Enhancing Wellness and Crime Prevention in the Pandemic Among Youth and Women Survivors of Violence: Development of an Interactive Mentoring Application (APP)
Purpose
Identify impacts and highlight coping strategies of immigrant women and youth at the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and family/gender based/intimate partner violence. Research will inform the development of an interactive app to enhance safety, mental health and crime prevention.
This project
This 5-year research initiative 2023-2028 is a project of Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society, made possible with funding from Public Safety Canada.
Advisory Group
The project will be supported by an Advisory Group comprised of people with knowledge and expertise in anti-violence and culturally sensitive services, gender-based violence, tech safety, and app development.
Partners
The project will connect with local anti-violence and immigrant serving organizations in the 4 research regions (Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Southern Vancouver Island), as well as provincial organizations, educational institutions and youth groups.
Research
The research will be built around connecting with immigrant women and young adults (19-25) impacted by violence and abuse before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and gathering information about their lived experiences. Four rounds of focus groups over 4 years, in person or online, will be conducted within 6 cultural communities from 4 regions of BC.
Data Analysis
The project hopes to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of participants and articulate that in published research findings with both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
App Development
A key outcome will be the development of an accessible and interactive app, informed by the research as to what participants tell us is most useful. Implementation phases will include field testing, feedback, refining and finalizing, followed by broad distribution.