Abstract
Purpose
People experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) often seek, or are referred to, specialized service providers such as shelter workers, counsellors in programs for children exposed to IPV, and facilitators for men’s behaviour change programs. This paper discusses the process of collaborating with service providers and survivors across Canada to articulate the often-unrecognized knowledge and skills of IPV specialists.
Methods
Work included a scoping review and analysis of 140 academic and practice papers, interviews with 62 expert service providers, eight Delphi-method surveys and over 70 hours of collaborative discussion with expert working groups of experienced service providers and survivors.
Results
Areas of knowledge and skill were drafted based on the review of literature and analysis of interviews with experienced service providers, then rated in Delphi surveys, and discussed by expert working groups. Consensus was reached on the Flourishing Practice Model which identifies nine areas of capability shared across IPV specialists, as well as unique knowledge and skills used to support and collaborate with survivors, recognize and respond to infant, child and youth experiences of violence and intervene to end abusive behaviours. The “stem” recognizes the critical role of IPV specialist organizations and leaders in supporting service providers’ capabilities. “Blank petals” are included to signify expertise that has not yet been documented and to recognize ongoing growth.
Conclusions
The combination of methods and processes allowed for the integration of research and practice knowledge with survivor and service provider voices to gain deeper insight into the knowledge and skills of IPV specialists.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, K.S.
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Acknowledgements
Expert Working Group Members
Abi Ajibolade4, Yennelys Alcedo5, Tod Augusta-Scott6, Trish Bartko7, Angie Brenton8, Deena Brock9, Diana Burke10, Michelle Buttery10, Renee Claude Carrier11, Clara Castillo4, Claudia Champagne5, Toni Cole4, Magi Cooper12, Jose Desjardins5, Laura Ducharme7, Bentley Dubois9, Stephanie Duggan6, Tosha Duncan7, Gillian Dunlop4, JoAnne Dusel13, Katina Feggos14, Dawn Ferris6, Amy Finch14, Kim Fontaine9, Mary Fredlund15, Lyda Fuller, Jeanine George4, Theresa Gerritsen12, Valerie Goodkey11, Michelle Green8, Marlene Ham4, Jo-Anne Hargrove10, Ketsia Houde-McLennan11, Michele Jones12, Tim Kelly4, Fouad Khan4, Nigam Khanal14, Lisa Lanyon9, Linda Lapierre6, Nneka MacGregor4, Nola Mahingen13, Krys Maki4, Dan Meades8, Cindy Murphy8, Tracy Myers12, Kara Neustaedter9, Michele Nichol-Sawh9, Kerry Nolan11, Melissa Noseworthy8, Shiva Nourpanah6, Danya O’Malley10, Allyson Pearce13, Bev Poitras13, Neena Randhawa12, Jan Reimer7, Sarah Roberts12, Stephanie Robson7, Mario Rolle6, Wayne Schlapkohl13, Deb Sinclair4, Lisa Tomlinson4,Johanna Baynton Smith7, 12, Melanie Valente5, Bev Walker6, Deborah Westerburg14, Ian Wheeliker7, JoAnna Woode13, Carolyn Woodroffe7, Nicole Young8, Julie Young-Marcellin.4
4 Ontario, 5 Quebec, 6 Nova Scotia 7 Alberta 8 Newfoundland and Labrador 9 Manitoba 10 Prince Edward Island 11 Yukon Territories, 12 British Columbia 13 Saskatchewan 14 New Brunswick 15 Nunavut 16 Northwest Territories.
Correspondence on behalf of the Expert Working Group Members can be sent to Dr. Tod Augusta Scott, Bridges Institute, 676 Prince St. Truro, Nova Scotia, bridges@bridgesinstitute.org
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Scott, K.L., Baker, L., Jenney, A. et al. Voices of Experience: Development of the Flourishing Practice Model of Capabilities of Intimate Partner Violence Specialists. J Fam Viol 38, 1151–1163 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00566-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00566-y