Faith and Culture in Domestic Violence Care
Belonging is a basic human need. Belonging establishes a sense of safety.
At Radiance, we welcome and respect diverse faith and cultural identities of women and children as they seek a life free from domestic violence and abuse.
The Faces of Faith and Cultural Support at Radiance
Meet the people who help foster connection at Radiance and learn how they support culture and belonging. These roles help families and communities respond to domestic violence in safe and informed ways.
Trevor, who serves as our Community Connector, dedicates himself to building stronger communities by thoughtfully considering the systems that influence individuals’ lives.
Laila, our Cultural Liaison, brings over 20 years of experience and a depth of knowledge that strengthens our work with women, families, and communities.
Both Laila and Trevor take an inclusive approach to their work. They share a belief that understanding the faith and cultural background of those they are working with is the first step to building trust and opening dialogue.
How do faith and culture show up in your work with the families and communities we serve at Radiance?
Laila: At Radiance, we serve families from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. As the Cultural Liaison, I help survivors of domestic violence acknowledge and understand how their faith or cultural background plays a role in their healing journey.
Often, individuals may not even realize what they have experienced because the abuse was not physical. Cultural norms and traditions surrounding gender roles mean that certain actions such as controlling finances or decision making may not be interpreted as abuse in other cultures the way it would in Canada.
I also help bridge the gap between families and other support staff, especially when it comes to understanding how culture and faith can affect how families access services.
Trevor: Both faith and culture influence how I work with the community as we try to cast a wide net and bring more people into the conversation. Understanding faith and culture shapes language choices – the goal is to help people feel engaged and know they are welcome contributors to the discussion, rather than isolating them with words that may feel difficult or exclusionary.
Phrasing is less important than the message. If I can find a way to reach the individual and help them see their role in work, then we are successful.
I also believe that understanding faith and culture helps us recognize perceptions and reservations about the work. While an individual may know at their core that the abuse that they are experiencing is wrong, there are also spiritual controls and internal fears that make them feel that leaving the relationship is wrong as well.
What does creating a sense of safety and belonging look like in your role?
Laila: Meeting with someone who understands, or is looking to gain an understanding, of their background helps people feel comfortable opening about their experiences, the support they need, and any reservations they may have about accessing services.
In my role, I create a safe space to explore cultural and faith identity in a way they may not have previously been able to do. I also engage families as a community through faith and cultural celebrations, using those moments as opportunities for people to come together as neighbours and build connections, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.
Trevor: I work to ensure that the people I connect with in the community feel safe and that they belong in the conversation by using ‘we’ statements. Ending domestic violence takes a community response. Everyone has a role to play, and everyone needs to be part of the conversation.
My role is not just to tell people what we are doing to prevent violence in the community, but to share the messaging, the ‘why’, and the goals behind the work, and to help them see where they fit within it. Whenever possible, our goal is always to move the work forward.
I also try to make people comfortable having conversations about this challenging topic by opening up and sharing parts of my own story, with the hope of creating space for them to do the same.
Why Faith and Cultural Supports Matter
Spirituality and culture play a role in how people understand themselves and make decisions as they move toward safety and wellbeing. These parts of a person’s life do not disappear when someone enters a domestic violence shelter.
Familiar traditions— like holidays, spiritual practices, or cultural customs— can bring comfort and reassurance during uncertain times. For women and children experiencing family violence, these connections can provide a strong sense of support and meaning.
At the same time, we know domestic violence is complex and can be closely tied to identity.
Some women have experienced harm within their faith or cultural communities. In some cases, beliefs or expectations may discourage seeking help or be used to justify control. Others may struggle with their relationship to faith after experiencing abuse or trauma, which can lead to pain, confusion, and grief.
Because of this, it is important to offer faith-based and culturally responsive support that puts safety first and respects each person’s experience.
How Radiance Provides Faith-Based and Culturally Responsive Support
At Radiance, we listen and support each person in finding what is safe, meaningful, and right for them and their family. We provide faith and cultural supports that protect dignity and support choice for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
Our approach includes:
- Providing space for spiritual practices and observances.
- Honouring cultural traditions, languages, and identities
- Supporting connections to safe and trusted faith leaders and communities
- Offering individualized support as survivors navigate complex relationships with faith, culture, and identity
Supporting Faith Communities to Respond to Domestic Violence
We believe faith leaders are very important in helping their communities. With the right training and knowledge, they can help keep people safe and healthy.
Thrive, a transformative initiative by Radiance, helps faith communities become more caring, safe, and empowering for everyone.
Thrive works with faith leaders to build communities that can respond to domestic violence and abuse with safety and compassion. We offer helpful tools, workshops, and facilitated discussion to support leaders to build cultures of respect, growth, and support.
We believe faith communities should be places where everyone feels safe, cared for, and supported. Our hope is that no one faces harm, and every family can get the help they need.
Interested in learning more? Email thrive@radiancesociety.ca to get in touch with our Thrive Team.