Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against
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VA 419097WXXX10.1177/1077801211419097Jaffe et al.Violence Against Women © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Article Violence Against Women XX(X) 1 –17 A Canadian Model for © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: Building University sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1077801211419097 and Community http://vaw.sagepub.com Partnerships: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children Peter G. Jaffe1, Helene Berman1, and Barb MacQuarrie1 Abstract The importance of Canadian research on violence against women became a national focus after the 1989 murder of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal. This tragedy led to several federal government studies that identified a need to develop centers for applied research and community–university alliances on violence against women. One such center is the Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women and Children. The Centre was founded in London, Canada in 1992 out of a partnership of a university, a community college, and community services. The centre’s history and current activities are summarized as a model for the development and sustainability of similar centers. Keywords Canadian research centers, interdisciplinary, violence against women Introduction The Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women and Children was founded in London, Canada in 1992 out of a partnership of a university (Western Ontario), 1University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada Corresponding Author: Peter G. Jaffe, Center for Research & Education on Violence against Women and Children, University of Western Ontario, 1137 Western Road, Room 1118, Faculty of Education Building, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 1G7 Email: [email protected] Downloaded from vaw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF WESTERN ONTARIO on October 14, 2015 2 Violence Against Women XX(X) a community college (Fanshawe), and community services dedicated to improving services to abuse victims, perpetrators, and their children (London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse). Currently integrated into the university’s Faculty of Education,1 the centre began through a major 5-year federal grant designed to stimulate and enhance applied research on this topic. The centre was one of five centers established in Canadian universi- ties through these grants and is part of an alliance of these centers (other centers are identified in the Partnerships section below). To illustrate the centre’s growth over the past decade, we went from two-and-a half staff with US$1 million from two grants in 2002 to five staff with US$6.6 million in open grants in 2009. To indicate the breadth of activities just in the past year, the centre has hosted six major conferences and think-tanks and 12 workshops with 10 different University of Western Ontario faculties, 12 community partners, and six other universi- ties in Canada. Faculty members of the centre are involved in teaching courses, such as violence prevention (safe schools) at the graduate and undergraduate levels for the Faculty of Education and trauma courses for the Faculty of Health Sciences as well as graduate student supervision and participation as thesis examiners. In this article, we provide an overview of our history, organizational structure, and current activities as well as our long-term planning process. Impetus for the Research Centre’s Creation and its Current Mission The work of the centre was born out of a national tragedy: the 1989 murder of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal by a man expressing hatred of women and feminists. This tragedy led to a number of studies sponsored by the federal government to examine the social context of this violence (Standing Committee on Health and Welfare, Social Affairs, Seniors and the Status of Women, 1991). The federal government commissioned a panel of experts on violence against women to hold formal and informal hearings across the country to examine the depth of these problems. The final report titled, Changing the Landscape: Ending Violence—Achieving Equality, made sweeping recommendations about public education and systemic changes to institutions, including the identified need for more applied research and community–university alliances (Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women, 1993). The centre and other centers developed out of these recommendations by specialized funding made available through federal Social Science and Humanities Research Council and Health Canada grants. The vision for the centre is a commitment to the development and application of knowledge on the prevention of violence against women and children through the promo- tion of innovation, collaborative relationships, and gender equality. The mission of the centre is to facilitate the collaboration of individuals, groups, and institutions representing the diversity of the community to pursue research questions and training opportunities to understand and prevent abuse. It serves local, national, and international communities by producing useful information and tools to assist in the daily work against violence toward women and children. Downloaded from vaw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF WESTERN ONTARIO on October 14, 2015 Jaffe et al. 3 Scope of Work The centre is dedicated to education and research on the topic of violence against women and children. The centre initiates and seeks funding for projects relating to a number of themes, including healthy relationships; violence and its impact on health and well-being; and gender inequality and its interactions with racism, ableism, homophobia, classism, ageism, and other forms of social exclusion. The centre conducts research and education that is relevant to practice, policy development and legislative reform in regards to families and intimate relationships, justice, education, health, social services systems, and institu- tions and workplaces. A central theme is working with antiviolence agencies to continue raising awareness among professionals, family, friends, and coworkers about the warning signs of violence in intimate relationships. Some examples of approaches and activities that promote research and education include program development and evaluation, identification of emerging issues and impor- tant debates, interdisciplinary collaboration among community and academic researchers, and a commitment to the dissemination of research findings—locally, provincially, nation- ally, and internationally. Our education programs focus on public awareness, professional development for various disciplines, and multidisciplinary curriculum development and implementation for undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at the university and community college levels. The centre is committed to community development to build capacity for the develop- ment and implementation of antiviolence initiatives. We support community-based pro- grams and promote promising practices in our writing and community forums. Organizational Infrastructure The centre is integrated in the Faculty of Education. There is an academic director who is a professor on faculty (Jaffe) and a community director who had worked in the community as a director of a sexual assault center (MacQuarrie). In addition to these positions, we have a research chair, supported for the past 10 years by Scotiabank. This position was initially held by Dr. Melanie Randall, jointly appointed to the Faculties of Law and Women’s Studies, for the first 5 years, and was subsequently held by Dr. Helene Berman from the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences for the remaining 5 years. The university funds a position of centre manager for financial and organizational respon- sibilities, as well as a community liaison and administrative support position. We hire research assistants as specific projects and funding allow. For example, at the current time we have a research assistant related to our work with the Chief Coroner’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee and organizing think-tanks as well as discussion papers on the topic. The centre reports to the Dean of the Faculty of Education as well as a Management Committee composed of faculty members and senior administrative staff and chaired by the associate dean of education (graduate studies). The centre also benefits from an Advisory Board composed of four members each from the founding partners (Western, Fanshawe College, and the London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Downloaded from vaw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF WESTERN ONTARIO on October 14, 2015 4 Violence Against Women XX(X) Abuse). The Advisory Board meets three times a year and offers support and research consultation to staff and the Management Committee. The chair of the Advisory Board is a voting member of the Management Committee. The centre also benefits from a wide network of research and community associates with whom we regularly partner on various initiatives. Finally, there are four adjunct faculty members who have appointments in the Faculty of Education and represent diverse interests, such as violence in Aboriginal communities, outreach to Muslim communities, and violence prevention in schools. Financial Operations The Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario provides in-kind space and related costs for the centre. The academic director is a full-time faculty member in education and as such his salary and benefits are also paid by the University of Western Ontario. The Provost at the University of Western Ontario also provides