THE VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE (VIP) FACILITATOR GUIDE
The VIP Facilitator guide contains information to support PEACE Programs in the communication and delivery of the VIP Program. The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) encourages PEACE Program Counsellors to use the Facilitator Guide in conjunction with the VIP Curriculum to enhance the effectiveness of the VIP presentations in BC communities. This May 2024 Facilitator Guide updates the August 2020 Facilitator Guide. The companion 2024 VIP curriculum updates the August 2020 VIP curriculum.
BCSTH would like to extend their gratitude to the PEACE and VIP Programs for the difference they are making in the lives of children and youth throughout BC. VIP started in 2004 and these revised resources in 2024 commemorate the distinguished Program’s 20th Anniversary.
The Facilitator Guide covers relevant topics that include an overview of the VIP Program, strategies for presenting VIP in schools, and guidance for VIP presentation preparation.
The VIP facilitator guide and curriculum are intended to continue to be updated and enhanced over time and through collaboration, we can work towards the common goal of preventing violence in BC.
If you have any suggestions, please contact BCSTH.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
© BC Society of Transition Houses 2024. This Facilitator Guide or any portion thereof may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever if acknowledgement to the BC Society of Transition Houses in included.
OVERVIEW OF THE VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE (VIP) FACILITATOR GUIDE
INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE
The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) is a member-based, provincial umbrella organization that, through leadership, support and collaboration enhances the continuum of services and strategies to respond to, prevent and end violence against women, children and youth.
BCSTH has the privilege of coordinating the Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) Program and the Violence is Preventable (VIP) Program. The PEACE Program, formerly the Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) Program, is a free, confidential counselling program across BC for children and youth aged 3 to 18 who have experienced domestic violence. The VIP Program is a component of the PEACE Program, and is a free violence prevention education program that is delivered in grades K – 12 classrooms throughout BC by PEACE Program counsellors.
The purpose of the Facilitator Guide is to prepare and support PEACE Program counsellors delivering the VIP program, and complements the updated 2024 VIP Curriculum. The Facilitator Guide and VIP Curriculum are designed to be used together to support and guide PEACE Program counsellors in the preparation and delivery of VIP presentations. To provide support for the development of VIP presentations, the Facilitator Guide provides an overview of history of the VIP Program, guidance and resources on how to approach schools with VIP, and statistics and student feedback that demonstrates the impact the VIP Program on BC students. The guide also provides clear steps on presentation preparation and delivery, and methods for collecting feedback on VIP presentations.
The VIP Curriculum is aligned with the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Physical and Health Education (PHE) curriculum. For grades K – 10, the topics covered by VIP are violence against women, safety planning, emotional expression and healthy relationships. For grades 11 and 12, in addition to the MOE’s PHE curriculum, VIP is also aligned with the Social Justice 12 curriculum and the MOE’s Career-Life Connections (CLC) curriculum. The topics covered for grades 11 and 12 students are violence against women, safety planning, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, the cycle of abuse, consent, online safety and the bystander effect.
The VIP Program resources are designed to be supplemented and revised on an ongoing basis, and BCSTH welcomes feedback and recommendations. By working collaboratively, we can advance the shared goal of preventing violence.