Nowhere to Turn - Related documents

March 2004

Nowhere to Turn?
Responding to partner violence
against immigrant and visible minority women
Voices of Frontline Workers

Appendix 1: Discussion Guide used for Focus Groups

1. Can you describe the needs, fears and other emotions of women who come to you for help with the problem of partner violence?

2. What would you say are their greatest hopes?

3. What factors do you believe place immigrant, refugee or visible minority women at risk of partner abuse?

4. What factors do you believe put immigrant, refugee and visible minority men at risk of abusing their partners?

5. What are the greatest barriers that interfere with or prevent these women from leaving the abusive situations? Are there elements of structural oppression (discrimination) experienced by immigrant, refugee and visible minority women who experience abuse?

6. What are the trends of violence against immigrant, refugee and visible minority women (that is, are they increasing or decreasing? Is there more reporting / less reporting?)

7. How would you describe the attitudes of immigrant group associations/ community groups towards partner violence? What kinds of support do women receive from their ethnic community groups?

8. What are the major problems you face in trying to help these women? What resources do you need to address these problems?

9. What role should government institutions play to help address the problem of partner violence among immigrant, refugee and visible minority groups (such as roles for the courts, police, immigration, etc.)?

10. Please comment on the following as they relate to immigrant, refugee and visible minority women who experience abuse: early intervention; prosecution of cases; support and advocacy for victims; coordination between sectors.

11. What specific actions would you recommend be taken to ensure that victims receive support and access to services? As well, do you have any suggestions for proactive policies and practices aimed at preventing partner abuse?

12. What can be done to promote services that are responsive to the needs of immigrant and visible minority women who experience abuse?

13. Are there any other related issues you would like to address?

Halifax:

• New Start Counselling
• Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association (MISA)
• IWK Health Centre
• Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
• North End Community Health Centre
• Coverdale Centre
• Halifax Regional Police, Victim Services
• Halifax Immigrant Learning Centre
• YMCA Newcomers Program
• YWCA Halifax
• Nova Scotia Hospital
• Bryony House
• Metro Regional Housing Authority

Montreal:

• Ministère des relations avec les citoyens et immigration (Montréal)
• Le Refuge pour les femmes de l'Ouest de l'île
• Centre d'études et de développement interculturel (CEDI)
• Service d'Aide aux Neo-Quebecois et Immigrants (SANQI)
• Mouvement Fraternité Multi-Éthnique Inc.
• Centre PROMIS, organisme d'aide aux refugiés et aux immigrants
• Barrow Institute of Community Leadership
• South Asian Women's Community Centre
• Alliance of South Asian Communities
• Immigrant Workers' Centre
• Association des femmes Filipina de Quebec/ Filipina Women's Association of Quebec (PINAY)
• Minority Rights Association of Greater Chateauguay

Ottawa:

• Women's Place/ Place aux Femmes
• Carlington Community Education Health Services
• Family Services/ Services à la Famille d'Ottawa
• Interval House of Ottawa-Carleton
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa

Toronto:

• OASIS Centre des Femmes
• Japanese Social Services
• North York Women's Centre
• Tamil Eelam Society of Canada
• Education Wife Assault
• Eritrean Canadian Community of Metropolitan Toronto
• Korean Canadian Women's Association

Winnipeg:

• Centre for War Affected Families
• Women in Second Stage Housing
• Immigrant Women's Counselling Services
• Hope Centre Health Care
• Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC)
• International Centre
• The Family Centre

Calgary:

• Jewish Family Service of Calgary
• YWCA Family Violence Prevention Centre & Sheriff King Home
• Calgary Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
• Awotaan Native Women's Shelter
• Sunrise Community Link Resource Centre
• Home Front
• Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary

Vancouver:

• Multilingual Orientation Services Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC)
• South Asian Women's Centre
• Vancouver Custody and Access Support and Advocacy Association (VCASAA)
• Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Services Society
• West Coast Domestic Workers Association

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Nowhere to Turn - Related Material

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