A Review of the Indigenous Connections Manual to Break the Cycle of Violence

Indigenous women in Canada experience interpersonal violence at high rates, yet effective violence prevention programs remain limited. In response to the high level of violence experienced by the women accessing their services, Breaking the Cycle developed Connections, a manualized interpersonal violence prevention program for women with young children.

The purpose of this project is to gather feedback on how the Connections manual, which was previously adapted for Indigenous communities, can be strengthened to better support the needs of Indigenous women experiencing violence in relationships. We will hold focus groups with Indigenous women who have professional experience in the field of violence prevention and follow-up interviews with Indigenous women who have participated in Connections.

By bringing together those with academic, professional, and lived experience, the findings from this project will inform the subsequent revision of Connections and enhance its relevance for Indigenous women.

This project is co-funded in partnership with Mitacs and Empire Life.

  • Jersee Hill (she/her) is Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is currently an M.A. student in the Clinical-Developmental Psychology program at York University. Prior to attending York, she completed her B.A.Sc. (Honours) in Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour at McMaster University. She is committed to supporting the mental health and wellness of Indigenous children and families through both community-engaged research and future clinical practice.