YWCA shelters in the territories may soon see a revamp to staff training to account for challenges unique to the North.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's hard to imagine, I think, for a lot of people, that you would be running the only residential resource for women in a remote community and there you are, and you're presented with women who have trauma, who have mental health challenges, who have addictions, who have tough lives, and yet you don't have a lot of support or backup in that. And how scary that would be. How challenging,SA国际影视传媒� said Lyda Fuller, executive director of YWCA NWT.
YWCA staff training is currently based on a national curriculum. Northern shelters, however, particularly those in more remote communities, have fewer client resources at their disposal, Fuller explained.
Limited access to addictions or mental health services, for example, means that staff often have to fill in the gaps themselves, Fuller said.
NNSL file photo.
YWCA NWT is looking for a contractor to create a Northern training plan.
In general, many of the skills necessary to be a successful shelter worker are not location specific. Among them, Fuller lists active listening skills and understanding trauma SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渢hose things donSA国际影视传媒檛 change,SA国际影视传媒� she said SA国际影视传媒� but the territories need training that addresses the realities of service delivery in Northern or remote communities.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking for somebody who understands curriculum development, understands the challenges of working in places where there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a well-developed service sector, who can identify whatSA国际影视传媒檚 out there and how it might be adapted to be more useful in the North,SA国际影视传媒� Fuller said.
The position will be funded through a Rogers family donation to WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Shelters Canada. The YWCA is accepting the money on behalf of the territories and will use it for training revamp and implementation.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are lots of challenges,SA国际影视传媒� Fuller said. SA国际影视传媒淥nce youSA国际影视传媒檝e got the modules, how do they get delivered and how can we facilitate that?SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淗ow are we going to help the shelters access the training because not all the shelters even have computers.SA国际影视传媒�
In the NWT there are currently two YWCA shelters, Alison McAteer House in Yellowknife and Sutherland House in Fort Smith. In Nunavut, there is YWCA Agvvik in Iqaluit.
A partial Northern curriculum was created SA国际影视传媒� Fuller believes about 15 years ago SA国际影视传媒� though it focuses primarily on shelter clients dealing with family violence. The new modules will update the training with circumstances relevant to current shelter needs, as well as create a more comprehensive plan.
The Rogers family donation follows the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 February to the NWT YWCA. The investment was made to SA国际影视传媒渋ncrease womenSA国际影视传媒檚 safety across the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� by collaborating with community members, including clients of the shelter, and political leaders.
SA国际影视传媒淚t will work to ensure that survivors of gender-based violence in small communities can rely on timely, reliable, and trauma-informed services,SA国际影视传媒� the press release said at the time of the announcement.
Fuller said the push for more comprehensive training and more resources is necessary and overdue.
