Knowledge Hub Bulletin 28 - September 2023
KNOWLEDGE HUB PRESENTS!
The Knowledge Hub team is excited to launch its new method for facilitating knowledge mobilization, linking the fantastic work of our CoP members to a broader audience.
The Knowledge Hub Presents! series features information on trauma- and violence-informed research and practice developed by members of the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice in their work related to the Preventing and Addressing Family Violence: The Health Perspective (2022-2026) investment of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The series provides a platform for the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice to share their expertise with
a larger public audience and encourage knowledge mobilization opportunities. Recordings are available on the website after the live event
Why Your Contribution Matters
At the heart of this endeavor is our recognition that the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice (CoP) is a wellspring of expertise, insights, and innovative solutions. We believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within our vibrant community. Therefore, we extend a warm invitation to all CoP members to actively participate and contribute to the Knowledge Hub Presents! series.
How to Get Involved
Participating in the Knowledge Hub Presents! Series is a straightforward process. To express your interest or submit your contributions, please reach out to Sabry, Jessica or Anna-Lee or submit your topic through the Community of Practice portal. Our team is here to guide you through the submission process and ensure your valuable insights are shared effectively.
By actively participating in the Knowledge Hub Presents! Series, you not only amplify the impact of your work but also contribute to a collaborative, supportive, and informed community dedicated to preventing and addressing family violence. Together, we can make a lasting difference. Join us in shaping the future of trauma-informed research and practice.
Let's Connect, Share, Learn Together!
Knowledge Hub Presents! Series
Bridging the Gap
Connecting the diverse community of practitioners and researchers engaged in the prevention and addressing of family violence.
Expert Insights
Featuring experts and thought leaders in the field of trauma- and violence informed research and practice, delving into the latest research, strategies, and best practices.
Multilingual Accessibility
Recognizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, the Knowledge Hub Presents is offered in both English and French.
On-Demand Learning
Accommodating various needs, all presentations are recorded and made available on the website after the live event.
Mark Your Calendars!
Dates for 2 KH Presents! events have been set:
October 18, 2023 – Developing and testing a readiness tool for partnerships with community-based projects. Presented by Mary Motz. The goal of the Building Connections initiative (2016-2020) was to enhance community capacity to identify and respond to interpersonal violence of mothers parenting infants and young children. It was important to thoughtfully and systematically engage community partners that would have the capacity, resources, and and systems of support in place to safely deliver and evaluate the intervention. Using trauma-informed and relational approaches, we developed a tool to assess projects’ readiness called Your Starting Point Story (YSPS). This presentation will describe the development, testing, and usefulness of the YSPS tool for understanding projects’ capacity to provide trauma-informed services to vulnerable families with complex needs.
October 25, 2023 – Moving On: Digital Empowerment and Literacy Skills for Survivors. Presented by Kara Brisson-Boivin. An introduction to MediaSmarts' intervention research project titled Moving On: Digital Empowerment and Literacy Skills for Survivors, which aims to adapt, deliver, and evaluate digital media literacy resources or survivors of technology-facilitated violence and abuse (TFVA) and the practitioners in the violence against women (VAW) sector who support them. This presentation covers the project’s trauma-and violenceinformed lens, its qualitative methods, key findings, and ongoing development of resources.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PROJECT ANNUAL REPORTS SUBMITTED TO PHAC
Representatives from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) provided the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice with an update on the data received from the first year of the projects’ annual reports (April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023). This summary was presented during the virtual meeting on September 20, 2023, and involved data from the projects linked through the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice. A few key themes emerged from the reports including the importance of relationships, integrating approaches, and common challenges:
1. The Importance of Relationships
In the context of project management, relationships are crucial to success, including relationships with collaborators, including partner organizations, and between facilitators and participants or between participants themselves. Effective communication, collaboration, and mutual understanding are essential to achieving project relational objectives, and it is important to recognize that relationships take (a long) time to build and project management must account for this slow process.
2. Integrating Approaches in Projects
Several projects have incorporated complexity into their projects by integrating issues into one intervention such as violence and substance use, engaging families rather than the more common individually based programming and delivering projects by combining traditional in-person approaches with online approaches. Integrating approaches may have transformative potential in addressing the complex issues involving family violence, as some participants have noted appreciation for such interventions.
3. Challenges Identified
Recruiting competent staff, recruiting research participants for longitudinal studies, and managing timelines related to ethical approvals are all challenges that projects reported that they faced in the past year. These challenges were further complicated for projects engaged in multi-site research and the continuation of a general pandemic fallout. Some suggestions for completing future annual reports were provided. Project teams are encouraged to contact their PHAC Program Officers with questions related to how to complete future reports. A recording of the presentation and slides are available in the CoP portal for your reference.
RESOURCE SHARING
Powering Up: Trauma-Informed Leadership from Self to Community
Two resources were developed by YWCA Toronto and Lorraine Greaves (CoP member) of the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. These resources include a training guide for women to increase understanding of trauma-informed practice (TIP) and to encourage leadership development; and a facilitator’s manual for peer leaders. The Knowledge Hub team completed the TIDE facilitator training guide by having a different team member lead each lesson and working through discussions and activities together. The team greatly benefited from the opportunities to explore facilitation skills and solidify our knowledge related to TIP and think about how we apply this in our work with the CoP. Learn more and access these resources: The TIDE Project in Partnership with YWCA Toronto – Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (cewh.ca)
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WORKING GROUPS
Members of the Knowledge Hub team have been brainstorming and reviewing the literature on various topics that have been mentioned as important throughout meetings and events with members of the Trauma-Informed Community of Practice. Prepared with a preliminary understanding of the topics, members began reaching out to select CoP members on collaboration opportunities and facilitating the creation of various resource outputs.
One working group involves trauma- and violence-informed research frameworks. The group has met once thus far and discussed the content and opportunities for mobilizing what is known about these frameworks. Another working group involves creating a resource document identifying trauma- and violence-informed evaluation tools, which has also had one introductory meeting.
If you are interested in joining either of these working groups, please reach out to a KH team member.
UPCOMING EVENTS 
Community of Practice members are invited to participate in future virtual meetings held via Zoom.
Dates and topics include:
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MEETINGS
October 11, 2023 – Recruitment for research and intervention programs
November 22, 2023 – Conducting needs assessments
WEBINARS
October 17, 2023 – The Origins of the #MeToo Movement. Presented by Kharoll-Ann Souffrant
November 14, 2023 – Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Among Teens: Closing the Gap in Canadian Knowledge & Resources. Presented by Alexa Dodge, Christopher Dietzel, Suzie Dunn, and Kaitlynn Mendes
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE ONLINE DROP-IN SESSIONS
CoP members are invited to drop-in via Zoom on the last Thursday of each month between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. ET. Members of the Knowledge Hub team will keep the Zoom link open during this time to allow CoP members to chat with each other. The meeting link is available in the CoP portal on the Knowledge Hub website.
Upcoming Drop-In Sessions:
Thursday, October 26, 2023 12:00- 2:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, November 30, 2023 12:00 2:00 p.m. ET
KNOWLEDGE HUB'S NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Welcome to Ajirioghene Evi
Ajirioghene Evi is joining the Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children part-time as a Research Associate, providing leadership and support to the Knowledge Hub. Ajirioghene comes with a wealth of experience including as a Community Engagement Specialist at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, and a part time faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University. Ajirioghene volunteers in an inaugural role as Executive Director of a Black-led Not-For-Profit organization, Kind Minds Family Wellness (KMFW), awarded 2023 Agency of Excellence by the United Way-Waterloo Region Communities. As the Executive Director, she oversees the administration, programs, and strategic plans of KMFW. In addition, she ensures the enhancement of KMFW's image is active and visible in the community by working closely with other professionals and civic and private organizations. Training and education are critical to Ajirioghene's passion for giving back. She achieves this through freelance consulting and teaching on dismantling Systemic Racism, Knowledge Mobilization, Stakeholder Engagement, Cross-Cultural Leadership, and Change Management Strategies. Ajirioghene holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Development Studies and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Waterloo. She also has a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Western University.
Welcome to Jessica Webb
Jessica Webb is joining us full-time as an Implementation Coordinator, helping the Knowledge Hub continue consistent and positive collaboration and communication with the members of the Trauma- Informed Community of Practice. Jessica has links to the CoP, through previous work with the Trauma- and Violence Informed Physical Activity project. During the 2010’s Jessica lived in Vancouver, BC, completing her BA at the University of British Columbia, and working in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Working in some of the most progressive harm reduction programs in Canada, Jessica cares deeply about trauma-informed and accessible health services for women and children who experience violence and marginalizing conditions. Since finishing her MA at the University of Ottawa in 2021, Jessica has been a Policy Advisor with the Native Women’s Association of Canada working on projects related to cannabis, human trafficking, and forced and coerced sterilization.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Fostering Violence Prevention and Well-Being for Black Women, Families and Communities led by Dr. Patrina Duhaney has launched a project website. Fostering Domestic Violence Prevention in Black Communities (dvpreventioninblackcommunities.com)
Knowledge Hub Team
- Ajirioghene Evi, Research Associate, aevi@uwo.ca
- Allison Gray, Research Coordinator, agray28@uwo.ca
- Anna-Lee Straatman, Project Manager, astraat2@uwo.ca
- Jade Vajna, Media Technician, jvajna@uwo.ca
- Jessica Webb, Implementation Coordinator, jwebb63@uwo.ca
- Katreena Scott, Academic Director, kscot47@uwo.ca
- Sabry Adel Saadi, Implementation Coordinator, Francophone, ssaadi2@uwo.ca
Check Us Out on Social Media
Facebook: facebook.com/LNandKH
Twitter: twitter.com/lnandkh
Website: http://kh-cdc.com/
