000

Partners: Ending Relationship Abuse Society of BC, Catalyst Paper, plus other advisory committee members

· This project will work with predominantly male industries, such as forestry and mining, to focus on attitudes and behaviours linked to violence against women. It will provide relevant educational material on prevention at 15 workshops for up to 600 key industry personnel.

· The project will establish linkages between industry, women’s organizations and services offering treatment to men with abuse issues.

Children of the Street – Highway of Tears – $85,658

Partners: Keeping Exploited Youth Safe, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, VanCity Savings Credit Union

· This project seeks to build awareness of the realities of sexual exploitation of children and prevent the further disappearance of young women.

· The project aims to reach 2,000 participants (students, educators, parents, service providers and community members) through 40 workshops in 10 communities held from September 2007 to March 2008.

· These workshops will work with local organizations to promote and implement further education and awareness projects.

North East Native Advancing Society – Stopping the Violence Initiative – $150,000

Partners: Local First Nations, Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, Aboriginal organizations, Northern Lights College, School District #60, Duke Energy, Precision Drilling, Petro Canada, Anadarko Canada, Talisman Energy, Canfor

· This project will address the potential for violence in families working in resource communities (oil, gas, mining and forestry).

· It will deliver a comprehensive violence prevention awareness campaign to all schools and learning institutions in the area. Workshops will provide tools to assist men in managing the personal challenges and risks that can arise (e.g., addictions, gambling, family breakdown, spousal abuse).

· It will develop a facilitator’s manual on violence prevention specific to the men working in resource-based jobs to raise awareness of these issues for men on and off reserve, at worksites and at home.

· The project will also address issues around poverty, isolation and discrimination.

Saltspring Women Opposed to Violence and Abuse (SWOVA) – Widening the R&R Circle – $150,000

Partners: Women-serving organizations in B.C., school districts across B.C., local teachers’ organizations

· This project is based on the best practices of SWOVA’s school-based Respectful Relationships program and aims to give students the skills and awareness required to have healthy and respectful relationships. The updated curriculum includes First Nations cultures.

· The project will engage teachers and parents as new partners in preventing violence against women and girls. It will include a professional development workshop for teachers, an R&R reinforcement toolkit for teachers, and a workshop for parents called R&R At Home.

Victoria Family Violence Prevention Society – Fantastic Fathers – $72,533

Partner: Victoria Women’s Transition House

· This project is based on the knowledge that fathers can stop the cycle of intergenerational violence through better parenting. It aims to educate biological and adoptive fathers or men with a parenting role in the lives of children.

· Geared to men who have been abusive to their partners, the project includes a Fantastic Fathers curriculum, a 12-week pilot project for 12-14 men, a train-the-trainer guide on DVD and train-the-trainer sessions in eight locations.

Williams Lake Policing Committee – Violence Awareness and Prevention Northern Symposium – $105,824

Partners: City of Williams Lake, Axis Family Resources Ltd., School District 27, Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Association

· This symposium aims to raise awareness of and prevent violence; challenge the thinking of young people and community leaders; inspire leadership and teach new approaches.

· The symposium will be a two-day event for 100-150 people in September 2007. It will include training on Mentors in Violence Prevention and a boys’ breakfast with the involvement of two figures from the world of sports.

Women Against Violence Women Rape Crisis Cente – Good AttaDUDES: His and Hers Heroes Under Construction – $150,000

Partners: Good Company Communications

· This project will develop and launch a positive youth-directed (male and female) online awareness campaign, supported by mainstream media, to promote a brand of heroics in youth that will inspire healthy relationships. It will deliver a workshop to approximately 30 Grade 8 youth, create youth-driven materials and develop an integrated multi-media workshop including a video.

· The project will use downloadable video, e-cards, blogs and web pages, and go to where the youth are on the Internet (e.g., YouTube, MySpace).

YWCA of Vancouver – Boyz - $146,086

Partners: Vancouver School Board, University of British Columbia

· This project is based on the premise that early exposure and education can positively affect boys’ behaviours and attitudes toward women and girls. It is a 12-week after-school pilot for boys in Grade 7 that will run parallel to a program for girls in Grade 7 called Welcome to My Life.

· The pilot will pair 30-40 Grade 7 boys with Grade 10 and university-age young men as mentors who will model healthy relationships with young women. The Grade 7 boys and girls will then be brought together to work on a community service project to put into practice their learning and skills.

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Media contact:	Marc Black Ministry of Community Services 250 356-6334

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