Knowledge Exchanges and Community Response Network Enhancement


An eighteen month project funded by the Government of Canada - HRSDC - New Horizons for Seniors Program

SUMMARY OF THE FINAL REPORT


Full text of Knowledge Exchange Final Evaluation Report in PDF Format

Expected Results and Objectives

  • OUTPUTS
    • 10 - 11 regional knowledge exchange workshops, and at least 1 provincial virtual knowledge exchange workshop on the prevention of elder abuse for over 500 seniors, other vulnerable adults, CRN members, organizations serving seniors, service providers and members of the public.
    • Enhanced and documented support mechanisms for CRMs such as governance structures, frameworks, guiding principles and protocols.
    • Summary of results from knowledge exchange forums.
  • OUTCOMES
    • Increased capacity within CRNs to support communities in their response to elder abuse demonstrated by 1 new connection and/or 2 new members in each of 30 Community Response Networks (CRNs) across BC

Results achieved

  1. Ten regions of the province particiipated in Knowledge Exchanges and their knowledge of CRNs and how they help to provide a coordinated response to adult abuse, neglect and self-neglect was greatly enhanced. About 50% of the people who attended did not have any experience with a CRN. The attendees included service providers, seniors, community representatives, local and provincial political representatives and members of the public.
  2. Support materials on Elder Abuse were produced and are available on the website to continue the information exchange and community awareness.
  3. A provincial conference on Financial Abuse, "Spotlight on Financial Abuse", was held with 67 service providers and professionals from all over BC attending and having the opportunity to share research, programs and tools. It appears that there is a break-through in the banking industry in dealing with financial abuse as a result of this conference.
  4. The BCACRN was included in the Elders Gathering in July with 5,000 elders from every first nations community in attendance. The result is a closer relationship with these communities and the Friendship Centres and a desire to work together to support CRNs in their communities.
  5. The virtual Knowledge Exchange was not held. The logistics of holding a successful event was determined to be too rushed after the 10 Regional Knowledge Exchanges had not ended until the end of June. Being able to access the public participation during the July - September period was not practical. However, the regular monthly provincial teleconferences addressed various topics to do with elder abuse.
  6. There were 400 participants in the Knowledge Exchanges and the Spotlight Conference. It is estimated that at least 100 elders were directly involved in interacting with BCACRN at the Elders Gathering in July.

Outcomes achieved

The project was a great success. The networks passed on information and are providing better programs and educational opportunities in their communities. While the virtual gatherings did not take place as planned, the monthly provincial teleconferences and board meetings of the CNPEA provided a platform to disseminate information both ways. The proceedings are posted on the BCACRN website bccrns.ca. The beneficiaries of the project will ultimately be the seniors who are living more safely in their communities. The organizations, service providers and members of the public who have learned about the BCACRN and have received materials which are designed to inform and educate have all benefited from this project.

How was the project managed?

The project was managed by the Executive Director of the BCACRN. It was supported by the team of mentors (5) and the volunteer board of directors. Each Knowledge Exchange was co-facilitated by the Regional Mentor for that area and the Executive Director. One of the Mentors (from Kamloops) assisted and co-facilitated with the northern Exchanges where there were no CRNs or Regional Mentor The steering committee provided direction and ideas at the beginning of the project. All the CRN family of volunteers in all the regions of the province and staff were involved in the ongoing assessment of the project. Changes were made as the evaluations were done - both formally and informally. By the fourth Knowledge Exchange, a really effective program was in place and a very well honed program by the 10th was a joy to deliver. The model developed can be used by other provinces or again by the BCACRN in the future. The Financial Abuse conference was co-sponsored by BCACRN, the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC, NICE and BC CEAS. The BCACRN Executive Director chaired the day. The Elders Gathering involved one of the five Regional mentors and the BCACRN Administrative Assistant. Two board members and one other mentor also attended. The Executive Director was asked to conduct a couple of circle groups with some elders. The relationship with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres was strengthened.

Dissemination and Reach

This project was based on the values and principles which inform all the work done by the BCACRN. They include Inclusion; Meaningful Participation. Power Sharing; Assumption of adult's capability; Being Least Intrusive. As the project evolved, the ethno-cultural communities being targeted by the Finding Home project embraced the concept of the CRN and will, when funding is available, be willing participants. Also, the First Nations/aboriginal communities support the CRN concept and are looking forward to working with us to ensure the networks are in place in their communities. These outcomes were not anticipated but were fully embraced. In October, the Executive Director will be travelling to Bella Coola with the Public Guardian and Trustee and Vancouver Coast Health to help them form a CRN and look at ways that they can be supported remotely.

All the information, documentation and learnings are posted on the BCACRN website. They were vetted through the mentors and the CRNs before they were completed.

Other unexpected results include a much closer working relationship with all the provincial health authorities (designated responders), the Public Guardian and Trustee and the RCMP "E" Division who featured our activities in their publication "Horse and Rider". They are all working throughout the local community health centres and RCMP detachments to encourage and support the local CRNs. BCACRN is being challenged to find ways to support this growth.

People/regions reached

We reached 327 people in 10 Regions in the province during the Knowledge Exchanges and 67 people at the Financial Abuse conference. About 50% were seniors and the rest were service providers. There were 5,000 Elders at the gathering in July and it is estimated that we had direct contact with about 100.

Evaluation or Measurements of Success

The findings from the evaluation suggest that the Project was successful in meeting its goals. Overall, the Project helped to:

  • Raise awareness about the existence and purpose of Community Response Networks;
  • Create new (and renewed) interest in the creation of new Networks;
  • Foster new connections and collaborations amongst exisitng Networks;
  • Improve governance of existing Networks;
  • Increase involvement in existing Networks;
  • And improve responses to abuse in the community

Lessons Learned/Success Stories

  1. Each of the ten Knowledge Exchanges, held in every geographic area of the province, had a good attendance with a wide cross-section of the service providers. There were 327 attendees with 219 completing the evaluation form.
  2. There is a pent-up demand for Community Response Networks throughout BC. Those communities with CRNs had their profiles raised with this project. Those communities without CRNs want to be able to form one.
  3. While the CRNs are made up of volunteers, they must be supported by paid mentors. One of the lessons learned is that there is not sufficient funding to provide enough hours for the exisitng regional mentors (5) and there is a need for 8 more to be trained and supported to cover all parts of the province. Each mentor needs to have 40 paid hours a month - a 400% increase from what they currently have.
  4. There needs to be minimal funding for the CRNs to support the coordination of their activities.
  5. Having prepared materials and "field guides" available greatly enhances the delivery of services.
  6. Providing the opportunity for each CRN to set their own agenda and to be inclusive of everyone who wishes to attend, is a great strength.
  7. Providing support materials and reports on the BCACRN website is very important for all CRNs.
  8. Working with the "Finding Home" project in Vancouver helped to bring our message to the immigrant communities and gave us a chance to tailor our message appropriately. At the moment there is no funding for the development of CRNs in Vancouver but having a core group of interested service providers and citizens will greatly enhance that process when funding does become available.
  9. Conducting these Knowledge Exchanges throughout the winter in BC made us consider the location and the timing carefully. The only time it became a problem was a snow storm in November in Kamloops. Nevertheless we had 28 people in attendance there.
  10. We have at least 10 new CRNs in various stages of "signing up". These include some in the north which will not be able to proceed until more funding is available.

Challenges encountered

  1. The Executive Director left after the first 3 months of the project so there was a bit of a lag until her replacement got up to speed.
  2. The last three months of the project (July - September) were very difficult months to activate the CRNs and get them involved in any further project activity. However, the overall project did meet the main objectives as laid out at its inception.
  3. Weather was always a consideration.
  4. The cost of travel was always an issue. Perhaps, if we had known that we would have money left over, we could have eased up a bit on the constraints we placed on the participants. However, even with the extra funding made available to the mentors during the last 2 months of the project, they were unable to activate the communities given the late summer and early fall schedules which communities all are constrained by.

Best practices or recommendations

  1. Take time to plan and test the interventions.
  2. Listen to each evaluation as the program progresses and make appropriate changes.
  3. Don't plan anything after 3:00 pm.
  4. Share and celebrate your successes.
  5. Be flexible. There is always more than one way to reach your goal.
  6. Face-to-face contact for planning and for hosting the events is critical. While much of the follow-up can be done electronically, trust and respect can only be built in person.

Partnerships

  1. If we can get the support, we will have at least 10 more CRNs in place this year.
  2. Our links to the aboriginal communities were greatly strengthened. Six Friendships Centres have been referred to our regional mentors. Bella Coola is being visited with the purpose of establishing a CRN there.
  3. We have developed very strong working relationships with all the Health Authorities and they are in full agreement to work with us and to provide our CRNs with local contacts.
  4. We have developed a strong relationship with "E" Division of the RCMP and all detachments are being required to work with us at the local level.
  5. Our relationship with the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC continues to be very strong and collegial. We continue to get access to provincial teleconferencing from them.

Network development

We are most fortunate to have many connections around the province because of the work that has been done by the BCACRN in the past 15 years. There are 35 communities with some level of CRN activity and these provided the core groups - where they exist - for planning the Knowledge Exchanges. For the northern part of the province, the Executive Director drew upon her resources from working in the social services and womens' sector for many years and was able to identify key people to help organize the Exchanges. Support was provided to these groups by the Regional Mentor from Kamloops - all by e-mail and teleconference. Regional mentors are recruited for their people skills, for their presentation skills and for their knowledge of and contacts in the communities within their region.

By being flexible to the situation and the needs of the local communities, they were open to sharing their knowledge and receiving what we have to offer.

The website is a very integral tool for ongoing support for our CRNs.

Full text of Knowledge Exchange Final Evaluation Report in PDF Format