It's Not OK supporting communities to prevent family violence

It's Not OK has released a review of the campaign for 2014.

Year in Review 2014 reports that the It's Not OK campaign continued to develop strong partnerships with communities and their local champions. In some instances, the campaign supported responses initiated by local communities themselves, which the report suggests indicates a shift in New Zealand communities taking responsibility for addressing family violence.

The report documents projects carried out with rugby clubs, faith communities, Mangere College and community champions around the country.

It’s Not OK also commissioned a research project carried out by Kaitiaki Research and Evaluation: a Campaign Community Evaluation Project to find out if change is happening in communities where the campaign has had a presence over a long period of time. This is due out soon.

The report summarises campaign highlights such as:

• "Four weeks of television advertising
• 40 community-led family violence prevention projects
• Facebook post reach of 853,076
• 148% increase in calls to the Family Violence Information Line during television advertising periods
• > 80 presentations & workshops to build support for a violence-free NZ
• 94% of It's Not OK partners agree the campaign has increased their ability to address or prevent family violence
• 1,365 increase in facebook page likes
• More than 100 community champions
• 3,753 calls to the Family Violence Information Line."

Projects carried out by the local communities and the It's Not OK campaign include those below.

A recent campaign in the Matamata-Piako region has built on the well-supported campaigns in Paeroa, Waihi and Thames where locals put their names and faces to campaign posters with their own unique message. Matamata-Piako family violence prevention coordinator Roz Nancekivell said "Featuring local people in a public campaign sends the message that every person in our community can have a role in reducing and preventing violence in families they know."

A hairdressing project has illustrated how the It's Not OK Campaign can support workplaces and communities to address family violence. Kelly Porter, a salon owner from Ohakune, runs workshops for hairdressing staff and students with the support of It's Not OK. She says "As hairdressers, we often have a close relationship with our clients, and we can notice when things are not quite right. We are in a position to ask people if they are OK and to point them in the right direction if they need someone to talk to." The workshops encourage hairdressers to act as a helper and not ignore disclosures. Project resources for salons are available including a DVD (also accessible via YouTube), posters, statistics, brochures and badges. Visit the It's Not OK website for more information.

It's Not OK has also supported the series of Men's Hui, "A Call to Men" during May and June 2015 in Northland, Wellington/Wainuiomata, Auckland and Christchurch. The hui focus on how men can take leadership in their own communities and nationally to reduce and prevent family violence. The It's Not OK champion Vic Tamati and researcher Dr Michael Roguski are speaking at all four hui, alongside local speakers. Organiser Tim Marshall says "For too long efforts to reduce family violence in New Zealand have been led by women alone. It’s time for men to step up and take the lead." Visit the It's Not OK website for registration details.

Launched in September 2007, the It's Not OK campaign has received international recognition with efforts to replicate the campaign in Denver, Colorado. For more information visit the campaign website.

Media

US hairdressers train to spot domestic abuse, 3 News, 02.11.2015

A call to men, Ministry of Social Development, 30.09.2015

Hui inspires men to change domestic violence attitudes, Waikato Times, 15.07.2015

Cut it out, Ministry of Social Development, 01.03.2015

Huntly men voice call to end family violence, Waikato Times, 25.06.2015

A Call To Men event in Huntly targets family violence, Waikato Times, 25.06.2015

Image: Community of People by Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)