What's New
Domestic Violence Death Review Committee Annual Report Released
October 11, 2011
The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario presents the 2010 Annual Report of the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee. The Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) was established by the Office of the Chief Coroner in 2003 to investigate and review deaths involving domestic violence, and to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths in similar circumstances and reducing domestic violence in general. Since its inception, the DVDRC has reviewed 111 cases that involved 178 deaths.
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"Growing up with Domestic Violence" by Peter Jaffe, David Wolfe and Marcie Campbell
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can have a profound impact on the children - this book shows to recognize these effects and provide effective clinical interventions and preventive measures.
This compact and easy-to-read text by leading experts shows practitioners and students how to recognize the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on children and youth and to provide effective clinical interventions and school-based prevention programs.
Exposure to IPV is defined using examples from different ages and developmental stages. The book describes the effects of exposure to IPV and reviews epidemiology and etiology. Its main focus is on proven assessment, intervention, and prevention strategies. Relevant and current theories regarding the impact of exposure on children and youth are reviewed, and illustrative real-life case studies from the clinical experiences of the authors are described.
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Kaleigh Ortega: Recipient of the Scotiabank Award for Studies in Violence Against Women and Children
Globally, violence against women and children is a major public health and human rights issue. I’ve been working to change the systems that promote violence and provide support to victims. My work emphasizes the importance of healing and, especially, creating safer environments within families and communities.
For the past three years, I have been a member of Nursing Student Initiatives (NSI) whose focus is global health promotion. NSI works to educate University of Western Ontario (UWO) students on how to improve health care in both international and local communities. Our work directly addresses many issues related to violence against women and children.
In London, I advocated for the inclusion and contributed to the content of a Global Health Promotion Course at The University of Western Ontario. I was also a project leader for the Nursing Student Initiative to Peru in 2010, and I co-founded this year’s initiative in the country of Malawi, in southeastern Africa.
The Global Health Promotion Course commenced in January 2011 and addresses universal socio-political issues surrounding violence against women and children such as gender inequity and women’s health. The course provides our students placements in First Nation communities, and also in institutions which provide treatment for mental illness. Mental illness can be both a cause, and an associated health condition, of violence against women and children.
In July 2010, I volunteered in Cusco, Peru at a shelter for homeless boys aged 5-15 who came from violent or neglectful homes. Many of the boys were living on the streets before coming to the shelter. We raised awareness in London about the boys’ circumstances and about the conditions which exist that caused them to be in this situation. Some of the boys have permanent health issues caused by years of neglect and abuse. In addition to working directly in the shelter with the boys, we were able to donate medical and recreational materials and provide health education to enhance their quality of life.
While in Peru I contributed to establishing an ongoing placement, led by Dr. Helene Berman, for students to return to volunteer each year. Their projects there will address issues such as hygiene, reproduction, and other gender issues, within the community of Urubamba, Peru. The students will be prepared academically, before their placement, for which they will also receive a university credit.
Currently, I am working on raising awareness on women’s and children’s issues in communities in Northern Malawi. We are looking through a community nursing lens and examining factors such as gender inequities, poverty and poor nutrition. The conditions that exist can result in women and children being forced into vulnerable circumstances such as the sex trade and child labor. I am currently working with faculty members and Malawians to establish a placement for myself and another nursing student. We plan to visit the community of Ekwendeni in Malawi, during the month of August 2011, to work on local community nursing initiatives with a focus on gender roles and women’s health.
The Global Health Promotion Course, and the volunteer service placements, are raising awareness of global health issues and gender equality issues for our students in the Health Sciences. By providing firsthand experience in our sustainable global projects, and by participating in course and policy development, we hope to make lasting changes in the societal structure to help break the cycle of violence against women and children.
In addition I am involved in a research project with Neighbours, Friends & Families (NFF) through the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women and Children. I am responsible for data entry of hundreds of evaluative surveys made by community members and organization members of NFF presentations and training.
I support Women’s Issue Network campaigns, donate to V Day charities and attend events such as Take Back the Night in Victoria Park and the recent Vagina Monologues (who sent proceeds to women’s shelters).
As a student nurse, I consciously incorporate my knowledge of intimate partner violence into my practice. I truly believe that the statistics on violence against women are unacceptable. I will continue to advocate for and educate myself and others about ending this global epidemic.