The Intimate Partner Violence Expert Series
When: April 24, 2025
Time: 0900 - 1330hrs (Pacific)
Where: Virtual (Google Meet)
Cost: CATAP / TAP Members: FREE* | Non-members: $50
*Registration is required
This webinar series will be recorded and available on-demand for registered attendees.
Session 1: Identifying Coercively Controlling Behaviors in Intimate Partner Relationships and How It Relates to Risk
0900-1030hrs (Pacific)
Presented by: Sandy Jung, Ph.D., R.Psych., Associate Dean, Research; Office of Research Services; Professor; Dept of Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Science, MacEwan University, City Centre Campus
Learning Goals:
- Understand the complexities of coercive control in intimate partner violence
- Identify coercively controlling behaviors
- Learn how coercive control relates to risk for partner violence
About our speaker:
Dr. Sandy Jung is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Associate Dean, Research, at MacEwan University. Her research, which is funded by both internal and major external grants, focuses on the prevention of sexual and intimate partner violence. Her publications are co-authored with her students and collaborators in law enforcement, forensic mental health, and other academic forensic researchers in Canada, U.S., and other parts of the world. She has been recognized for her teaching (Distinguished Teaching Award in 2017), research (Distinguished Research Award in 2018, CAFA Distinguished Academic Award in 2021), and both research and service (Fellow of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse in 2016 and Canadian Psychological Association in 2021). Prior to her current academic position, she was a forensic psychologist at a forensic mental health facility where she provided assessment, treatment, risk management of violent and sexual offenders, and expert testimony. She serves as an editorial board member for several journals (Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Psychology of Violence, and Canadian Psychology.
Session 2: Assessing and Managing Violence Risk Through a Collaborative Model
1100-1200hrs (Pacific)
Presented by Shelina Jeshani, MSW, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration with the Safe Centre of Peel & Inspector Rebecca Miller-Small, Crimes Against Person Bureau, Peel Regional Police
The Safe Centre of Peel is a dedicated and inclusive space where a network of agencies collaborates under one roof to provide comprehensive support and compassionate care for families impacted by abuse and violence in the Peel region. Our collaboration now includes 23 partner agencies, collectively serving hundreds of individuals each year. We are committed to offering all our services free of charge to ensure accessibility for everyone who needs our assistance.
The Safe Centre of Peel’s core program aims to provide efficient wraparound services to adults who have experiences of violence and abuse. We provide you with the information and expertise you need to make the choices that are best for you and your family. Our multidisciplinary team works together in order to reduce retraumatization from the retelling of stories and further victimization. Ideally, you would tell your story once and be able to access the multitude of services available onsite and offsite without having to repeat yourself. We want to take the guesswork out of social services and supports.
About our speakers:
Shelina Jeshani has provided strong leadership in a number of collaborative initiatives in Ontario, Canada. Shelina was instrumental in establishing the first Intimate Partner Violence integrated hub in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), known as the Safe Centre of Peel. A strong advocate for women and children who have experienced violence, Shelina has dedicated nearly 30 years to this sector. Her professional background spans child welfare, community development, and gender-based violence. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University and a Master of Social Work from York University.
In recognition of her significant contributions, Shelina was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pin in 2022. The following year, Zonta Brampton-Caledon, a chapter of Zonta International, honored her with the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women Award. Shelina was born in Uganda and immigrated to Canada as a refugee with her family in 1972, growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Inspector Rebecca Miller-Small has 25 years of experience in law enforcement. Her current role as head of the Crimes Against Person Bureau includes overseeing several specialized units, such as the Intimate Partner Violence Unit, Special Victims and Child Abuse Unit, Offender Management Unit, Power Case, and the Internet Child Exploitation Unit. Throughout her career, Inspector Miller-Small has remained steadfast in her dedication to supporting vulnerable victims. She has had the privilege of working in a variety of investigative bureaus, including the Human Trafficking Unit, Central Robbery Bureau, and Intelligence Bureau. A highlight of her career was contributing to the creation of the centralized IPV Unit in April 2021, where she served as Detective Sergeant and led a team of 65 officers, all trained in trauma-informed practices. The IPV team is one of 25 community partners that collaborate to provide comprehensive support and services to victims of intimate partner violence.
Session 3: Trauma-Informed Policing: Applying the 6R Model to Intimate Partner Violence Response
1230-1330hrs (Pacific)
Presented by Val Gates, Inspector, Investigative Services, Barrie Police Service
This presentation will provide an in-depth exploration of the 6R Model within the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Trauma-Informed Policing Framework and its application to police and community responses to intimate partner violence (IPV). The session will focus on how police services, in collaboration with community partners, can implement this trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to enhance support for survivors while maintaining accountability for offenders. A key emphasis will be the vision of "doing no more harm"—ensuring that law enforcement interventions do not inadvertently re-traumatize victims, but instead foster trust, safety, and empowerment.
The 6R Model (Realize, Recognize, Respond, Resist, Restore, and Reflect) offers a structured framework that helps police services embed trauma-informed principles into all aspects of their work. This model underscores the importance of procedural justice, prioritizing fairness, transparency, and dignity in every encounter—whether with victims, offenders, or the broader community. By adopting a trauma-informed lens, police services and their partners can build a more effective, compassionate, and just response to intimate partner violence—one that prioritizes safety, healing, and long-term prevention.
About our speaker:
Val Gates is a dedicated law enforcement professional with over 27 years of experience advocating for victims of crime, with a strong focus on intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, and trauma-informed policing. She has worked extensively in the Crimes Against Persons Unit, where she played a key role in establishing the Barrie Child Advocacy Center and developing Project Safe Horizon, a human trafficking response protocol. Now an Inspector with the Barrie Police Service, Val has been instrumental in shaping national policing frameworks. She co-authored and chaired the working group for the CACP Framework for Trauma-Informed Policing and co-authored the Canadian Framework for Collaborative Police Response on Sexual Violence, both designed to improve law enforcement responses to survivors.
Beyond policing, Val is Chair of the Child Advocacy Center of Simcoe Muskoka and Vice Chair of the Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie, reinforcing her commitment to supporting survivors beyond the justice system. Her work has been recognized with several awards, including the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, for her leadership in victim-centered policing. She continues to drive change through training, policy development, and advocacy to ensure that survivors of IPV and sexual violence receive compassionate, effective support.