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Community Initiatives Against Family Violence

Through innovative strategies, CIAFV supports the creation of a collaborative, coordinated, diverse, community response to family violence, strengthening our community’s capacity to take constructive action against family violence.

The city of Edmonton and area has a collaborative, coordinated, community response to family violence in which individuals and families are able to live free of violence.

CIAFV Vision

Image by Junwen Shen
Image by Amber Ford

Through innovative strategies, CIAFV supports the creation of a collaborative, coordinated, diverse, community response to family violence, strengthening our community’s capacity to take constructive action against family violence.

ciafv mission

Our
History

On May 26, 1999, a group of professionals met at the invitation of the Safer Cities Advisory Committee of Edmonton. 63 community representatives gathered to discuss issues of concern with regard to family violence in Edmonton. At the conclusion of that meeting, five working groups were formed to address areas of Coordination, Protocols, Funding, Preventative Strategies, and Public Education. In 2007 CIAFV restructured and the previous Protocols Coordinator became the CIAFV Coordinator to oversee CIAFV and a Leadership Team was formed to provide an operations and management structure to the initiative. In 2010, the CIAFV network included 98 nonprofit agencies and government departments. In 2011, CIAFV once again has restructured to become viable in an environment of fiscal restraint by instituting a membership fee and protocol and linking protocol development on a fee for service basis.

The Protocols Working Group of CIAFV started the Protocols Project in 2001. The Protocols Coordinator has been responsible for family violence protocol and linking protocol development in Edmonton and area. CIAFV has assisted 62 Edmonton and area agencies to develop family violence protocols to better respond to clients experiencing family violence. CIAFV has trained over 2600 professionals in family violence and family violence related topics since 2001. Over 400 professionals attend CIAFV events annually.

CIAFV has assisted in the development of 5 Linking Protocols in Edmonton:

  • Intimate Partner Treatment Services

  • Victims Serving Agencies in the Criminal/Civil Justice System

  • Partner Check

  • YWCA Edmonton/enCompass Community Safety Agency

  • St. Albert Seniors Abuse Protocol

 

From January 2009 – July 2010, members of the CIAFV network have contributed over 2000 hours to the work of CIAFV through Project Teams, Linking Protocols and monthly meetings.

Our Team

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Daniela Chavez Vega

Program Coordinator

Registered Social Worker, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Full-Spectrum Doula

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Ashley Lim

Council of Service Providers

M.Ed., Council of Service Providers Chair, Registered Psychologist, Director of Counselling Services & Youth Leadership Programs at YWCA Edmonton.

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Cindy Furlong

Council of Service Providers

Co-Chair of the Public Education and Awareness Raising Committee, Executive Director, Today Family Violence Help Centre

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Cat Champagne

Council of Service Providers

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Stephanie Okell

Council of Service Providers

Family Violence Prevention Team Supervisor, City of Edmonton

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Nimir Rival, Council of Service Providers

Council of Service Providers

Short Bio

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Jamie Primmett, Council of Service Providers

Council of Service Providers

Manager, Edmonton West Community Corrections Office Public Safety and Emergency Services, Government of Alberta

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S/Sgt Jeffery Kaun

Council of Service Providers

Strangulation Identification Action Committee Co-Chair, Staff Sergeant, Edmonton Police Services

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Kaela Hendra

Council of Service Providers

Director of Programs, enCompass Community Safety Agency

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Candace Smallwood

Council of Service Providers

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Lubna Zaeem

Council of Service Providers

Immigrant Violence Family Committee Co-Chair, Registered Psychologist, Clinical Director, Islamic Family

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Adele Towns

Council of Service Providers

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Emmanuel Onah

Council of Service Providers

Director, Community Initiatives at REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities

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Jan Fox

Council of Service Providers

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Deneka Balascak

Council of Service Providers

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Tanya Nelson

Council of Service Providers

Strangulation Identification Action Committee Chair, Supervisor, Family Violence Prevention Unit, Edmonton Region Child and Family Services Division, Alberta Human Services

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Cheryl Whiskeyjack

Council of Service Providers

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Lovette Ferguson

Council of Service Providers

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Carla Pryma

Council of Service Providers

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Emma Potter

Council of Service Providers

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Giri Puligandia

Council of Service Providers

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