DART has new protocol for service
By Lavinia Kerr Orangeville Citizen

Representatives of the many area organizations that are part of the Domestic Assault Review Team (DART) were on hand to sign the newly established protocol called Strength in Collaboration at Family Transition Place (FTP) recently. It's an agreement among the many different agencies that deal with domestic assault and violence.

Since being established in 1996, the Dufferin-Caledon Domestic Assault Review Team (DART) has been working to consult between the various agencies who deal with the issue.

"The DART protocol - strength in collaboration - ensures exactly that," said Lyn Allen, manager of residential and outreach services at Family Transition Place.

The organizations involved in the DART protocol include Caledon-Dufferin Victim Services, Catholic Family Services Peel-Dufferin, Dufferin Child and Family Services, Family Transition Place, Headwaters health Care Centre, John Howard Society of Peel-Halton-Dufferin, Ontario Provincial Police in Caledon and Dufferin, Orangeville and Shelburne Police Services, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Each agency has an individual mandate to deal with domestic abuse and the DART partners bring to the table their area of expertise.

DART members meet on a quarterly basis for the following:

* Maintain a sensitive, effective service response to victims including children who may have been exposed.

* Hold perpetrators of violence or abuse accountable for their behaviour and its effects.

* Communicate and consult effectively between agencies.

* Inform members of agency changes and community trends.

* Co-ordinate practice through the review of individual agency and DART protocol.

* Review cases for improving service, effectiveness and co-ordination.

* Update members regarding developments in the field.

* Address local training needs.

Strength in Collaboration is the commitment of the agencies to collaborate in the process to increase the safety of abused women and their children.