Opportunities for Innovative Anti-Violence Work in Youth Spaces

Envision models of anti-violence work that center the experiences of youth of color, LGBTQ individuals, PIC-impacted folks, and poor people

To further our understandings of intimate partner violence through an anti-oppression and harm reduction framework

Drop-In Program History Logistics Structure Goals Definition of “Success”

Anti-OppressionRelationship BuildingHarm ReductionTrauma-InformedStaff/Team Development

Integrate the individual and collective understandings of oppression and trauma into individual and group work within the space.

Link liberation struggles which oppose racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism and all other forms of oppression.

Safe Space: We recognize that “hate language” is often connected to internalized oppression and experiences with trauma.

Practical Applications: Queer It Up! (project-based programming) Youth inform programming (Do Yr Own Thing, Real

Talk)

Confidentiality/Safe Space Disclosure Boundaries Expectations/Limitations Threshold of Accessing the

Services/Space Attitude: Youth workers, adult allies, and

safe space brings individuals back to the BYC drop-in program—not necessarily the array of services offered.

Basic Principles: Participant’s decision is accepted Participant is treated with dignity Participant is expected to take

responsibility for own behavior Reducing harm not activity No pre-defined outcomes

Traditional abstinence based programs only offer options to those seeking abstinence

Health, life improvement, housing and empowerment are possible for anyone, not just the sober, abstinent, and those who leave abusive relationships

Creates relationships of respect and trust that enable greater depth of healing FOR THE LONG RUN

Offers a “buffet” interventions rather than “one size fits all”

Safe Space: Participants can access the space high or

drunk. Spectrum of engagement is celebrated. We always offer an array of basic needs Participants can self-select out of

programming (Lesson: Compulsory programming does NOT work)

HR informs sexual health HR informs conversations around involvement

in the sex trade and street economies HR informs Intimate Partner Violence/Violence

between participants

Emphasis on Self Care Safety Planning = Skill Building Reality Testing Reframing Normalizing Consistent staffing Drop In Counseling and Case

Management Safe Space:

Youth can sleep!

Regularly explore, share, and generate harm reduction and safety planning strategies and approaches to sexual assault and intimate partner violence in formal and informal settings—as well as issues surrounding transgender issues, the PIC, criminalization, trauma

Premises: Spectrum of accountability

(consequences are often youth-driven, individualized)

Deconstruct “hate” language Normalizing necessity of drugs/weapons

during orientation. Recognizing the possibility of triggers

around sexualized behavior.

We recognize that all youth who access our space are survivors of oppression and trauma—and, therefore, violence.

We recognize that we can’t simply have a “no perpetrators” policy. Many participants have both perpetrated and

experienced violence. Safety plans are participant-driven,

allowing participants to define their own experience. Using harm reduction to increase

accountability and reality test.

Youth leadershipConsistencyStruggle between becoming a crisis-

driven space versus a space that can absorb crisis

Demand for one-on-one work exceeds capacity everyday