Peer Support Evaluation and Capacity Project


We’ve reached the next milestone on our project Nurturing Hope: A Peer Support Path for Trafficking Survivors and that is to begin delivery of the Ethical Peer Support Program to select organizations and individuals in 3 to 4 regions across Canada.

This comprehensive training and implementation program has been carefully designed and developed for use in organizations working with people who’ve been trafficked or sexually exploited, and are using (or wanting to use) peer support as part of their service delivery.

Information about the program can be found here.

Why Participate?

Research shows the importance and need to train peer supporters and to provide them with safe and accessible support. You will have access to an entire program including an organizational guide to help you develop or enhance your peer support program in an ethical way.

What do I get?

Participation in this project, provides you with an opportunity to identify staff and survivor leaders to join the training cohorts at no charge. You will be aiding in important research to uncover the impact of peer support on survivors/victims, organizations, and peer supporters.

PHASE TWO

Project Objectives

This Pan-Canadian project has the following objectives;

  • Evaluate the program’s impact on both survivors and peer supporters.

  • Identify the level of support required by service providers to enhance or introduce a peer support component in their programming.

  • Measure effectiveness of the program in a variety of settings and with a diversity of participants (recognizing the intersections of gender, race, ability, and sexual orientation that impact experiences of trauma); and

  • Adjust and improve any identified program deficiencies to effectively scale the program.

You can find out more about our training program on this page.

How do I proceed?
There are two forms to be completed. One is for your organization and the other is an application form for member(s) of your team and/or any survivor-leaders you work with who may be ready to take this step. 

One we receive this information, an interview will be scheduled with the participant to further evaluate their capacity to become a peer supporter.

Questions?
Please send any questions to EPS@Voicefound.ca and we will be happy to jump on a call with you.

Thank you so much for the work you do to support survivors of human trafficking. We look forward to hearing from you.

Steering Committee

Our steering committee is comprised of people with lived experience, researchers, evaluators, and peer mentors.

The steering committee guides the evaluation approach, is designing a theory of change, contributing to research, providing guidance to implementation, and consulting along the way.

We are delighted to announce our steering committee members:

Kaitlin Bick, Misha Jan, Gracia Younes, Jessica Rogers, Sarah Tunstall, Lucie Bruneau.

Leading our research are Jeneane Fast and James McLean from The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.

Our evaluation consultant is Cassandra Vink.

Project Test Locations

We will be forming up to 4 ‘cohorts’ located across Canada. These cohorts will be assembled based on location, need, interest, and commitment.

The selected sites will be responsible for the following:

  • Aid in selection of survivor leaders to take the 10-week training program.

  • Commit to following the program (pre/during and post training) and provide feedback.

  • Review and use the organizational guide.

  • Agree to be interviewed by external evaluator.

The first cohort will begin in the fall of 2024.

Space is limited - apply now

Application

Organization Commitment