In a decisive move to address the growing concerns surrounding gender-based and intimate partner violence, the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin declares its full support for the unanimous declaration made by City Council for the City of Greater Sudbury on November 7, 2023.
Recent statistics reveal an increase in the prevalence of gender-based and intimate partner violence with one or the other form of violence emerging in up to 30% of all child protection investigations conducted by the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin.
Research has shown that the impact on children of witnessing this violence, can be profound and enduring, endangering their physical safety, and negatively affecting their mental, emotional, and social well-being. The impacts are inter-generational and often life-long.
Resolution:
The Board of Directors for the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury Manitoulin has passed a resolution acknowledging and endorsing City Council’s declaration of gender-based and intimate partner violence as an epidemic. This resolution represents a call to action and aligns with the Society’s unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of children and families within its jurisdictions.
Specialized Team:
In response to the prevalence of gender-based and intimate partner violence, the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin has, for the first time in its more than 100- year history, established a specialized team dedicated exclusively to working with families where evidence of intimate partner or gender-based violence is prevalent. This initiative has emerged from a strategic realignment of existing resources highlighting our enduring commitment to identify and respond to the needs of children, youth, and families in our community.
Call to Action:
The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin heralds City Council’s declaration as a resounding call to action. The Society calls upon community partners, encompassing government, the business sector, and individuals with lived experience, to unite in a fortified collaboration, emphasizing that through collective partnership, we can enhance the safety and well-being of children and families impacted by intimate partner and gender-based violence, thereby disrupting the transmission of this harm into future generations.
Quotes:
“As the Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin, I stand firmly behind City Council’s declaration on gender-based violence. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of children and families compels us to adapt dynamically to the evolving needs of our community. The establishment of our specialized Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Team not only underscores our commitment, but also reflects our relentless efforts to create a meaningful impact within the constraints of existing resources. Recognizing the urgency in this epidemic, we have realigned resources to cultivate a more responsive, supportive environment for victims of intimate partner and gender-based violence.” — Elaina Groves, Chief Executive Officer
“As the Supervisor of the newly formed Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Team at the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin, I am privileged to lead a team that is dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of intimate partner and gender-based violence. City Council’s declaration serves as a catalyst, inspiring us to intensify our collaborative efforts. We firmly believe in the transformative power of partnerships and acknowledge that combatting intimate partner gender-based violence necessitates a collective approach. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working hand in hand with the community, actively engaging in solutions and striving for effectiveness through meaningful collaboration and shared responsibility.”
— Jessica McPhee, Supervisor of the IPV Team
“The Board stands united in endorsing the Society’s commitment to address this epidemic, recognizing the gravity of the issue and the crucial role our organization plays in safeguarding the safety and well-being of children and families. We wholeheartedly endorse and support the Society’s strategic response to realign resources for the establishment of a specialized Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Team. Together and in collaboration with our partners and the broader public, we strive to create a safer and more supportive environment for those affected by intimate partner and gender-based violence, upholding our mission to protect and nurture the most vulnerable members of our community.”
— Linda Wilson, Chair of the Board, CASDSM
Next Steps:
This collaboration will implement comprehensive strategies to safeguard the wellbeing of children and youth, provide supports to survivors, and ultimately prevent intimate partner and gender-base violence in our community. As a collective, our goal is to contribute to the creation of a more secure, supportive, and inclusive environment for all families within our jurisdictional boundaries.
Contact:
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Elaina Groves, CEO
705-562-4784 (cell)
705-566-3113, ext. 2203
About the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin:
- The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin is a provincially mandated child protection agency sanctioned under the Child and Youth Family Services Act (CYFSA) to perform the functions set out under Sec. 35(1) of the CYFSA.
- CASDSM is committed to working with families to ensure that their children can remain safely in their own home wherever possible. In 97% of the families who come to the attention of CASDSM, supportive interventions prevent children from being removed from their families and placed in the care of the Society. In the 3% of families where children must be removed to safeguard their wellbeing, the Society provides supportive interventions to strengthen healthy family functioning and thereby reduce risks to the children in the parental home so they can be returned. In rare instances where reunification is not possible, the Society works with parents to find extended family who are able to provide an alternate safe place for the children to live.
- In the last fiscal year, over 45% of the families that came to the attention of CASDSM, involved intimate partner or gender-based violence.
