Family violence continues to escalate across rural and remote regions of Atlantic Canada, where service gaps and structural inequities compound the risks faced by both survivors and those who have used violence. This webinar will share findings from a mixed-methods study that evaluates the implementation of an online-adapted version of a psychoeducational and restorative program, the Safety and Repair Approach (Augusta-Scott, 2022).
Drawing on needs assessments, demographic surveys, and in-depth interviews with both service users and facilitators, the study examines how virtual delivery can reduce geographic, financial, and social barriers to accessing family violence support. Participants described online programming as enhancing privacy, reducing stigma, and increasing safety and belonging, particularly for men navigating shame and isolation. Service providers and service users emphasized that trauma-informed and relational care can be preserved, and even strengthened, through thoughtful virtual design.
While grounded in the realities of rural and remote service delivery, the lessons learned around accessibility, gender inclusion, and trauma-informed virtual engagement also offer valuable strategies for social workers across practice contexts. The webinar will emphasize how integrating virtual access with community collaboration can build gender-inclusive, trauma-informed, and locally responsive networks of care for all communities.
Webinar Key Objectives:
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Explore innovative virtual approaches to family violence intervention that reduce geographic, financial, and social barriers for both survivors and those who have used violence.
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Examine trauma-informed practices that sustain relational care and promote safety and belonging within online service delivery.
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Identify practical applications for diverse social work settings.
