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Black women and girls are affected by domestic violence (DV) at higher rates than other groups, such as white and racialized women and girls. Therefore, it is important to understand, address, and prevent DV in Black communities. With funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Dr. Patrina Duhaney (Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary) leads the Fostering Violence Prevention and Well-Being for Black Women, Families, and Communities research project. In this four-year study, Dr. Duhaney works collaboratively with a team of researchers and community members in Calgary and Toronto to identify how:
- Black communities experience DV
- Black men can be actively engaged in addressing and preventing DV
- Service providers and policymakers can better support Black communities affected by DV
Dr. Duhaney works alongside several researchers across Canada including:
- Dr. Liza Lorenzetti (Associate Professor, University of Calgary)
- Dr. Régine Uwibereyeho King (Associate Professor, University of Calgary)
- Dr. Akin Taiwo (Associate Professor, King’s University College)
- Dr. Tara La Rose (Associate Professor, McMaster University)
- Sheryl Thompson (Professor, Humber College and Sheridan College)
Research associates and assistants involved in the project are:
- Dr. Odette Murara (Research Coordinator)
- Kate Beamer (Research Associate)
- Naomi Phung (Research Assistant)
- Keisha Smuk (Research Assistant)
- Jenalyn Ormita (Research Assistant)
- Andrea Silva Santisteban Fort (Research Assistant)
- Mimo Hammoud (Research Assistant)
Our partnering agencies include:
- Alberta Men’s Network
- Alberta Network of Immigrant Women
- TAIBU Community Health Centre
- Women’s Health in Women’s Hands
Who is Dr. Patrina Duhaney?
Originally from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Dr. Patrina Duhaney moved to Calgary, Alberta in 2019 and now works as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She has several university degrees, such as an Honours Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from York University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. Some of her current roles include:
- Teaching undergraduate and graduate students
- Active involvement in service to the faculty, university, and broader community to advocate for racial and gender justice
- Chairing the Anti-Black Racism Task Force within the Faculty of Social Work
Dr. Duhaney has expertise in the areas of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) within Black communities. Specifically, she researches, writes, and presents on these topics nationally and internationally. Dr. Duhaney has other areas of expertise, including racialized people’s experiences in the criminal justice system and educational settings. Other notable facts about Dr. Duhaney are that she is a Registered Social Worker in four provinces, and that she enjoys singing, running, biking, and gardening.
Our Community Guidance Group
To ensure that the findings from this project effectively engage Black communities and are relevant to their needs, we have invited 12 individuals to join the Calgary and Toronto Community Guidance Group (CGG). As this project is focused on DV prevention in Black communities, these community members are Black individuals with lived experiences and/or work with survivors and those using violence in their relationships. They also vary in ethnocultural identity, faith, and age. Their roles are to:
- Ensure that our approaches are responsive to the needs of Black communities
- Aid in the execution of project activities
- Provide input into our research process and findings
With the help of these wonderful people, the project will flourish! You can learn more about each CGG member on the Team page of our website.
Great things will come shortly as this website continues to grow, such as:
- More blog posts,
- Monthly newsletters, and
- More research projects, so stay tuned!
Additional information about our funders and partners is available on our Funders and Partners page.
