The Battlefords Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court team is being recognized with a major award - this time coming from the premier.
The team of 16 members has been chosen as a recipient of the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Public Service for 2010, in connection to the program. They will be presented with the award by Premier Brad Wall at a ceremony in Regina Nov. 4.
According to the website of the office of the provincial secretary, which listed the winning recipients of the award, the team was selected for "innovation" in creating and developing the Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court.
The website states the team identified the need for a different approach to reduce violence and to help both victims and offenders break the cycle of violence in their community. The program offers a delayed sentencing court that takes an inter-disciplinary approach and uses inter-agency collaboration to focus on the provision of treatment for offenders who have pled guilty to domestic violence charges and who have accepted responsibility for the offence.
It also provides support for victims and their families. The program is being credited with consistently meeting its objective of reducing the rate of domestic violence and making victims safe in the Battlefords area.
The 16 recipients receiving the award include six team members: team leader and senior policy analyst Frankie Jordan, Crown prosecutor Chris Browne, Probation Services regional director Rita Chisholm, court worker/domestic violence treatment option court co-ordinator Liz Myo, Victor Quijada-Sawitsky of Probation Services and Social Services program effectiveness consultant Murray Webb. Honourable mentions go to Ray Fox of Battlefords Tribal Council, Sgt. Rob Lutzko of the RCMP, Ann McArthur of Interval House, Karen Richard of Catholic Family Services, Dallas Savoie of Mental Health ATV Program, Cameron Schmunk of Legal Aid, Jennie Schwab of victim services, Wayne Shlapkhol of the mental health TV program, James Verhaeghe of Kanaweymik Child and Family Services and Andrew Woytiuk of Addiction Services.
