COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.4.1 – We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by:
Continuing the support for a healing program for men who use violence in intimate relationships such as the Wek’eahkaa A New Day Healing Program.

A New Day is a healing program for men over the age of 18 who have a history of violence in their intimate relationships. The program teaches men new ways to improve their relationships with their partners and families. It is designed to be completed in 20 weekly two-hour sessions in classes of 6 to 10 men.

The A New Day healing program is operated under contract. It uses the same curriculum that was tested during a three-year pilot period, with minor scheduling changes to make it easier for men to get into and stay in the program. Men who are interested in taking the program can contact the John Howard Society for an appointment with a counselor. Their office is on the second floor of the Coldwell Banker building in Yellowknife.

The Department of Justice continues to support this program. Steps undertaken to fulfill this commitment included the completion of an evaluation of the pilot program (Milestone 1) and revising the program based on the evaluation results (Milestone 2).

Related Mandate Commitments:

• Commitment 4.4.1 - We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by: Providing training, public information and outreach on protections provided under the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

• Commitment 4.4.1: We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by: Examining the feasibility of expanding DVTO Court beyond Yellowknife and Hay River.