Toronto, ON, May 15th, 2024. We are excited to announce that our RISA website is now live! Released this Fall by Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, the Risk Identification and Safety Assessment (RISA) tool was developed for frontline service providers working with survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) or those at risk of violence. It is intended to assist service providers in screening and identifying potential risk for future violence where GBV has been identified, while assisting with personalized safety plans and case management.
The RISA Tool, which was developed as part of the Clinic’s National Risk Assessment Project – funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) – addresses key gaps in how risks of violence are currently identified and addressed. Research conducted by the Clinic found that many existing risk assessment tools have not been adequately tested in service provider settings, nor have survivors been sufficiently consulted in the development of these tools.
“We are thrilled and deeply grateful for the invaluable input and collaboration of service providers and survivor communities in shaping this project. Their voices have been the cornerstone of our five-year labor of love, uniting community, staff, and partners. With gratitude, we embark on the next chapter, committed to continuing this transformative journey together.” says Deepa Mattoo, Executive Director of Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic.
The newly launched RISA website provides a user-friendly platform for service providers and clients to access the tool and its resources. It offers guidance on utilizing the RISA tool effectively, including 3 wrap-around educational modules on the foundations of risk assessment and safety planning, a comprehensive 3-step assessment, and provides safety and action plans.
To access the new website and for more information about the RISA tool, please visit: https://www.riseaboverisk.ca/
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women and gender-diverse people experiencing violence, established in memory of Barbra Teena Schlifer who was an idealistic young lawyer who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Toronto on April 11, 1980, on the night of her call to the Ontario Bar. The Clinic offers trauma-informed legal services and representation, counselling and multilingual interpretation, and drives system transformation to support women and gender diverse people who have experienced violence. Rooted in the foundations of intersectionality, innovation, and a client-centred approach, we foster the skills and resilience of the people we serve and amplify their voices to create individual and collective change.
For additional information, media inquiries, interviews and quotes, please contact Madison Buckley at [email protected] or 289-497-1048.