From Process to ProductImpacting Social Policy in Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in

Aboriginal Contexts

Agenda

Introduction

Working definition of Social Policy

Events leading to set of products

Combining work at differing levels, professions, sectors

Two products / tools and their application

Being Least Intrusive Tool /exercise

Protocol Template / exercise

How is this relevant to your work?

Can you use this process?

Social policy lessons

Summary & Questions

Introduction

Working Definition of social policy

“Social policy is all about social purposes and the choices between

them. The choices and the conflicts between them have

continuously to be made at the government level, the community

level and the individual level. At each level by acting or not acting,

by opting in or contracting out, we can influence the direction in

which choices are made”

Richard Titmuss, 1974 (as cited in Heinonen & Spearman, 2001, p. 76). http://spon.ca/social-policy-

definitions/2007/08/27/

Intentional Process, Action Learning Approach

Shared Work, Different Perspectives

Adult Guardianship Legislation

CRNs, PGT, Health Authority,

Contracted work

Intentional Process, Action Learning Approach

Shared Vision, Common Interests

Prevention Collaborative, First

Nation Working Group

Education of frontline clinicians &

community members

National research, Identifying

promising approaches

Intentional Process, Action Learning Approach

Shared Values & Principles

Critical Analysis, Cultural

Safety, Social Determinants,

Aboriginal Understanding of

Health, Human Relations,

Empowerment, Advocacy &

Change.

Ideal Policy Development

Policy

Problem, definition, research

Objectives with policy goals

OptionsValues

tradeoffs, Recommend-

using judgement

Tacit Social Policy Development

Burning Question

Ways of Working

Knowledge Acquisition and

Lenses

Persistence and Support

Applied Learning

Questions

• How would you use this process?

• What are the parallels you can use in your

context?

Products & ToolsBeing Least Intrusive

Emerges from the frontline practice of responding to situations of abuse and neglect of vulnerable First Nation adults.

It is a hybrid approach that draws on indigenous knowledge, critical social work theory and first hand accounts of response and prevention initiatives within First Nation Communities across Canada.

It is meant to help orientate frontline workers to respond in a way that: is culturally safe, collaborative, strengths based, and facilitates a broader more holistic understanding of health and well-being.

Being Least Intrusive – Video Presentation

Products and Tools

Being Least Intrusive

Is a tool that guides frontline workers through a process of critical preparation, assessment and reflection.

It is divided into 3 sections, each with a series of questions that assists frontline workers to

develop critical self-awareness;

gather information that will inform a more holistic assessment;

engage with clients, families and communities in ways that are culturally safe and appropriate.

Questions

• How could you use this tool?

• Who else could use it?

http://www.nicenet.ca/files/U_of_T_Nice_185649_

BLI_Jul_2012Tool.pdf

Products & Tools

Protocol Templates

Public Guardian & Trustee of BC commissioned work to develop a provincial template that could be used by Designated Agencies (provincial health authorities) and First Nation Communities to assist in the development of collaborative partnerships of response and prevention work

It has been used by VIHA and Kwakiutl District Council as a framework for their ongoing partnership in delivering services to the 10 KDC member communities.

Protocol is Signed

WEAAD Day

Thunderbird Hall,

Campbell River, BC

June 15, 2012

Questions

• Are there areas in your practice needing

protocols like this ?

• Do you have the relationships in place to support

the development and co-creation of a protocol

like this ?

• Can it be inter-professional?

Adaptability of Tools

Tools and practice emerge from multiple and intersecting points.

Structured by provincial legislation

Enriched and supported by national research projects and community

based response and prevention strategies

Informed by the realities of frontline practice

Founded on principles and values honoring self-determination,

autonomy and empowerment

Grounded in a critical awareness of the cultural, social and historical

context in which adult abuse and neglect emerges and is experienced.

Social Policy Lessons

Used principles of how we think people should be

served and how to treat one another

Relationships at all levels

Partners continually identified and invited

Social Policy Lessons

Seeing linkages between projects-opportunities to

further explore or explore more deeply

Commitment to the process and carrying on

Combination of “off the side of the desk” and

mainstream funded endeavors

Social Policy Lessons

Lack of tools and practice provided freedom to do what

we thought was the right thing

Created a cross professional community of practice-

deliberate action and discernment of critical differences

in action and practice

Managed up at every opportunity (audaciously)

Summary

Tacit process becoming

explicit and deliberate

Across professions

A body of linked work

A „stream‟ of interrelated and

complementary products

A collaborative practice

Social Policy

By the study of anthropology, sociology, and

psychology and such elements of social and

political economy as are relevant we try to

work out our correct principles to guide us in

our approach to the social problems of the

time.

Nevertheless, the applications of those

principles to a given situation is an art.

Aneurin Bevan 1952

Thank You Alison Leaney, MSW, RSW,

Public Guardian and Trustee of BC (604) 660 4413ALeaney@Trustee.bc.ca

April Struthers, M Ed, RCC, Wit Works Ltd. (604) 885 0651www.witworks@dccnet.com

Lindsay Neufeld, MSW, RSW, VIHA Professional Practice Office – CDMR(250) 287-6433Lindsay.Neufeld@viha.ca