Resilient Together Project
In Partnership with the MCCSS Toronto Region VAW Service System Planning Table (SSPT)
Building on the success of the National Risk Assessment Project and the RISA Tool, the Schlifer Clinic has launched Resilient Together, a 2.5-year initiative aimed at strengthening risk assessment and case management services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) across Ontario.
This initiative is delivered in partnership with the MCCSS Toronto Region VAW Service System Planning Table (SSPT) and supported by over 25 agencies and networks province-wide. Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS), Resilient Together provides training and direct support to partner agencies to pilot and implement the Clinic’s Risk Identification and Safety Assessment (RISA) Tool.
About the RISA Tool
In Spring 2024, the Clinic released a new Risk Identification and Safety Assessment (RISA) Tool for service providers in the GBV sector. Funded by WAGE Canada, the tool was developed through three years of community-based research, including:
- Systematic literature reviews
- Consultations with 597 service providers across Canada
- In-depth interviews with 38 survivors in Ontario
Designed for frontline workers, the RISA Tool helps identify potential risks of future violence and supports personalized safety planning and case management. It is free and available to all agencies at RiskAboveRisk.ca.
Project Goals
Resilient Together aims to:
- Build sector capacity through multilingual service expansion, training, piloting, partnership development, and tech innovations that scale the RISA Tool across Ontario.
- Improve survivor safety by addressing root causes of violence and reducing risks of lethality, serious harm, and re-assault using trauma-informed, intersectional, and GBA+ approaches.
- Promote service improvements by generating real-time aggregate data on emerging trends and risk factors affecting diverse communities.
RISA Tool Pilot Program – 2025
Participating agencies will:
- Use and test the RISA Tool with GBV clients
- Receive tailored support, including training, case management, IT assistance, and multilingual resources
- Contribute feedback to improve future versions of the tool
- To join the pilot, register at https://forms.office.com/r/hCrwRp341g or contact [email protected].
Training Opportunities
Free, personalized training is available to all GBV service providers in Ontario. Options include:
Training Needs Assessment (Pilot participants only): A customized evaluation to identify organizational needs and develop a tailored training plan.
15-Minute RISA Consultation: A brief meeting to assess training needs for non-pilot participants.
All trainings are offered in-person, hybrid, or online. To book a session, please use the following link:
We need your support
Your support is important to the work we do today and every day, helping us to make a lasting impact on those we serve.
The Schlifer Clinic is thankful for the continued generosity of its donors and supporters.