The emotional terrain of community-based service provision: Advocating for criminalized women in Atlantic Canada.

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of community service providers supporting criminalized women in Atlantic Canada, focusing on issues related to trauma, victimization, substance use, and motherhood. These providers work within community-based organizations, assisting clients as navigating complex systems, including criminal legal, child protection, and social assistance. The women they support often face multiple forms of stigma and structural barriers due to their intersecting identities.

This research examines how service providers understand the interconnectedness of substance use, criminalization, and motherhood in their clients' lives. It emphasizes the potential of trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches to better support criminalized women's health and pregnancies. Service providers act as crucial advocates, often building trust and forming meaningful relationships with their clients.

Using a feminist methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 providers working with criminalized women (who were previously incarcerated or otherwise in conflict with the law) in Atlantic Canada. The transcripts were analyzed using open and focused coding within a sociology of emotions framework. Themes include service providers encounters with their clients' substance use, the complexities of trust and relationship building, and apprehension and role confusion.

The findings highlight the critical role these providers play in de-stigmatizing substance use and supporting pregnancy through harm reduction approaches. The research emphasizes the need for embedding harm reduction strategies within programs for pregnant women who use substances. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of trauma-informed education and resources for service providers to address stigma, blame, and shame through supportive community service provision.

This study contributes to understanding of how community organizations support criminalized women, addressing challenges such as housing, employment, social support, and system navigation. It emphasizes the significance and impact of harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches in provider-client relationships and on effective service delivery.