Our Approach

COLLECTIVE IMPACT

Shared Safety is a collective impact model. According to the change theory of Collective Impact, “The complex nature of most social problems belies the idea that any single program or organization, however well managed and funded, can single-handedly create lasting large-scale change.” Coordinating Philadelphia’s health and human service efforts to identify underlying trauma related to domestic violence will expand our capacity to protect and serve our entire community, and change the social norms that perpetuate violence.

SHARED SAFETY’S STRUCTURE

A Coordinating Council meets bimonthly to set overall policy and serves as a forum for ongoing discussion. Its membership includes public and nonprofit sector leadership, representatives from member organizations and topical experts. The council is co-chaired by leaders from each of the backbone organizations, the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities Services and Women Against Abuse.

Reporting to the Coordinating Council are four subcommittees, tasked with key issue areas:

  • Entry and Access: charged with ensuring relational violence-informed screening an access to services
  • Care: tasked with embedding relational violence-informed practices into human service agencies, and assuring people who act abusively are offered alternatives to violence
  • Safety: charged with expanding capacity for emergency housing, and establishing a system that allows for safety, self-reliance, and well-being in people’s communities of choice
  • Communications: responsible for establishing processes and infrastructure to enable all member agencies to easily share information, data, and resources that will contribute to the success of Shared Safety

The subcommittees meet monthly to develop policies, procedures, and interventions, and also identify resources needed to carry out their work.

If you are interested in joining a Shared Safety subcommittee, please contact: kgaiser@womenagainstabuse.org.

Shared Safety Philadelphia