Saskatchewan Domestic Violence Coordination Framework

DV response integration and partnership guidelines for agencies in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan: Rural Coordination and Indigenous Partnerships

Overview

This page outlines a coordination-oriented framework for organizations operating in Saskatchewan, with emphasis on rural service delivery, multi-agency collaboration, Indigenous partnerships, and standardized eligibility and onboarding processes for cross-agency work.

Provincial Context and Rural Service Delivery

Saskatchewan’s geographic dispersion, small communities, and limited local services require structured rural coordination models. Agencies often serve multiple communities across large catchment areas, and many partners operate in mixed mandates (e.g., family services, health, justice).

Common operational characteristics include:

• Centralized offices in regional hubs (e.g., Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina) with satellite or outreach presence in rural communities.
• Part-time or itinerant staff covering multiple towns and First Nations communities on rotation.
• Reliance on virtual coordination (phone, secure video, shared case-management tools) where in-person presence is limited.
• Intersection with provincial systems, including health regions, policing, income assistance, housing authorities, and family justice services.

Rural Service Delivery Models

Organizations in Saskatchewan may consider the following rural models, individually or in combination, when planning cross-agency coordination.

1. Hub-and-Spoke Model

Under this model, a regional “hub” coordinates services and outreach to smaller “spoke” communities.

• Hub functions: central intake, referral triage, information coordination, data reporting, training, and inter-agency liaison.
• Spoke functions: local contact points, outreach appointments, group-based services, and localized systems navigation.
• Coordination mechanisms: scheduled hub–spoke case discussions, shared calendar for outreach visits, and standardized referral forms.

2. Mobile and Itinerant Service Model

Mobile teams or itinerant workers provide scheduled services across rural and northern communities.

• Standardized outreach schedules agreed across agencies (e.g., justice, victim services, health, child and family services).
• Joint outreach visits where appropriate, to reduce travel duplication.
• Shared protocols for booking space in community facilities (e.g., health centres, band offices, community centres).
• Coordination of virtual follow-up between in-person visits.

3. Integrated Rural Access Points

Some rural communities may rely on multi-purpose offices or shared facilities as access points.

• Co-location of multiple services within the same building or within close proximity.
• Shared reception or intake procedures, with clear scripts for routing inquiries to the appropriate partner.
• Common information materials outlining available services, eligibility parameters, and referral pathways.
• Regular cross-agency meetings hosted at the access point to review coordination issues.

Multi-Agency Coordination Structures

Saskatchewan organizations can use several complementary structures to organize multi-agency collaboration at the provincial, regional, and local levels.

Provincial and Regional Tables

• Provincial coordination groups: representatives from major provincial ministries and umbrella organizations meet to review trends, funding alignment, training standards, and provincial initiatives.
• Regional inter-agency committees: regional coalitions including shelters, victim services, community-based organizations, policing, health, child and family services, and Indigenous partners.
• Working groups: time-limited groups focused on specific priorities such as transportation, information-sharing protocols, or service mapping.

Local Operational Agreements

Local partners in Saskatchewan often operate under Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or equivalent agreements that clarify:

• Purpose and scope of collaboration (e.g., referral coordination, joint case conferencing, shared training).
• Roles of each organization in rural contexts, including coverage areas and hours.
• Referral pathways, including contact information and expected response time ranges.
• Data-sharing parameters, including what information may be shared, through which channels, and for which purposes.
• Mechanisms for resolving coordination issues and updating the agreement.

Coordinated Referral and Intake Models

Multi-agency partners can adopt structured models that support consistent responses across dispersed communities.

• Single coordinated referral form: an agreed template used by multiple agencies to streamline referrals while respecting each agency’s mandate and intake criteria.
• Designated coordination contact: each organization names a contact or small team responsible for receiving and routing referrals.
• Shared intake calendar: partners maintain visibility on outreach schedules, intake appointments, and group program cycles to avoid duplication.
• Joint case discussions: planned, protocol-based meetings where agencies review complex coordination issues using non-identifying or consent-based information as appropriate.

Indigenous Partnerships and Shared Governance Options

Saskatchewan includes numerous First Nations, Métis communities, and Indigenous-led service providers. Multi-agency coordination benefits from explicit recognition of Indigenous governance, service mandates, and knowledge systems.

Foundational Partnership Principles

• Engagement with Indigenous governments, leadership, and service agencies as decision-making partners rather than solely as stakeholders.
• Recognition of Indigenous-led organizations’ own policies, protocols, and cultural frameworks.
• Flexible scheduling and meeting formats that accommodate travel distances, local calendars, and community priorities.
• Advance discussion of data governance, including community preferences for data use, storage, and reporting.

Partnership Models with Indigenous Organizations

Agencies may use one or more of the following models for structured collaboration with Indigenous partners.

• Formal partnership agreements: written agreements between Indigenous governments or organizations and service agencies outlining roles, priorities, and processes for joint work.
• Shared steering committees: governance tables co-chaired by Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to oversee regional initiatives, pilots, or joint programs.
• Joint service delivery projects: coordinated programming where Indigenous organizations lead or co-lead design and implementation, with other agencies contributing resources, staff, or facilities.
• Cross-appointment structures: designated liaison roles that participate in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous coordination tables to support information flow.

Eligibility Criteria for Multi-Agency Participation

Eligibility and participation criteria can help ensure that Saskatchewan coordination structures remain transparent and manageable while accommodating a range of organization types.

Organizational Eligibility Dimensions

• Legal status: entities such as registered non-profits, Indigenous governments and organizations, public agencies, and other recognized service bodies.
• Service relevance: organizations whose mandates intersect with interpersonal violence, safety, housing, health, justice, family services, or related social supports.
• Geographic scope: agencies with defined responsibility for one or more Saskatchewan regions, including rural and northern areas.
• Capacity to participate: willingness to allocate staff time for meetings, coordination tasks, and agreed reporting requirements.

Participation Levels

Coordination frameworks can define tiers or levels of participation to accommodate different capacities.

• Core partners: organizations with ongoing responsibilities for coordination, planning, and shared decision-making.
• Associate partners: agencies that participate in specific projects, committees, or rural initiatives.
• Consultative partners: groups engaged periodically for subject-matter input, regional insights, or cultural guidance.

Onboarding New Partner Organizations

Standardized onboarding procedures support consistency as new partners join Saskatchewan coordination structures or specific regional initiatives.

Onboarding Process Framework

1. Initial contact and scoping: clarification of the organization’s mandate, geographic areas, and coordination interests.
2. Eligibility confirmation: review of fit with the relevant coordination table’s criteria and objectives.
3. Information exchange: sharing of key documents such as organizational profiles, service maps, and existing MOUs.
4. Role definition: agreement on the partner’s participation level (core, associate, or consultative) and operational responsibilities.
5. Documentation: completion or signing of applicable agreements (e.g., MOUs, participation letters, data-sharing frameworks).
6. Orientation: briefing on governance processes, meeting schedules, communication protocols, and reporting expectations.
7. Review point: scheduled check-in to assess the onboarding experience and any adjustments required.

Orientation Content

Orientation packages for Saskatchewan partners can include:

• Overview of the coordination body’s purpose, structure, and membership.
• Maps outlining rural and northern service catchments and any designated hub locations.
• Contact lists, including designated coordination leads for each agency.
• Summaries of existing Indigenous partnership structures relevant to the region.
• Standard referral forms, reporting templates, and meeting schedules.

Data-Sharing and Reporting Considerations

Data-sharing among Saskatchewan partners is typically guided by inter-agency agreements and relevant legal and policy frameworks. Coordination structures can define high-level approaches that agencies then operationalize through their own processes.

Data-Sharing Parameters

• Clarification of what information is shared (e.g., aggregate data, service utilization trends, non-identifying information for system planning).
• Identification of who has access, under what conditions, and for what coordination purposes.
• Preferred communication channels for sharing information (e.g., secure email, designated case management systems, or regular reports).
• Processes for updating data-sharing arrangements as regional needs evolve.

Reporting Structures

Multi-agency initiatives may define shared reporting expectations such as:

• Periodic summaries of service activity by region or community (aggregated where appropriate).
• Qualitative observations on access barriers in rural and northern communities.
• Updates on partnership activities with Indigenous organizations.
• Documentation of coordination issues and resolutions to inform system improvements.

Governance and Continuous Improvement

Multi-agency coordination for Saskatchewan benefits from formalized governance arrangements that remain adaptable to regional conditions.

• Terms of reference for provincial, regional, and local tables.
• Defined leadership or chairing arrangements, including shared or rotating models.
• Decision-making processes that accommodate diverse partners, including Indigenous organizations.
• Annual or semi-annual reviews of coordination structures, MOUs, and onboarding procedures.

Recommended Articles

• Coalition Frameworks for Multi-Region Coordination
• Partnership Eligibility and Participation Criteria
• Structuring Partnerships with Indigenous Organizations
• Data-Sharing Models for Inter-Agency Collaboration
• MOU Templates for Cross-Agency Agreements