The author of a study into domestic violence in rural Saskatchewan is not letting dust settle on the report.
Diane Martz is working on a fund-raising proposal incorporating recommendations from a report released in September by the Centre for Rural Studies and Enrichment at St. Peter’s College in Muenster, Sask.
“We are in this area taking the ideas forward,” said Martz, the centre’s director.
She is preparing a proposal to set up a rural family support centre, including hiring a woman’s advocate. The centre would formalize the process by which abused women in rural areas get hel-10-P. It should be highly accessible, where people could find information and have someone to talk to about violence, parenting and personal growth.
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The study showed “women have quite variable experiences with police depending on who they deal with.” They also had mixed reactions to the mental health services they got.
Martz and her co-author, Deborah Bryson Sarauer, interviewed 19 rural women in east-central Saskatchewan.
“Many of the women stayed in abusive situations for years because they had come to accept the abuse as normal. They had been convinced that the abuse was their fault,” the report said.
“Lack of knowledge, embarrassment, fear of reprisal and fear of not being believed caused women to remain silent about the abuse.”
Rural women face more problems because of their geographic isolation, lack of facilities in their community when they leave abusive spouses and the wait to see a counselor.
Martz said the report has had an immediate impact in terms of mental health services in the health district. Women who have been abused now get higher priority -sometimes same-day service.
The report noted women’s concern about a shelter in Humboldt, Sask. It had no budget so there was no staff and the women who stayed in the house felt unprotected. Martz said the shelter is not used any more. Women must again go to Saskatoon, about 100 kilometres away.
Martz said it is tough to know the numbers of rural families affected by domestic violence. With farm incomes low, stress will be high and experts say that increases the likelihood of abuse.
The report’s recommendations include:
- An advocate be hired to help women through the legal and social support systems.
- Counseling should also include the children who have experienced family violence.
- A suitable model be set up to counsel rural men who are abusive.
- Organizations and people who deal with family violence (lawyers, doctors, police, clergy, social workers, teachers) should develop guidelines that ensure consistent and effective service.
The head of the Saskatchewan Battered Women’s Advocacy Network said the report is “wonderful” and carries similar ideas to what SBWAN has been pressuring policymakers for. Julie Johnson said enough research has been done.
“It’s important that the government sits up and takes notice and extends services. The government has to speak up with the cash … not with words of wisdom.”
She said the situation for abused women is the same across rural Saskatchewan. Transportation is an issue because women can’t get to the shelters, counselors or programs.
“I’ve heard rumblings that if women don’t get into shelters, their children will be apprehended (by Social Services).”
Johnson is analyzing results from SBWAN’s own survey this fall. It is examining whether custody and access arrangements for children continue the contact between the adult abuser and victim, perpetuating the cycle of violence. She said parenting becomes another control tactic.
“Mini fights turn into maxi fights over where the kids can go to school, who they can see.”
SBWAN plans to present its recommendations on the issue to provincial politicians in February or March.
Johnson said the next issue will then be funding for the non-profit, non-government agency, which lives from project to project. This past year it had $51,000 to run its office, communicate with volunteers around the province and send out and compile its research project.
