Creating Inclusiveness 
When Serving Survivors


Competence 

 The ability to do the work required 

Confidence 
The belief in oneself 
 that competence 
can increase through investment; 
creating a sense of “success” at the end 
of the day


 In order to increase competence, a 
leader provides: 

 Guidance 

 Training 

 Direction 

 A System of Accountability


What do you really need to know in 
order to provide access to safety? 

 Create a minimum of criteria for entry 
into shelter 

 Determine what really needs to be 
learned in order to be ready for a 
survivor’s arrival


How can every experience at shelter be 
an opportunity to heal? 

 Agreements rather than rules (or even 
guidelines) 

Grown-ups behaving like grown-ups 

Opportunities for Re-centering 

Integrity as the key to empowerment


How can we recognize and benefit from 
the leadership of those we serve? 

 How is a shelter community like a 
neighborhood organization? 

 The best direction an organization can 
take


Engaging all staff in program 
development 

Idea Mapping 

Making It Happen Teams


Engaging all staff in team 
development 

Participative decisionmaking 

Building and sustaining team 
cohesiveness


Engaging all staff in 
professional development 

 Recognizing and maximizing 
executive skills 

 Recognizing and maximizing 
strengths


 Not having ample competence to meet the needs 

 Not having the confidence to undertake the learning 
that is necessary 

 Change 

 The absence of protocols 

 Generalized uncertainty 

 Having no “equation for the unfamiliar 

 Not having enough funding 

 Not having enough staff or staff investment 

 Not having sufficient knowledge


 Moving toward a tipping point 

 Increased understanding of the scope of impact of 
domestic violence 

 The need for training increases confidence and 
competence 

 Increased opportunities for collaboration across 
disciplines 

 Multi-generational outreach 

 Increased development of community partnerships

…and recommended 
topics for research