Designing a Safe and Accessible Needs Assessment Plan All Site Meeting – San Jose, CA May 25 2010 May 25, 2010 Sandra Harrell, Director Accessing Safety Initiative Vera Institute of Justice Why Safety?Why Access?Why Safety?Why Access? > Honors our movements’ principles of inclusion and empowerment; > Promotes full participation from all audiences coming from different disciplines and backgrounds; > Models the behavior you ultimately want to see in your organizations and/or pilot sites; > Meets your legal and ethical responsibilities. Slide 2 • September 3, 2010 Safety:Key ConsiderationsSafety:Key Considerations > Survivors of violence may experience a state of hyper- vigilance for years after the violent incident. > Survivors of domestic violence may experience some level of stalking for years after the relationship ends. > Survivors of violence embrace confidentiality as key strategy for safety. > Perpetrators of violence exploit seemingly benign situations. > Attention to safety benefits all needs assessment participants. Slide 3 • September 3, 2010 Access:Key ConsiderationsAccess:Key Considerations > Accessibility is more then just architectural and structural. > People with disabilities and Deaf people need full access to the activities and materials to fully participate. > Accommodations needs assessment participants should be factored into your grant budget. > Many accessibility concerns can be addressed proactively. > Needs assessment participants should be provided an opportunity to request specific accommodations based on their disability. Slide 4 • September 3, 2010 What does this mean for your Needs Assessment? Slide 5 • September 3, 2010 Safety andAccess:DeterminingYourMethodsSafety andAccess:DeterminingYourMethods > Interviews > Increased confidence that information will be confidential (only interviewer and interviewee are privy to responses) ; however, who said what becomes easier to determine. > Accommodations can be tailored to specific needs (i.e. , tactile signing for Deaf Blind; simpler language for cognitive disabilities) > Focus Groups > L t l th fid ti lit fi f ti d tici ts; > Less control over the confidentiality of information and participants; easier to report anonymously on what was shared. > Accommodations such as PCA’s can conflict with safety considerations. > Tailored accommodations might prove challenging in a group setting. > Guiding Principle: Identify the method that will allow you to collect the necessary data with minimal compromise of safety or access. Slide 6 • September 3, 2010 Safety andAccess:RecruitmentSafety andAccess:Recruitment > Use of flyers or mailings > Lose control over who has access to the document. > Abuser could gain access to document, call the number to pose as an interested participant to gain information about the group. > Post-separation, abusers can use the information from flyer to determine where his victim will be and at what time. > Access issues around readablity, alternate formats, and language. > Face to face recruitment > Affords more control of who learns about needs assessment. > May result in disclosures to staff who are not prepared to respond. > Allows recruitment to occur in a format that is most conducive to participant’s accommodation needs. > RSVP > Risks around confidentiality and anonymity if form collects identifying info. > Allows participants to express specific accommodation needs. Slide 7 • September 3, 2010 Safety andAccess:LogisticsSafety andAccess:Logistics > Location > May pose challenges around accessibility if transportation is limited. > May pose safety concerns if being held at a VAW program. > Timing > Evening groups can pose safety risks. > Early morning groups can pose access concerns. > Room Set Up > Food and Beverage > Materials Slide 8 • September 3, 2010 Safety andAccess:YourToolsSafety andAccess:YourTools > Questions for People with Disabilities > Disclosures > Resources > Questions for Survivors > Revictimization > Residential concerns > Resources Slide 9 • September 3, 2010 Key ConsiderationsKey Considerations > Accessibility > Be sure to address how you will ensure an accessible needs assessment process, including: > When focus groups and interviews are taking place, are they accessible to the widest array of individuals? > What transportation is available to and from these locations? > What is your RSVP process? How can participants RSVP? > How can participants request an accommodation? Who is filling the request for an accommodation? Slide 10 • September 3, 2010 Key ConsiderationsKey Considerations > Safety > Be sure you address what strategies you will use to ensure a “safe” process, including: > What types of resources will you have available in the moment if individuals need them? Will advocates be available if someone needs assistance? > What types of resources will be available after data collection? Are they accessible? > How will confidentiality be explained and maintained? > How will mandated reporting be explained and handled? > If you have incentives, how can you ensure that it won’t put the participant at an increased risk when returning home with them? > How will you handle PCA participation during data collection? Slide 11 • September 3, 2010 Contact Information Sandra Harrell (917)478-4590 sharrell@vera.org www.accessingsafety.org Slide 12 • September 3, 2010