Community safety was brought to the forefront at a special training session held at the Lion’s Hall at the Crossroads.
The Columbia Valley Community Coordination for Safety in Relationships (CCSR) team in the Invermere area gathered for a number of days to learn from a group of experts about working together to co-ordinate services in response to relationship violence.
In the spring of 2006, the Family Resource Centre (FRC) identified the need for greater co-ordination of services for those whose lives were impacted by violence.
A steering team was established with representation from Social Serving Programs, Health and Justice. Once the steering team established their initial goals, they went to the professionals in the community, asking for those who work in the area of relationship violence, to attend an information meeting. This meeting was held on June 7, 2006 in the Valley Connections and was well attended.
The next step with the steering team was to organize training for this new initiative. Gail Edinger from the BC Community Coordination for Women’s Safety, facilitated a two day workshop in October.
“This was a very stimulating and successful training session and the attendance was outstanding in that we had members of the RCMP, Crown Counsel, Educators, Probation and many other disciplines in the area of family violence,” said CCSR Co-ordinator in the area Donna Power.
According to Power, “Our first co-ordination meeting was held on December 7, 2006 in the RCMP detachment and was chaired by S/Sgt. Doug Pack. It was at that time that we established the following Mission Statement: The CCSR, through partnerships, will ensure effective co-ordination and promotion of justice, community and health services for people affected by relationship violence, sexual assault and sexual exploitation.”
Recently, the family resource centre was able to secure funding to hire a coordinator for the CCSR.
Although this position is limited to seven hours a week for two years, it provides the CCSR with someone to carry out the duties and activities of the team.
At the recent workshops held in the Columbia Valley the groups of volunteers had the chance to hear from members of the Integrated Case Assessment Team connected with the North Okanagan High Risk Domestic Violence Team in Vernon B.C., Sgt. Robb Daly and Cst. Lisa McMullin with the RCMP as well as Debby Hamilton with the Women’s Transition House Society from the Vernon Team.
The group also heard from Gail Edinger from Community Coordination for Women’s Safety with the Ending Violence Association to present risk indicators and safety planning.
The CCSR recently announced their new initiatives for the work they do in the area.
“Education of community and professionals on Violence in Relationships (VIR). Promotion and support of community events related to VIR. Create a local resource guide of services related to VIR establish protocols with professional programs
For more information call Donna Power, CCSR Coordinator, at RCMP Victim Services 250-342-3937 (Phone), 250-342-0197 (Fax), or email donna.power@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.