Scaling up Trauma and Violence-Informed Outreach with Women Affected by Violence

Scaling up Trauma and Violence Informed Outreach with Women Affected by Violence (known as “Scaling Up”) builds on the findings from the pilot project, STRENGTH, to study the process and impact of implementing an evidence-informed, strengths-based, trauma and violence informed outreach program with self-identifying women affected by gender-based violence (GBV).
GBV can have severe, intersectional impacts upon self-identifying women, particularly those who experience greater social inequities (e.g. poverty, unemployment, and precarious housing) and additional forms of discrimination and violence linked to race, class, ability, and sexuality (e.g, racism, transphobia, ableism). There has been a longstanding and proven need for innovative programming and strategies that mitigate the risks and impacts of GBV and advance women’s engagement with essential services and supports.
The “Scaling Up” project has three research sites in Canada – Vancouver, Kelowna, and Windsor, referred to as “research intervention hubs.” Adhering to the principles of community-based participatory action research (PAR), community leaders, researchers, staff, and women with lived and living experiences of GBV provide their leadership and guidance across all aspects of the research project. With the interdisciplinary expertise of this team, each research intervention hub implemented an outreach model focused on building and sustaining trusting relationships between outreach teams and women in the community.
![]() |
In the Vancouver hub, as the intervention was implemented in the same community as the pilot, the advisory committee decided to keep “STRENGTH” as the branding for the project in community. See the “Scaling Up STRENGTH: Adaptation in a Pandemic Context” community report for the results from this hub. |
![]() |
Both the Kelowna and Windsor hubs used the branding of “The CLOE Project” for the intervention project in their communities. CLOE stands for “Community-Led Outreach & Engagement.” More information on these two hubs’ activities coming soon. |
Current Activities and Resources
For context and information on Scaling Up’s research activities and methodologies, please access the following resources:
Key Publications
Project Updates
The Team
There are 14 partner organizations (not for profit, academic, public and private sector) and 31 co-applicants involved in this project, as well as a community advisory committee of women with lived and living experience of GBV. Research activities are developed collaboratively with academic and community partners, and each intervention site includes academic-community co-leadership. View the full team listing on the SSHRC’s funding announcement page.
More Information
Principal Investigator Dr. Victoria Bungay 604.822.7933 vicky.bungay@ubc.ca |
Project Manager Patricia Tait 604.822.2852 patricia.tait@ubc.ca |
Research Manager Phoebe Long 604.822.5057 phoebe.long@ubc.ca |
Funded By
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Michael Smith Health Research BC
Anonymous Donors