A community of practice (COP) brings together a group of people who share a common area of practice so that they can collectively address their learning needs. COPs are an opportunity for practitioners to share information, learn from each other, and strengthen their practice. Often, COPs generate resources and set standards that other practitioners can refer to and draw on in their own work.
Over the past few years, Women’s Shelters Canada has organized several COPs, each focused on an emerging and/or complex area of shelter work. To find out more about each COP, follow the links below.
Reach out to Chandra at cshaha@endvaw.ca if you have any questions about our COPs!
Ongoing COPs
COP on Harm Reduction & Lowering Barriers to Service
This new COP brings together 41 shelter workers, from 25 VAW shelters and transition houses (THs), in eleven different provinces and territories that are working to adopt a harm reduction model and reduce barriers to service at their shelter, and who want to work with and learn from other shelters on this journey.
COP on Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Survivors of VAW
In May 2019, 17 shelter workers from nine different provinces and territories participated in a COP on navigating immigration systems and access to services with immigrant and refugee survivors of violence against women.
Previous COPs
COP on Supporting Trans Women in VAW Shelters
In May 2018, 8 participants from VAW shelters and transition houses across the country came together to share their progress, challenges, and lessons learned in the process of making their shelters more inclusive.
Housing Community of Practice
In June 2017, the Housing Community of Practice brought together 11 participants from 7 provinces and 1 territory to share their knowledge of housing context, exchange promising practices, and draft a vision for strategic housing priorities for Women’s Shelters Canada.