Wings Across the World
WINGS is available in 8 languages and has been implemented in 6 countries.
WINGS NYC
We conducted a NIDA-funded randomized controlled trial of WINGS IPV SBIRT model comparing computerized self-paced model of WINGS versus the same IPV SBIRT model delivered by a facilitator among 191 WWUD in community corrections.
We have integrated WINGS core components into an evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention intervention entitled E-WORTH for Black/African American WWUD in community corrections. We are currently evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of E-WORTH in a randomized controlled trial.
WINGS India (Pankh), Pune, India
The South Asia Alliance Regional Technical Hub and Sahara, an NGO in Pune have adapted the two session version of WINGS with HCT to identify and address IPV and other culturally specific forms of GBV with women who inject drugs in collaboration with GLORI and GHRCCA. GHRCCA and GLORI trained Sahara to implement WINGS which they call Pankh. Sahara is planning to enroll 36 women in a pilot trial of Pankh that is funded by the Alliance of Public Health. The Regional Technical Hub will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of Pankh on identifying and reducing different types of IPV and GBV.
WINGS of HOPE KG Kryla Nadejda
In the Kyrgyz Republic, violence against women and girls remains one of the acute social challenges, and the National Strategy for Sustainable Development for 2018-2040 emphasizes the importance of defending women’s rights and opportunities and improving their access to medical and social services. The UNDP project “Development Solutions Partnership on Addressing Gender-based Violence” assists the country’s efforts to pilot innovative practices for supporting victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and reducing violence against women and girls. Receiving financial and technical support from the UNDP Seoul Policy Center, the public foundation Global Research Institute (GLORI) introduces a progressive and innovative intervention model in six community-based Crisis Centers (CCs): Chance and Sezim in Bishkek, Ayalzat and Meerman in Karakol, Tendesh in Naryn, and Ak-Zhurok in Osh.
To seek effective solutions which match the actual situation in the Kyrgyz Republic, this pilot project refers to the experiences of both Sunflower Centers in South Korea and Women Initiating New Goals for Safety (WINGS) developed by the Columbia University, School of Social Work. One of the significant characteristics of the Sunflower Center mechanism is to provide multi-disciplinary services – medical treatments, counseling, legal support, police investigations – in a single location to victims and survivors of SGBV. On the other hand, the WINGS model is a single-session intervention that aims to address a critical gap in services by identifying women at risk of particular types of SGBV, motivating their psycho-emotional states and social integration, enabling them to develop safety planning skills to reduce their risks, and redirecting them to appropriate services. As a part of this project activities, the targeted CCs provide primary counseling for affected women, based on the WINGS intervention, and the Sunflower Center mechanism is utilized at the stage of which survivors receive necessary medical treatments. These interventions for better services will help minimize the risks of secondary victimization and meet the needs of service users. For the practices, the CCs are currently acquiring essential skills for screening, referrals, and accompaniments of survivors and the creation of preferable conditions for their recovery.
In addition, during a year of the assignment period, the project, in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, focuses on capacity development for identifying cases of violence, ensuring effective measures to provide better services to beneficiaries, protecting their rights, preventing secondary victimization, and promoting gender equality.
In Ukraine WINGS have been funded by the International Renaissance Foundation and implemented by Kyiv based NGO Club Eney. In 2018-2019 the project focused on women who use drugs and women in sex work. Club Eney adapted WINGS for Ukrainian context, added safety planning for the same sex couples. Club Eney trained 15 activists from project target populations to facilitate WINGS. A total of 310 women in 4 regions of Ukraine participated in WINGS and increased their safety through safety planning, building social networks and referrals to additional services, including ART treatment for HIV-positive women, medical screening, temporary shelter, legal and psychological counseling at partner organizations. In order to promote GBV response among key affected populations Club Eney created intersectional working group on GBV prevention and developed an advocacy plan, which aims to improve GBV response at regional levels. International Renaissance Foundation continued grant for 2020 to implement WINGS for women in penitentiary facilities in 5 regions.
In October 2019 Club Eney and their partner organization “Positive Women” received a $150,000 grant from the United Nations Trust Fund to end Violence Against Women and UN Women to implement WINGS in two regions of Ukraine. During this three-year project at least 500 women who use drugs, women in sex work, women living with HIV and internally displaced women will participate in WINGS and decrease risks of physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse.
Drug User and Sex Worker Women Initiating New Goals of Safety (WINGS) started in Georgia with support of OSI/OSGF in 2018 implemented by the community based organizations Aceso and Women For Freedom (WFF). Since then over 120 women went through the brief intervention and follow up support by referral to HIV/HCV/TB diagnostics and treatment, Harm Reduction and SRHR service including Medical Abortion. The services also included physiological and juridical support for survivors IPVs including won court cases on private property. Mentioned is done through ongoing community capacity building and networking, which is though still remains a challenge and the area of further improvement. Synergy with the other local initiatives and having emergency funds is one of the best practices having improved wider access to quality of care services for the intervention beneficiaries.