Lana Wells

The role of community-based organizations in school-based violence prevention programming: An action research project

Abstract Research suggests limited attention has been paid to the role played by non-profit community-based organizations in offering violence prevention programming within school settings. This action research project emerged from the desire of researchers, community-based organizations, school systems and funders to explore the specific challenges and opportunities faced by local non-profit community-based organizations when offering school-based violence prevention programming for children and youth. Data revealed challenges in the delivery of violence prevention programming, including lack of consistency and coordination with schools and lack of programming for diverse children and youth. Opportunities for improvement and steps toward action are discussed.

Preventing Domestic Violence in Alberta: A Cost Savings Perspective

Recent studies show that Alberta has the fifth highest rate of police reported intimate partner violence and the second highest rate of self reported spousal violence in Canada, and despite a 2.3 percent decline over the last decade, the province’s rate of self-reported domestic violence has stubbornly remained among the highest in Canada; rates of violence against women alone are 2.3 percentage points higher than the national average. In fact, every hour of every day, a woman in Alberta will undergo some form of interpersonal violence from an ex-partner or ex-spouse. Besides the devastating toll that domestic violence has on victims and their families, the ongoing cost to Albertans is significant. In the past five years alone it is estimated that over

Developing domestic violence primary prevention capacity through a community of practice project: Learnings from Alberta, Canada

600 million will have been spent on the provision of a few basic health and non health supports and that the majority of this cost (

Engaging Men and Boys in Domestic Violence Prevention: Opportunities and Promising Approaches

521 million) is coming out of the pockets of Albertans in the form of tax dollars directed at the provision of services. Fortunately, investment in quality prevention and intervention initiatives can be very cost effective, returning as much as

A CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: LEARNINGS FOR PREVENTION FROM THE CALGARY FILIPINO COMMUNITY

20 for every dollar invested. Recent research on preventative programming in the context of domestic violence shows promising results in reducing incidents of self-reported domestic violence. The economic analysis of this preventative programming suggests that the benefits of providing the various types of programming outweighed the costs by as much as 6:1. The potential cost savings for the Alberta context are significant; the implementation of these preventative programs has been estimated to be approximately

Estimating Costs and Benefits Associated with Evidence-Based Violence Prevention: Four Case Studies Based on the Fourth R Program

9.6 million while generating net cost-benefits of over

The Connection Between Professional Sporting Events, Holidays and Domestic Violence in Calgary, Alberta

54 million. Domestic violence is a persistent blight, and continues to have a significant impact on individuals and families in Alberta, but potent tools exist to fight it. This brief paper offers a cogent summary of its costs, and the benefits that could be reaped by investing in quality prevention and intervention programs, making it essential reading for policymakers and anyone else prepared to use them.

State of the Science Brief: Programmatic Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention and Risk Reduction in Post-Secondary Settings

Abstract Domestic violence practitioners and community organizations often lack the capacity to engage in primary prevention activities. In part, this limited capacity exacerbates the gap between evidence-based research and practice, necessitating innovative initiatives specifically aimed at user uptake. Using a community of practice (CoP) model within two distinct communities in Alberta, Canada, we sought to translate research knowledge on domestic violence prevention and build primary prevention capacity with practitioners. One hundred twenty professionals from various sectors attended CoP sessions, with 20 attending all six sessions. Data was collected using in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews. Interview findings include that face to-face learning was effective for deeper understanding and building networks across sectors, as well as supporting new aspects of prevention work that had not been previously considered. Findings also indicate that skilled facilitation increased CoP effectiveness, particularly where community context was considered in relation to the topics presented. Impacts include changes to discourse, priorities, and resource allocation to support primary prevention. Areas for improvement include a slower pace of information delivery, and increased focus on policy and system changes. Overall, using a CoP model seemed to support knowledge translation and practitioner capacity building in the area of domestic violence prevention. Considerations for future utilization of this model are explored.