Owner and Principal Consultant, Lynda Dechief, has a Masters degree in Population and Public Health, with additional graduate-level training in evaluation research. She has been the recipient of a number of awards and scholarships, as well as a Research Fellowship in Gender, Women & Addictions at IMPART. She has been a Director on numerous Boards of non-profit organizations, including the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health.
During her more than two decades working in this field, she has engaged in ongoing education and professional development, including training in Advanced Project Management, Strategic Doing 301, Facilitating Equal Voice, Collective Impact, Art & Engagement, Grant Writing, Digital Storytelling, Graphic Facilitation, Coalition Building, Fundraising, Organizational Development, Strategic Planning, Media Skills, Gender-Based Violence, Child Sexual Abuse, Cultural Safety, Gender Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health First Aid, Anti-Racism, and much more.
Based in this training and experience, Equality Consulting offers a broad range of skills and services including facilitation, evaluation, grant writing, fostering multi-disciplinary collaboration, program planning and management, needs assessment, feasibility study, community mapping, literature review, writing and editing in academic and plain language, workshop development and delivery, strategic planning, and strategic doing.
Equality Consulting has facilitated the development and implementation of many collaborative health and social supports for those impacted by intersecting health and social issues.
Examples of multidisciplinary initiatives Equality Consulting has helped to develop and/or implement include:
Lynda has graduate-level training in evaluation research and has conducted a number of evaluations. Examples include:
Dechief, L. (2022). Walk With Me: Survivors Gaining Strength Together Outdoors. Activities & Impacts Year One. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for ANKORS.
Dechief, L. (2020). Safe Kids & Youth (SKY) Coordinated Response: 2019-2020 Evaluation Report. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative.
Dechief, L. (2019). Kootenay Boundary Supported Recovery Program: Year One Evaluation. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for ANKORS & Interior Health. February 2019.
Dechief, L. (2019). Downtown Nelson Street Outreach Year Two Pilot Project: Evaluation Report. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for Nelson Community Services. February 2019.
Dechief, L. (2019). Safe Kids & Youth (SKY) Coordinated Response: 2018-2019 Evaluation Report. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative.
Dechief, L. (2018). Nelson Street Outreach Year One Pilot Project: Evaluation Report. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for the Downtown Nelson Street Culture Collaborative. February 2018.
Dechief, L. (2016). Sorella Housing’s Family Program Review: Finding Balance. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for Atira Women’s Resource Society. June 2016.
Nathoo, T. & L. Dechief (2013). Imouto Housing for Young Women: Development and Evaluation of a Supportive Transitional Housing Program in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside 2011-2013. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for Atira Women’s Resource Society. October 2013.
Dechief, L. (2011). Evaluation Report for the Re-discover Parenting Program. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for Atira Women’s Resource Society.
Dechief, L., Pomaki, G. & J. Abbott (2010). Taking Care of Those Who Care: Assessing Organizational and Individual Stress Management Interventions for Anti-violence Workers. Final Report. Prepared for Atira Women’s Resource Society and WorkSafe BC.
Dechief, L. (2010). Evaluation Report: Women’s Outreach Worker (WOW) Project. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for Chrysalis Society for Women. Vancouver, BC
Cailleaux, M. & L. Dechief (2003). Evaluation of the Surrey/ White Rock/ Delta/ Langley Wraparound Initiative for “High Risk Pregnant and Early Parenting Women”. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for the University College of the Fraser Valley.
Burrill, A. & L. Dechief (2001). R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: Find out what it means to me. Final project report and evaluation. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for the Women’s Contact Society: Williams Lake, BC, and the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health.
Dechief, L. (2000). Evaluation report of the Woman Abuse Response Program. Evaluation Conducted & Report prepared for British Columbia Women’s Hospital: Vancouver, BC.
Lynda Dechief has written successful grant proposals to many funders, resulting in the awarding of several millions of dollars in funding for her clients.
Funding secured from these and other sources:
In addition to grant writing, Lynda has co-authored two book chapters, several academic articles and dozens of technical documents.
Her publications, with some examples linked, are below. Presentations and workshops, as well as evaluation reports and strategic plans, can be found under their own headings.
Cory, J., Ruebsaat, G., Hankivsky, O., & Dechief, L. (2003). Reasonable doubt: The use of health records in criminal and civil cases of violence against women in relationships. The Law Foundation of British Columbia: Vancouver, BC.
Lynda has developed and delivered dozens of workshops for health and social service providers across the world. She has also developed the content for two online trainings.
Examples of workshops and presentations include:
Dechief, L. (2020). Coordinated Access: Lessons from a Community Just Getting Started. Presentation at the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Community of Practice webinar. February 13, 2020.
Dechief, L. (2020). Coordinated Access for Those Experiencing Homelessness. Presentation at community meeting hosted by Nelson CARES Society & the Nelson Committee on Homelessness. January 22, 2020. Nelson, BC.
Dechief, L. (2019). Aging Without Violence: Risk Management in Working with Older Women experiencing Abuse. Workshop content created for the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses Violence Against Women Training Hub.
Dechief, L. (2019). Downtown Nelson Street Outreach Pilot Project: Year Two Evaluation. October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018. Presentation to the Downtown Nelson Street Culture Collaborative. February 29, 2019. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. (2019). The Interconnections of Substance Use and Violence Against Women in Relationships. Presentation at Responses to Domestic Violence in Rural Communities Conference. Nelson, BC. September 18, 2019.
Brown, V., Bryans, M., Capyk, S., Dechief, L., Hache, A., Mason, R. & N. Poole (2018). What do we mean by trauma-informed? Presentation to Coalescing on Women and Substance Use Series: Violence, Trauma and Substance Use. British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. November 18, 2018.
Dechief, L. (2018). Downtown Nelson Street Outreach Pilot Project: Evaluation of the First Year. Presentation to the Downtown Nelson Street Culture Collaborative. February 1, 2018. Nelson, BC
McLardy, B., O’Ruairc, L, West, C., Scott, A., & L. Dechief (2017). A Multi-Disciplinary Response to Violence Against Children & Youth: Child Advocacy Centres. Presentation at Ending Violence Association of BC Annual Training Forum. November 16, 2017. Richmond, BC.
Guiliano, R. & L. Dechief (2017). Preliminary Evaluation Findings of the Downtown Nelson Street Outreach Pilot Project. Presentation at Nelson City Council Meeting. February 12, 2017. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. (2016). Downtown Nelson Street Outreach Team. Meet & Greet with Nelson Businesses. September 8, 2016. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. Shears, R. & T. Kettner. (2016). What do I do if I think a child is being abused? Deepening the Community Response to Child Abuse. Presentation at the West Kootenay Early Years Conference. April 23, 2016. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. (2015). The Safe Kids & Youth (SKY) Coordinated Response: A unique rural model designed to achieve the same benefits as a Child & Youth Advocacy Centre. Poster presented at the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT) Conference. April 5, 2015. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Dechief, L. (2015). Safe Kids & Youth Coordinated Response. Presentation at VAWIR-ICAT network meeting. June 12, 2015. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. (2014). Coordinated Response for Child & Youth Victims (CRCYV). Presentation at the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative AGM. September 25, 2014. Castlegar, BC.
Poole, N. & L. Dechief (2013). Shining a Light on Canada’s Multi-Layered Approach to FASD Prevention. Co-facilitation of Evening Session Speaker Panel and Discussion Tables for the Network Action Team (NAT) on FASD Prevention from a Women’s Health Determinants Perspective. February 28, 2013. Victoria, BC.
Nathoo, T., Abbott, J., Dechief, L. & V. Joseph (2012). Imouto Housing for Young Women: A Supportive Transitional Housing Program in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Presentation at FREDA National Research Day Conference: Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence: Exploring the Continuum of Violence Against Women and Girls. November 9, 2012. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. (2012). A Coordinated Response for Child Victims: West Kootenay Boundary Regional Meeting. Facilitated for Nelson CARES Society and Kootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative. October 11, 2012. Nelson, BC
Dechief, L. (2010). Supporting Women at Maxx Wright. Training delivered to staff at Atira Women’s Resource Society. March 3, 2012. Surrey, BC.
Dechief, L. (2010). Non-Violent Communication. Training delivered for to staff at Atira Women’s Resource Society. March 5, 2012. Vancouver, BC
Dechief, L., & Rutman, D. (2011). Substance Using Women with FASD and FASD Prevention: Putting promising approaches into practice for substance use treatment and care. Workshop presented at Issues of Substance 2011: Canadian Centre on Substance use National Conference. November 6, 2011. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. & B. Poag (2010). Violence and Trauma Informed FASD Prevention. Series of workshops delivered in Manitoba. October 18-22nd, 2010. Brandon and Winnipeg, MB
Dechief, L. (2010). Promising models for working with pregnant women and birth moms who struggle with their use of drugs and alcohol. Invited presentation at Walking Together: Connecting Practice and Research to Create Change. 2010 Symposium of the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership. September 28-29th, 2010. Whitehorse, YK
Dechief, L. & G. Pomaki (2010). Taking care of those who care: Reducing the stress of anti-violence work. Presentation at the Canadian Association of Research on Work and Health 2010 Conference: Worker Health in a Changing World of Work. May 28-29, 2010. Toronto, ON
Dechief, L. (2010). Safety and Health Enhancement (SHE) for Women Experiencing Abuse. Poster presented at the 19th International Conference on Safe Communities. March 23-26th, 2010. Suwon, South Korea.
Dechief, L. (2009). Providing integrated services for women impacted by abuse/violence, substance use and mental health issues: The Maxxine Wright Place Project. Presentation at Building Bridges Forum and Provincial Webcast. Vancouver, BC
Dechief, L., Cory, J. & A. Abi-Jaoude (2008). Tools for Integration - Building Bridges: Linking Woman Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Health Issues. BC Yukon Transition House Society Annual General Meeting. Richmond, BC.
Dechief, L. (2006). An innovative model of care for pregnant women impacted by substance use and/or violence / Un modelo innovador del cuidado para mujeres encintas afectadas por adicciones y familia violencia. Poster presentation at 9th International Seminar on Primary Health Care: Excellence and Quality in PHC. Havana, Cuba
Dechief, L. & Cory, J. (2006). Advancing health-care practice: Exploring the links between woman abuse, substance use, and pregnancy/early parenting. Presentation to the World Conference on the Prevention of Family Violence. Banff, AB
Brown, A., Dechief, L., Dunn, E. & J. Geller (2006). Research Methods: Design and Ethics. Presentation to IMPART Gender, Women & Addictions Program. January 16, 2006. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. (2006). Advancing health-care practice: Exploring the links between woman abuse, substance use, and pregnancy/early parenting. Presentation at NET/NEP 2006 - the 1st Nurse Education International Conference. Vancouver, BC
Dechief, L. (2006). Addressing Barriers to Care for Women Impacted by Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Health Issues. Forum presentation. Vancouver, BC. December 14, 2006.
Cailleaux, M. & L. Dechief (2005). The Wraparound Initiative: for ‘High Risk’ Pregnant & Early Parenting Women. Presentation. April 8, 2005. Chilliwack, BC.
Dechief, L. (2005). Advancing health-care practice: Exploring the links between woman abuse, substance use, and pregnancy/early parenting. Presentation for health and social service providers. May 5, 2005. Dawson Creek, BC.
Radford, J. & L. Dechief (2004). Making a Difference: Working with substance-affected infants and their families Presentation for health and social service providers. March 5, 2004. Abbotsford, BC.
Dechief, L. (2003) Care, control and connection: What health-care providers can do to support women in abusive intimate relationships. Presentation at Violence and Women’s Health: Practice and Research. April 3-5, 2003. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. (2003). High risk pregnancy and early parenting. Presentation to the Fraser Health public health nursing quarterly symposium. November 28, 2003. Surrey, BC.
Dechief, L. (2003). What’s the harm in asking a question? Screening in health-care settings for violence against women. Presentation at the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. November 25, 2003. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. (2002) Violence against women in relationships: what can health-care providers do? Presentation at the Voices of Health Conference. University of British Columbia. March 2002. Vancouver, BC.
Dechief, L. (2001) Inequality and difference in the culture of health care: A critical analysis of current health-care system responses to violence against women. Presentation at CASCA 2001: Culture, Difference, Inequality. Held jointly by the American Ethnological Society & the Society for Cultural Anthropology. May 3-6, 2001. Montreal, QC.
Dechief, L., Glube, S., Nathoo, T., Retallack, J. (1999). Socio-economic status and community health in Guatemala. Poster presentation at the 6th Annual Canadian Conference on International Health: Shifting Global Environments for Health & Development. November 14-17, 1999. Ottawa, ON.
Dechief, L. (1999) Social Justice and International Health. Presentation at the Student University Network for Social and International Health Conference. Ottawa, ON.
Lynda has conducted a number of Strategic Planning and Visioning processes.
Examples include:
Dechief, L. (2013). Kootenay Kids Society Strategic Plan 2013-2015. Prepared for the Kootenay Kids Society. February 2013.