Maison pour femmes immigrantes

Published purpose

Through this 30-month project, the Maison pour femmes immigrantes (MFI) will conduct research that will help improve gender-based violence services for at-risk groups. The MFI will address collaborative practices between shelters and youth protection services so that services better meet the needs of immigrants, refugees, and newcomer mothers who are survivors of domestic violence and whose children have been reported to youth protection services. To achieve this goal, the project will include a literature review, followed by data collection through interviews and focus groups. The data will be analyzed, and a response and knowledge mobilization tool will be developed and shared. The MFI will organize days for reflection and action to inform others about the research findings. This research is in line with the theoretical and methodological approach of participatory action research, which centres the subjects in knowledge production and action on the issues that affect them. Accordingly, a group of co-researchers consisting of immigrant women who have survived domestic violence and academics will be established to guide the research process. The research will also engage with shelter and youth protection workers through an advisory committee. Engagement with mothers and workers in the sector will only begin once the project has received ethics approval.