Skip to content

Airdrie progresses with domestic violence initiative

domesticviolenceplanupdate
With the hiring of a new consultant, the coalition for the Airdrie Domestic Violence Community Action Plan is working toward achieving the project's goals. Photo: Metro Creative Connection

The City of Airdrie is moving forward with the implementation of the Airdrie Domestic Violence Community Action Plan, and council received an update on the progress of the initiative at a meeting Nov. 18.

According to Clay Aragon, team leader with Social Planning, the City co-ordinated a coalition of professional service providers, public services and groups representing people with lived experience in 2018, as part of the community’s response to local domestic violence concerns.

“As a municipality, the City – through Social Planning – plays a pivotal role by studying domestic violence as a broad social issue, identifying gaps and co-ordinating services to ensure a focused targeted approach to addressing the issue and avoiding duplication,” he said.

The coalition identified a number of key goals for the community to achieve, along with example actions to undertake. These included the development of a co-ordinated, seamless response to help those impacted by domestic violence, the creation of a centralized information hub for service providers and those seeking support, and the implementation of a community strategy to meet the long-term goals of individuals and families affected by domestic violence – like affordable permanent housing options.

In September, with funding provided by council in November 2018 ($75,000 per year for a three-year term), the coalition hired Onward Consulting, facilitated by Brigitte Baradoy, to co-ordinate the development of the action plan. According to Aragon, Baradoy previously worked as executive director of Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society and as a contract manager for the Government of Alberta, regarding women’s emergency shelters, licensing of residential treatment and social facilities.

“She has years of experience in facilitating community collaborations for social change,” he said, noting it did take longer than expected to procure consulting services, which has delayed the project somewhat.

Coalition members – including representatives from Alberta Health Services (Public and Mental Health Divison), Alberta Children Services, Community Links, Victims Assistance, RCMP, Shepherds of the Hill Church, Airdrie Housing, Airdrie P.O.W.E.R. and the City of Airdrie – met at the end of October to discuss and define the group’s governance structure, moving forward.

“The creation of a strong governance structure is a critical step in the implementation of the [action plan] because it provides rules of engagement and decision-making processes that are transparent, fair and equitable, and maintains ethical accountability to the public,” Aragon said.

A chair will be elected to oversee the coalition and clear expectations regarding the commitments required for participation will be outlined, according to Aragon, and a spokesperson will be appointed to provide annual updates to council on the project’s progress.

“Once a governance structure is in place, the coalition’s plan is to review and prioritize the actions stated in the [plan],” he said.

One of the coalition’s first priorities, he added, will be the development of a website and awareness campaign to ensure information and support services are made available to the public. Council approved a one-time funding request for $30,000 in the 2019 budget to fund this initiative.



Comments


No Facebook? No problem.

Here is how you can stay connected to the Airdrie City View and access local news in your community:

Bookmark our homepage for easy access to local news.
Pick up a copy of our newspaper and read local news that you cannot get elsewhere.
Sign up for our FREE newsletters to have local news & more delivered daily to your email inbox.
Download our mobile icon to have access to our news right at your fingertips.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks