Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is a province in Canada, with a population that hovers around 525000 people. It is a small island, most famously known for its people, sense of humor and landscape. However, this month, there is a dark cloud hanging over most of the province. This month in NL, a trial for a man accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter begins. The story of Quinn Butt has been a highlight in the news for the past year. This story is rooted in domestic violence, and it has brought much attention to an issue that needs it. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Intimate partner violence (IPV) as one of the most common forms of violence against women, it includes physical, sexual, emotional abuse and controlling behaviors by an intimate partner, (“Understanding and addressing violence against women”, 2012). IPV occurs in all settings and amongst all socioeconomic, religious and cultural groups. It is interesting to note that spousal violence against women between 1999 and 2004 in Canada declined (a 1% decrease), however NL was the only province during this five-year period to show an increase in spousal violence against women (a 2% increase), Burczycka,M., Conroy,S. (2018). This coupled with NL’s high unemployment rate and higher reported usage of alcohol and substances, is causing many people to look deeper and see what can be done. This post will look at intimate partner/domestic violence through the lens of the Social Ecological Mode (SEM)l and address how this issue is being addressed within NL.
To set the stage, the following is the video of Quinn's mom Andrea, who is from a rural community within NL, who lost her precious daughter, and was the inspiration for this post.
The SEM allows us to look at this issue through a multi level approach. It involves looking at each of the four levels individually recognizing that each level impacts the other. This model considers the contentedness between individual, relationship, community and society. This model also addresses the fluidity across the levels to help sustain change. The NL government has outlined a strategy to help address the concerns of domestic violence in this province and many of the action plans fall into the model’s level’s. Working together for Violence Free Communities ( 2015) outlines the plans NL has to help make a difference on this important issue.
Individual:
This level of the SEM looks at characteristics of the individual that influence behavior change, including knowledge, attitudes,financial resources, values, and stigma to name a few. When we look at the determinants of health that fall into this level, it is hard not to look at some of the variables we can influence. By looking at intimate partner violence at this level we must look at the person, and the things that shape the person. The cycle of violence often continues within families and is hard to infiltrate, to teach ways to stop the cycle. When you look at NL's high unemployment rates, and combine that with some of the lowest literacy rates in the world, there is much work to be done within this level to ensure we are producing the best men and women possible with the tools to prevent violence and know the available resources to manage what life deals to them. Working towards a Violence Free Communities (2015) outlines its first priority as public awareness ,and that all forms of violence and abuse are unacceptable. Its goals are to educate people that violence takes many forms and violence prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Violence will stop when it is no longer tolerated within any aspect of ones life. As you listened to Quinn's mom's story in the video above, she tells us about her life, about the path her life was going with her partner, how she could not believe this was happening to her. She talks of not knowing the cycle of violence, and how before she realized it, she was living that life. Early education is the key to starting to stop the cycle.
Relationship:
This level in the SEM looks at the relationships and if that may increase risk of violence. This level includes peers, friends and family members. Being surrounded by violence increases a persons risk for violence and within this level, much work needs to happen around education and developing a no tolerance approach to violence within your core group, family and friends. Sadly it is difficult for victims to talk to their friends and family about violence, there is fear of disbelief, and sometimes lack of understanding. In Andrea's story, she spoke of her family a friends and being supportive however she was not ready to give up on the relationship. There were multiple attempts to leave the relationship but promises of counselling by the spouse kept Andrea there. People need to know the signs, and be comfortable in asking the tough questions. Having Andrea tell her story at events like the one shown above helps take the stigma away and the preconceived ideas about IPV. Work has been ongoing within the province to help break the cycle of violence, to ensure that support networks are established to help provide sustainability for people leaving abusive situations. Violence prevention committees established in local NL communities help to provide the individual support as well as be the voice of promotion of healthy relationships. People need to know the resources of how to support a persons choice to leave. Andrea says that once she came to terms with the fact that she needed to provide a safe home for her daughter Quinn,only then was she able to find the strength to start again.
Community:
This level includes the settings, like schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods, where relationships occur. Prevention strategies at this level are pivotal to influence impact on the social and physical environment for example, reducing social isolation, improving economic and housing opportunities in communities, as well workplace conditions . Transition housing exists in the provide with a mandate for shelter, support and access to services for women and their children. These shelters help in the immediate addressing of social isolation. Many of these shelters have volunteer groups and connect women with other women for support. The NL government also has a start up allowance for housing/ furniture for people seeking to move out of abusive situations and start again. The NL government recently amended its Labour standards act to allow for 10 days leave, 3 with pay, for people needing to received services of any type because of violence. This includes anything from legal appointments, to counselling, or medical appointments. These are just a few of the initiatives at this level that are beginning to make a difference in this province. Quinn's mom was fortunate to have much support available to her at this level, she was supported by family and friends however starting over financially was a challenge for her. It is difficult for women to start over even with these supports, its new territory with limited financial support while at the same time dealing with the emotional trauma of violence. Supported employment opportunities do exist for women through government initiatives as well in this province. These programs offer workplace preparation and support to help women through the early transition stages. The issues of substance abuse fall into this level and needs to be addressed in order for change to occur. Andrea will speak of substance abuse issues in their relationship that escalated the violence in their relationship. Access to addiction services plays a strong role is addressing this issue at the community level.
Societal:
The fourth level looks at the broad societal factors that allows a climate of violence to exist. The NL government has a road map and action plan inclusive of the following of programs targeted at youth, the duty to report child abuse, violence prevention against older persons, women and our aboriginal community. It is important to look at the cultural norms that contribute to the acceptance of violence in a persons life. The ways that people resolve conflict contribute to the overall culture. Other factors such as the role of the male dominance, can impact the view in violence situations. In Newfoundland and Labrador as of July 1 2006, the Family Violence Protection Act became law, this legislation allows for victims of violence to apply for an Emergency Protection Order (EPO). This order can be granted within 24 hours of application. This EPO allows police to remove the offender from the home, take away firearms, give temporary custody of the home and children, and allow for extra conditions based on the circumstance and approved by the court. As you hear Quinn's story, you hear concerns with Child Youth and Family services involvement in the case, you will hear the questions around access to her father knowing the violence was present in the home. The case before the courts is reporting issues with court dates, access hearings, frustration on both parents parts around how timely the response was by these services to this family. There is discussion on the lack of respect for court orders, and how this escalated the fear in Quinn and her mom. These issues do fall back to the province to help address and improve. NL schools are continually adding to the school curriculum and talking about violence. However, education without the community, without the support of your family and friends, and without a justice system that will help protect the victims will cause us to fall short. All aspects of society need to have violence prevention as a core value to any policy that is in existence.
Creating a violence free province is no easy task. One aspect to the look at the society as a whole, inclusive of the determinants of health and look to create a society that will not tolerate violence. Employment, culture, income social status, health practices, and education all have areas which the province can lead the charge for change that in turn may change the statistic of violence in our communities. People need employment to feel successful, help with self esteem, provide a living for themselves and their families, without it, the damage to ones self worth is deep. Add this to an existing culture of substance abuse, tolerance of abuse, low reporting rates, and the mountain just got higher. One of the success that the country of Jordan had in addressing its violence intervention was having the health practitioner assess not only the physical but asking about the emotional, specifically the questions around violence, we can learn from that study. There is an old saying that you cannot judge a book by its cover, this shows us that we need to ask questions about violence to people that least look like they are impacted by it.
Violence in our society, country, province, communities and our families is costing us greatly. Sadly, sometimes the cost to our citizens is their lives. In Quinn's case, on her last visit with her dad, she was found dead in a house that was on fire, with her father by her side after a suicide attempt. Quinn's mom will never be the same, nor with the community, or the province. This case impacts everyone. It is causing people to talk about violence, people cannot understand how this happened. Family members on both sides of this issue are torn and shake their heads in despair. Quinn's mom has found courage to tell the story, to try to prevent this from happening to anyone else. It does take all members of our communities, families and governments to help create the changes needed to prevent violence. Within the Social Ecological Model, it shows the reader the multi levels of influence and how we need all the facets of these levels doing their part to create the change we need. One level of the model will never be enough to impact the issue, but all parts working together will provide the best road map for a better society. The inspiration for this post is Quinn, our society needs us to do better. Be a part of the change!
References:
Burczycka,M.,Conroy,S. (2018) Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2016 Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Center for Disease Prevention and Control, The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/publichealthissue/social-ecologicalmodel.html Retrieved February 25 2019
Labour Standards of Newfoundland and Labrador, https://www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/publications/labour/labour_relations_work.pdf Retrieved Feb 26 2019
Sabbah, E. A., Chang, Y., & Campbell, H. N. (2017). Understanding Intimate Partner Violence in Jordan: Application of the Ecological Model. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 53(3), 156–163.
Understanding and addressing violence against women, World Health Organization 2012, https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/77432/WHO_RHR_12.36_eng.pdf;jsessionid=721293A412BFB6738759DC4302EC592D?sequence=1 Retrieved February 26 2019
Violence against women of Newfoundland and Labrador
https://www.gov.nl.ca/VPI/facts/violence_against_women_fact_sheet.pdf Retrieved February 23, 2019
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