DOMESTIC CONFLICT RESPONSE TEAM CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR  

November 17, 2010

A specialized team dedicated to intervening in high-risk domestic conflict cases is celebrating its one-year anniversary with some major successes. 

In December 2009, the three main partners of the Domestic Conflict Response Team (DCRT) – Calgary and Area Child and Family Services (CFSA), Calgary Police Service and HomeFront – officially launched the project in northeast Calgary, with a $1.5 million funding promise over three years. 

                               
Each team focuses on families who have had repeated incidents of domestic violence reported to police or CFSA and who want to make changes before the courts become involved.
Since its inception, the DCRT has reviewed 3,514 domestic reports and has reached out to 213 high-risk families. The team was able to offer assistance and support to 444 adults and 236 children.

                             
In its second year, the DCRT has expanded to south Calgary, supporting families reported to CFSA. In the first 10 weeks of the project, one-third of the cases reviewed have been referred to the team’s outreach worker. Most families are dealing with safety concerns for themselves and their children and require an Emergency Protection Order or Parenting Order and ongoing community supports.

                                           
“By bringing together these intervention services, the partnership is maximizing the response to that one call for help, offering a range of services and support in a timely manner,” said Kevin McNichol, Executive Director of HomeFront. “By intervening earlier, DCRT is reducing the likelihood these families will require further crisis response.”

                                         
The projects are made up of police officers and caseworkers from both HomeFront and CFSA, in collaboration with other community partners. Within three days of an initial visit from the police, the team will return to families deemed high risk or potentially chronic cases to offer them help. After the team makes those referrals, they will then get back in touch with the family to ensure they received the help they were seeking.

                                               
“This program is not only about saving people, it’s about breaking the cycle, and I think we’ve done that for a lot of families,” said Police Chief Rick Hanson. “But we also know that we’ve only scratched the surface. There’s more work to be done.”

                                      
DCRT Sgt. Krista Ryan, Kevin McNichol, Executive Director of HomeFront, and Christina Tortorelli, Executive Manager of Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority and a DCRT client named Carma, will be available to speak with the media today, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. This availability will take place at 11 a.m., on the third floor of the Andrew Davison Building, 133 6 Ave. S.E.

Erin Lillywhite
Communications
HomeFront
403-206-2100 ext.225