USask postdoctoral researcher finalist for SSHRC Talent Award

Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of reported intimate partner violence (IPV) in Canada, a reality University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Crystal Giesbrecht (PhD) is working to address.

IPV can occur in many relationships—from casual dating to marriage—and takes on many forms. IPV can include physical assault and coercive control, and can involve sexual, psychological, financial, and emotional abuse.

“Research into IPV is needed, given the small body of research that exists in Canada and specifically in Saskatchewan, where the rates of IPV are double the national average,” said Giesbrecht, a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at USask. Giesbrecht also serves as the director of research at the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS).

Giesbrecht’s work into IPV has focused on the examination and evaluation of perpetrators of IPV and on how to assess and manage risk to help prevent violence and increase the safety of survivors.

Giesbrecht was recently named one of three finalists for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Talent Award, one of the prestigious SSHRC Impact Awards. These awards recognize outstanding Canadian researchers and celebrate their SSHRC-funded research achievements, research training, knowledge mobilization, and outreach activities.

“I am incredibly honoured to be named as a finalist for the Talent Award. I feel that this demonstrates the importance of my research and the importance of work to inform responses to intimate partner violence,” said Giesbrecht. “SSHRC Impact Awards are the most prestigious recognition for social sciences and humanities researchers in Canada, so I am exceedingly proud to have been nominated by USask.”

In her role as a postdoctoral researcher, Giesbrecht is conducting a first-ever outcome evaluation of SAFE, an IPV intervention program delivered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Community Safety. She is analyzing the reoffending outcomes and characteristics that are connected to participation and completion of any treatment or intervention programming.

“I am also proud to be trusted by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Community Safety to conduct the first-ever outcome evaluation of SAFE. Individuals who have perpetrated violence against their intimate partners participate in this program around the province, and it is crucial to determine if the program is achieving its desired outcomes—most importantly, reducing rates of intimate partner violence recidivism,” said Giesbrecht.

Her research to date has informed recommendations to assist professionals who work with people who use violence and people who experience violence. Her goal for the future is to further new knowledge on IPV and assist professionals and policymakers in enhancing practice and improving responses to IPV in Saskatchewan.

Specifically, Giesbrecht aims to develop enhanced case management recommendations and improve guidelines for working with men who perpetrate IPV. This includes the ability to triage individuals to treatment programming and assign supervision strategies based on their risks and needs. Giesbrecht says these improvements can help prevent IPV and also reduce child abuse and reoffending in general.

“I am proud to have contributed to informing solutions to reducing violence in our province, and to be given continued opportunities to further this work,” said Giesbrecht.

The SSHRC Talent Award celebrates research and knowledge mobilization and recognizes outstanding academic excellence in researchers holding a SSHRC doctoral scholarship or postdoctoral fellowship. Click here to learn more about this award and the other finalists.