Launched in 2006, Neighbours, Friends and Families (NFF) is a public education campaign designed to raise awareness of the warning signs of domestic violence so that those who are close to the people at risk can take appropriate action. Campaign materials focus on woman abuse as the most lethal form of domestic violence.

The Guelph-Wellington Action Committee on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence is offering two different Neighbours, Friends and Family trainings: NFF at Work and NFF in the Community.

The NFF Workplace Champion Program provides comprehensive education and training for all levels of an organization. NFF is also the public education campaign of the Ontario Government’s Domestic Violence Action Plan.

The Action Committee can provide 3 levels of training to businesses and organizations:

-          Level One – Provide Information – The Action Committee can introduce NFF to employees by making brochures available on site. Brochures are available free of charge.

-          Level Two – Increase Understanding – The Action Committee can provide the one-hour education session Domestic Violence in the Workplace to all your employees and/or volunteers.

-          Level Three – Lasting Organization Change – The Action Committee can arrange for selected or senior leaders from your business or organization to receive two days of comprehensive training. Real scenarios help employers and other workplace stakeholders think through responses to situations that could arise. The training will introduce you to domestic violence experts in your community.

For information on our NFF at Work training, contact actioncommitteetraining@gmail.com.

The Bill 168 amendments to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act came into effect on June 15, 2010. The Workplace Violence and Harassment Amendments include a requirement that, under the law, employers must “take reasonable precautions to protect employees from domestic violence in the workplace”. For information on how to meet these requirements by making changes in your workplace on a policy level, see the Make it our Business website.

The Action Committee can provide resources and training for community members and community groups on the warning signs of domestic violence and how we can respond. The Action Committee can provide NFF brochures free of charge to community organizations that include information on the signs of domestic violence, safety planning for women experiencing domestic violence, and how to talk to men who are abusive. The Action Committee can also provide a one-hour education session on Domestic Violence to community members.

For information on our NFF in the Community training, contact actioncommitteetraining@gmail.com.