An Evaluation of the Violence is Preventable (VIP) Program

Staff Increases in Awareness and Knowledge
Area of Increased
Awareness and
Knowledge
The impact of domestic
violence
Signs to look for in
children and youth
Resources to help
children and educators
Strategies to help children
and youth
Prevalence of domestic
violence in Canada
Difference between
exposure and witnessing
% of 55 Staff
Examples of comments
indicating
this area
42% The impact on children’s behavior (e.g., withdrawing or acting out; feelings
of isolation; blaming of the self).
39% Behavioral signs such as anger, withdrawal, learning challenges, social
problems.
36% VIP/CWWA programs; websites; phone numbers.
36% Creating a safe classroom environment; talking about feelings; having a
signal with the student; helping student develop coping strategies;
reinforcing that it is not their fault, they are not alone and they should
never intervene in a fight between adults.
33% Didn’t realize it was so prevalent; you don’t really want to think it is going
on.
4% Didn’t know the difference before.
Part Two:
Thirty-eight school personnel (33 educators; 5 other school personnel) completed a feedback
form (see Appendix A2). Of these 38 individuals, 26 were female, 9 were male and 3 did not
identify their gender. Of the participants, 21% indicated they had at least one parent who was
Aboriginal and 42% indicated they had at least one parent born outside of Canada. School
personnel were asked to rate their agreement with 6 statements on a Likert-type scale (1= “not
at all true” to 5 = “very true”). Results for each statement are presented below:
Number of School Staff
20
15
10
5
0
Before the presentation, I had knowledge about the
impact that domestic violence has on children and
youth.
Not at all true A little true Pretty true Quite true Very true
Level of Agreement with the Statement
19 | F a l l 2 0 0 8 V I P E v a l u a t i o n