Papers and Book Chapters by Lana M Wells
Teen violence in dating and peer relationships has huge costs to society in numerous areas includ... more Teen violence in dating and peer relationships has huge costs to society in numerous areas including health care, social services, the workforce and the justice system. Physical, psychological, and sexual abuse have long-lasting ramifications for the perpetrators as well as the victims, and for the families involved on both sides of that equation. An effective violence prevention program that is part of a school’s curriculum is beneficial not only for teaching teenagers what is appropriate behaviour in a relationship, but also for helping them break the cycle of violence which may have begun at home with their own maltreatment as children. The Fourth R program is an efficacious violence prevention program that was developed in Ontario and has been implemented in schools throughout Canada and the U.S. Covering relationship dynamics common to dating violence as well as substance abuse, peer violence and unsafe sex, the program can be adapted to different cultures and to same-sex relationships. The program, which gets its name from the traditional 3Rs — reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic — offers schools the opportunity to provide effective programming for teens to reduce the likelihood of them using relationship for violence as they move into adulthood. The federal government has estimated that the societal costs of relationship violence amount to more than $7 billion. These costs can continue to be incurred through the legal and health-care systems as the ripple effects of violence play out over the years, even after a relationship has ended. Other types of violence are also costly to society and not just in terms of dollars, but in young lives diverted into criminal activity. Up to 15 per cent of youth who become involved with the justice system grow into serious adult offenders who develop lengthy criminal careers. Yet, research shows that if prevention programs such as the Fourth R can deter just one 14-year-old high-risk juvenile from a life of crime, up to $5 million can be saved in costs to society.
Aboriginal women in Canada are at significantly higher risk for spousal violence and spousal homi... more Aboriginal women in Canada are at significantly higher risk for spousal violence and spousal homicide than non-Aboriginal women. Although the majority of Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban settings, there is a dearth of literature focusing on the experiences and violence prevention efforts of urban Aboriginal peoples. In order to understand issues relevant to the prevention of domestic violence among this population, we employed Aboriginal community development principles to conduct a scoping review of the relevant literature to explore the meanings and definitions, risk and protective factors, and prevention/intervention strategies within urban Aboriginal communities. Our study underscores that a number of domestic violence risk and protective factors are present in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. However, the multifaceted impacts of colonization, including residential school trauma is a key factor in understanding domestic violence in urban Aboriginal contexts. The limited available research on this topic highlights the need for Aboriginal-led research directed towards eliminating the legacy of violence for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
In the November LawNow Magazine, Lana Wells and Alina Turner discuss the relationship between alc... more In the November LawNow Magazine, Lana Wells and Alina Turner discuss the relationship between alcohol and domestic violence and think that there are too many liquor outlets in Alberta. The article suggests that municipalities in Alberta could take a stronger stance by introducing a moratorium on new licenses in communities with higher liquor outlet density. In areas that already have a high concentration of liquor stores, municipalities could consider relocation and consolidation as a means of addressing density retroactively. Municipalities could also strengthen zoning regulations to address density by using a combination of population- and geographic-based formulas to restrict the number and location of alcohol outlet licenses. The authors note that the availability of alcohol alone does not cause violent behaviour; however, when combined with pre-existing gender expectations which render violence and drinking as acceptable male behaviours, it can be a contributing factor.
This report was written for Women and Gender Equality Canada (formerly Status of Women Canada) to... more This report was written for Women and Gender Equality Canada (formerly Status of Women Canada) to highlight what we know about the effective prevention of violence directed at women and girls in a Canadian context. The extensive and damaging impacts of violence against women and girls suggests that this is a public health problem rather than simply an issue for the courts to deal with one case at a time. Some girls and women are at higher risk of violence, while others may be more protected from it. This report reviewed the extensive literature in the prevention of violence against women and girls field and classified programs as evidence-based, research-based, or promising.
We start with an assessment of primary prevention programs delivered in elementary and secondary schools. We then discuss bystander interventions, which typically seek to develop skills and awareness to intervene when peers are engaging in unsafe behaviour. We then discuss more targeted programming, including approaches developed specifically to engage men and boys; programming for youth who are considered higher risk for relationship violence; and, programming developed and evaluated with specific populations. After the discussion of programs, we turn to evidence about non-programmatic approaches. A non-programmatic approach includes advocacy, policy-work, systems change, social networks approach, social norms, key influencers, and community development. We conclude by identifying potential next steps. For English version of the report, please click the download button below.
For three years (2012-2015), a group of community-based agencies, school boards, funders and Shif... more For three years (2012-2015), a group of community-based agencies, school boards, funders and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence came together to develop a strategic and coordinated approach to violence prevention programming (VPP) in Calgary. The project resulted in a number of resources, including:
Resource 1: A framework to guide sector-wide coordination of VPP programs
Resource 2: A list of evidence-based principles to guide VPP program development
Resource 3: A checklist to guide educators in selecting VPP programs for their schools
Resource 4: A checklist to guide community-based agencies in determining what schools would be a good fit for their VPP programs, and
Resource 5: Online compendia of violence prevention and healthy relationship programs for schools
These resources are intended to support quality school-based VPP programming, and are intended to be distributed broadly. Please follow the download link to access the resources.
At this moment in Alberta, Canada, we all have an opportunity to better support men and boys to p... more At this moment in Alberta, Canada, we all have an opportunity to better support men and boys to play a positive role in the movement to end violence against women. For this reason, we have proposed recommendations specific to the Government of Alberta to inform the development of their Action Plan to positively engage men and boys to advance gender equality and promote healthy masculinities in order to stop violence against women. However, we envision this report as an interim strategy because once men have been invited into the movement in positive ways and they become true allies and leaders in stopping violence against women, they can then be included in a more general strategy to engage all genders in violence prevention. In this sense, engaging men and boys is a bit like preferential hiring or reverse discrimination policies – that is, something that is needed for a period of time to redress a particular oversight or injustice, but is relinquished once that issue has been addressed. As a result, this report was written with the following assumptions in mind:
- That the work with men and boys must be done in partnership with women’s organizations. All genders must be engaged to achieve gender equality and stop violence against women.
- Funds must not be taken away or diverted from existing women’s organizations in order to advance an engaging men and boys strategy. New funds and resources must be found.
- Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. As such, this work must be informed by a human rights based approach in order to empower all genders to claim their rights and to ensure accountability of individuals and institutions who are responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling rights.
- Experiences of masculinity are affected by class, location, ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and many other factors. We need to reflect this intersectionality in our analysis, funding, program design and evaluation strategies.
- We live in a patriarchy that reinforces structural inequities and reinforces violence against women. We therefore must work towards dismantling the existing structures and norms that breed men’s sense of entitlement and maintain their privilege, power and control over women.
- Gender equality is in the best interest of everyone.
This report is written with the intention of:
- changing the discourse on men and boys from perpetrators to allies and violence disrupters:
- promoting the inclusion of men and boys in efforts from which they have been largely absent, and
- promoting the use of research and evidence to inform our violence prevention approach.
Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. Shift is committed to advancing this area of research and invites you to contact us to continue the dialogue and learning. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary ([email protected]).
This paper describes the Supporting the Supporters Research initiative that aimed to understand:
... more This paper describes the Supporting the Supporters Research initiative that aimed to understand:
1) the value of informal supports in the lives of those dealing with domestic violence,
2) how best to support informal supports to effectively respond to the needs of the victim,
3) the service provider perspective on the perceived reluctance of friends and families to intervene,
4) the services already being offered to informal supports in Calgary,
5) how organizations that specialize in domestic violence in Calgary can start to build customized education programs and supports that are geared towards informal supports including the general public to prevent domestic violence.
Implications for the service delivery context in Calgary and area.
This report contains the findings from a series of six consultations that Shift conducted through... more This report contains the findings from a series of six consultations that Shift conducted throughout Alberta to better understand risk factors related to domestic violence victimization and perpetration within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, as well as barriers to help-seeking. A total of 81 individuals from across Alberta were involved in the consultations, including representatives from the LGBTQ communities, the domestic violence sector, health services, school systems and law enforcement. Participants agreed that there is a need for improved capacity among government and community-based organizations to provide better services to LGBTQ victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. In particular, many participants noted that a lack of appropriate and informed services presents a significant barrier to LGBTQ individuals who are trying to exit unhealthy relationships and/or violent circumstances. Domestic violence service providers themselves acknowledged the limitations of their knowledge about the unique experiences of LGBTQ individuals; however, these providers also demonstrated a genuine desire to learn about, and improve, the provision of care to prevent domestic violence within the LGBTQ community. Specific recommendations directed at the Government of Alberta and community-based agencies are included.
In 2011, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence entered into a formal partnership with the G... more In 2011, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence entered into a formal partnership with the Government of Alberta to rebuild the recently released (November 2013) family violence prevention framework. Both partners agreed on the importance of ensuring that the research on which the prevention framework was based was accessible for practitioners, service providers, policy makers and system leaders throughout the province. Shift also realized that local communities would need to develop the capacity to implement the primary prevention strategies being proposed in the new provincial prevention strategy. As a result, Shift explored evidenced-informed models on knowledge translation, mobilization, and integration and (through a SSHRC Partnership grant and Canadian Women’s Foundation grant) engaged in a pilot project to test a particular Community of Practice (CoP) model in two regions in Alberta. The CoP model piloted was designed with the understanding that the best way to build community capacity for domestic violence primary prevention would be to work through the current research and support practitioners and system leaders to understand how it applies to their local context and communities. We believed this approach would support changes, not only at the individual practitioner level, but also support shifts in decision-making at the organizational, systems, and policy level.
A small steering committee of individuals (see Appendix 1) in Calgary is interested in exploring ... more A small steering committee of individuals (see Appendix 1) in Calgary is interested in exploring the feasibility of a community-service organization that would target South Asian communities. Coupled with interest from the Minister of Human Services, the Honorable Manmeet Bhullar, this group is interested in understanding the best practices of the Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) organization based in Toronto, Ontario, which delivers a comprehensive service delivery model. This model, developed by PCHS-Toronto, implements culturally appropriate interventions in the South Asian communities in the areas of addictions, mental health, aging, health promotion, domestic violence, and parenting (Punjabi Community Health Services, 2010). PCHS started in 1990 by delivering one service – a support service for men with addiction problems – and continued to build its service model by including research and community-level assessments.Today, the organization delivers 24 programs, to various South Asian communities, including public events, educational workshops, and cultural competency training. Shift is interested in supporting community organizations in their pursuit to prevent domestic violence in their communities. This report will support the Calgary committee to understand the essential components of PCHS-Toronto that are required to build a similar organization in Calgary. The model proposed in this report draws on PCHS-Toronto, but does not attempt to replicate it in its entirety because any organization in Calgary needs to be sensitive to, and borne of, the Calgary context.
The purpose of this research is threefold:
1) To provide an overview of research pertaining to b... more The purpose of this research is threefold:
1) To provide an overview of research pertaining to best and promising practices in the area of violence prevention programming for children and youth;
2) To provide an analysis of children- and youth-focused violence prevention programs currently offered by non-profit organizations in Calgary, Alberta;
3) To provide recommendations to inform subsequent phases for developing a strategic coordinated community approach to violence prevention programming for children and youth in Calgary.
This research identified various types of violence prevention programming offered throughout Calgary, specifically identifying the differences between school and community-based programs and universal/targeted approaches.
This report was created in partnership by the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AAS... more This report was created in partnership by the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence to facilitate a discussion about primary prevention of sexual violence and to inform the development of a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta. The purpose of this research is:
1) To present a synopsis of the scoping review of sexual violence plans from around the world;
2) To provide an overview of common elements among all plans reviewed;
3) To identify areas for inclusion in a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta.
This document explores whether material included in the ongoing Statistics Canada General Social ... more This document explores whether material included in the ongoing Statistics Canada General Social Survey can provide the benchmarking and monitoring data needed to determine the success of domestic violence prevention and intervention initiatives in Alberta. Specific recommendations are offered.
In light of the fact that Aboriginal women face a significantly higher risk of spousal violence a... more In light of the fact that Aboriginal women face a significantly higher risk of spousal violence and homicide than non-Aboriginal women, this study aimed to examine the risk and protective factors, definitions, and best practice in the area of Aboriginal communities and domestic violence prevention. In addition, through the research process, it was our hope to identify community readiness and momentum for primary prevention work.
This article presents findings from a national qualitative research study of 33 diverse and profe... more This article presents findings from a national qualitative research study of 33 diverse and profeminist leaders who identify as men and are engaged in gender equality work with men and boys across Canada. Key findings include the need to meet men where they are at, moving away from the ineffective "all men are perpetrators" frame, and to evolve to new and more relatable narratives and approaches that get men committed to this work for their own liberation. Taking an intersectional approach and working in partnership with feminist and intersectional organizations are essential to advancing gender equality in the Canadian context.
Alberta’s Primary Prevention Playbook is a comprehensive primary prevention strategy developed fo... more Alberta’s Primary Prevention Playbook is a comprehensive primary prevention strategy developed for the Government of Alberta and the IMPACT collective (a 300+ provincial collective impact initiative). This Playbook emphasizes the belief that perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence are made, not born, and aims to disrupt the pathways that lead to violence while addressing the cultural and structural conditions that perpetuate inequality, exclusion, and discrimination. Drawing on 3+years of collaborative research projects and the design of 12 specific primary prevention action plans, it offers 4 plays along with pragmatic actions to eliminate drivers of violence and increase protective factors for women, equity-deserving groups, and Indigenous Peoples through policy, legislation, and behavior change. The playbook also highlights eight priority policy levers, such as providing income support and advancing Indigenous sovereignty, that can be actioned immediately to mitigate risk factors for perpetration. By implementing the playbook’s four plays, including education, workforce investment, cultural and structural change, and addressing root causes through policy and legislation change, Alberta can create an equitable, inclusive, and violence-free society.
This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary ... more This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary Prevention Framework Policy Collaborative on strategies and actions to prevent domestic and sexual violence. The report highlights the importance of going beyond traditional approaches to violence prevention and, instead, focuses on building pathways to repair harm and support healing from systems of oppression. Recommendations offer a roadmap for the human service sector to engage in transformative learning processes that prioritize social inclusion as a prevention strategy and support equity-deserving communities to experience greater social inclusion and safety. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and coming to terms with the difficult aspects of our history, systems, and practices in order to advance domestic and sexual violence primary prevention approaches that build on cultures founded on principles of healing, trust, and humility.
This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary ... more This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary Prevention Framework Policy Collaborative on strategies and actions to prevent domestic and sexual violence. It highlights the importance of informal supporters and bystanders in preventing domestic and sexual violence, as they are often the first to witness and can intervene and stop violence before it starts. The report emphasizes the need for the anti-violence sector and the Government of Alberta to empower all Albertans to play a role in stopping violence before it starts by integrating informal supporter and bystander approaches into programs and services. A summary of the roles informal supporters and bystanders can play in responding and preventing violence is provided along with an explanation of how people can be empowered to participate in prevention efforts. Lastly, it provides legislative, policy, and program recommendations to enable Albertans to advance primary prevention.
This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary ... more This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary Prevention Framework Policy Collaborative on strategies and actions to prevent domestic and sexual violence. Specifically, this report focuses on advancing gender equality as a primary prevention strategy to stop gender-based violence before it happens. The gender equality plan provides 15 evidence-based strategies and 84 actions for the Government of Alberta to implement. It highlights that gender inequality is a root cause of violence and that achieving gender equality is essential to prevent gendered violence. The report emphasizes the importance of consulting with women, equity-deserving groups, and Indigenous Peoples to prioritize and fine-tune the recommendations.
This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary ... more This report is part of a series of research policy briefs aimed at informing the Alberta Primary Prevention Framework Policy Collaborative on strategies and actions to prevent domestic and sexual violence. It focuses on advancing social inclusion for primary prevention and explains why social exclusion is adriver of domestic and sexual violence. This report can serve as an evidence-based provincial plan for preventing violence against equity-deserving groups in Alberta.
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Papers and Book Chapters by Lana M Wells
We start with an assessment of primary prevention programs delivered in elementary and secondary schools. We then discuss bystander interventions, which typically seek to develop skills and awareness to intervene when peers are engaging in unsafe behaviour. We then discuss more targeted programming, including approaches developed specifically to engage men and boys; programming for youth who are considered higher risk for relationship violence; and, programming developed and evaluated with specific populations. After the discussion of programs, we turn to evidence about non-programmatic approaches. A non-programmatic approach includes advocacy, policy-work, systems change, social networks approach, social norms, key influencers, and community development. We conclude by identifying potential next steps. For English version of the report, please click the download button below.
Resource 1: A framework to guide sector-wide coordination of VPP programs
Resource 2: A list of evidence-based principles to guide VPP program development
Resource 3: A checklist to guide educators in selecting VPP programs for their schools
Resource 4: A checklist to guide community-based agencies in determining what schools would be a good fit for their VPP programs, and
Resource 5: Online compendia of violence prevention and healthy relationship programs for schools
These resources are intended to support quality school-based VPP programming, and are intended to be distributed broadly. Please follow the download link to access the resources.
- That the work with men and boys must be done in partnership with women’s organizations. All genders must be engaged to achieve gender equality and stop violence against women.
- Funds must not be taken away or diverted from existing women’s organizations in order to advance an engaging men and boys strategy. New funds and resources must be found.
- Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. As such, this work must be informed by a human rights based approach in order to empower all genders to claim their rights and to ensure accountability of individuals and institutions who are responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling rights.
- Experiences of masculinity are affected by class, location, ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and many other factors. We need to reflect this intersectionality in our analysis, funding, program design and evaluation strategies.
- We live in a patriarchy that reinforces structural inequities and reinforces violence against women. We therefore must work towards dismantling the existing structures and norms that breed men’s sense of entitlement and maintain their privilege, power and control over women.
- Gender equality is in the best interest of everyone.
This report is written with the intention of:
- changing the discourse on men and boys from perpetrators to allies and violence disrupters:
- promoting the inclusion of men and boys in efforts from which they have been largely absent, and
- promoting the use of research and evidence to inform our violence prevention approach.
Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. Shift is committed to advancing this area of research and invites you to contact us to continue the dialogue and learning. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary ([email protected]).
1) the value of informal supports in the lives of those dealing with domestic violence,
2) how best to support informal supports to effectively respond to the needs of the victim,
3) the service provider perspective on the perceived reluctance of friends and families to intervene,
4) the services already being offered to informal supports in Calgary,
5) how organizations that specialize in domestic violence in Calgary can start to build customized education programs and supports that are geared towards informal supports including the general public to prevent domestic violence.
Implications for the service delivery context in Calgary and area.
1) To provide an overview of research pertaining to best and promising practices in the area of violence prevention programming for children and youth;
2) To provide an analysis of children- and youth-focused violence prevention programs currently offered by non-profit organizations in Calgary, Alberta;
3) To provide recommendations to inform subsequent phases for developing a strategic coordinated community approach to violence prevention programming for children and youth in Calgary.
This research identified various types of violence prevention programming offered throughout Calgary, specifically identifying the differences between school and community-based programs and universal/targeted approaches.
1) To present a synopsis of the scoping review of sexual violence plans from around the world;
2) To provide an overview of common elements among all plans reviewed;
3) To identify areas for inclusion in a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta.
We start with an assessment of primary prevention programs delivered in elementary and secondary schools. We then discuss bystander interventions, which typically seek to develop skills and awareness to intervene when peers are engaging in unsafe behaviour. We then discuss more targeted programming, including approaches developed specifically to engage men and boys; programming for youth who are considered higher risk for relationship violence; and, programming developed and evaluated with specific populations. After the discussion of programs, we turn to evidence about non-programmatic approaches. A non-programmatic approach includes advocacy, policy-work, systems change, social networks approach, social norms, key influencers, and community development. We conclude by identifying potential next steps. For English version of the report, please click the download button below.
Resource 1: A framework to guide sector-wide coordination of VPP programs
Resource 2: A list of evidence-based principles to guide VPP program development
Resource 3: A checklist to guide educators in selecting VPP programs for their schools
Resource 4: A checklist to guide community-based agencies in determining what schools would be a good fit for their VPP programs, and
Resource 5: Online compendia of violence prevention and healthy relationship programs for schools
These resources are intended to support quality school-based VPP programming, and are intended to be distributed broadly. Please follow the download link to access the resources.
- That the work with men and boys must be done in partnership with women’s organizations. All genders must be engaged to achieve gender equality and stop violence against women.
- Funds must not be taken away or diverted from existing women’s organizations in order to advance an engaging men and boys strategy. New funds and resources must be found.
- Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. As such, this work must be informed by a human rights based approach in order to empower all genders to claim their rights and to ensure accountability of individuals and institutions who are responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling rights.
- Experiences of masculinity are affected by class, location, ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and many other factors. We need to reflect this intersectionality in our analysis, funding, program design and evaluation strategies.
- We live in a patriarchy that reinforces structural inequities and reinforces violence against women. We therefore must work towards dismantling the existing structures and norms that breed men’s sense of entitlement and maintain their privilege, power and control over women.
- Gender equality is in the best interest of everyone.
This report is written with the intention of:
- changing the discourse on men and boys from perpetrators to allies and violence disrupters:
- promoting the inclusion of men and boys in efforts from which they have been largely absent, and
- promoting the use of research and evidence to inform our violence prevention approach.
Shift believes that working with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also on the lives of men and boys. Shift is committed to advancing this area of research and invites you to contact us to continue the dialogue and learning. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary ([email protected]).
1) the value of informal supports in the lives of those dealing with domestic violence,
2) how best to support informal supports to effectively respond to the needs of the victim,
3) the service provider perspective on the perceived reluctance of friends and families to intervene,
4) the services already being offered to informal supports in Calgary,
5) how organizations that specialize in domestic violence in Calgary can start to build customized education programs and supports that are geared towards informal supports including the general public to prevent domestic violence.
Implications for the service delivery context in Calgary and area.
1) To provide an overview of research pertaining to best and promising practices in the area of violence prevention programming for children and youth;
2) To provide an analysis of children- and youth-focused violence prevention programs currently offered by non-profit organizations in Calgary, Alberta;
3) To provide recommendations to inform subsequent phases for developing a strategic coordinated community approach to violence prevention programming for children and youth in Calgary.
This research identified various types of violence prevention programming offered throughout Calgary, specifically identifying the differences between school and community-based programs and universal/targeted approaches.
1) To present a synopsis of the scoping review of sexual violence plans from around the world;
2) To provide an overview of common elements among all plans reviewed;
3) To identify areas for inclusion in a sexual violence and sexual health action plan for Alberta.