Understanding the RISA Tool: A Trauma‑Informed Approach to Risk Identification and Safety Assessment

Front‑line service providers supporting individuals experiencing, or at risk of, gender‑based violence need tools that are both practical and sensitive to the complex realities survivors face. The Risk Identification and Safety Assessment (RISA) Tool, developed by the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and featured through the Rise Above Risk platform, offers an intersectional and trauma‑informed framework to guide safety planning and risk assessment in real‑world practice.

The RISA Tool equips providers to assess safety risks while acknowledging the layered impact of systemic, social, and personal factors. It is designed to help providers move beyond surface‑level evaluations and create safety plans that are responsive to each individual’s unique context.

Frameworks Behind the RISA Tool

The RISA Tool is built on a multi‑level framework that guides providers to consider:

1. Systemic and Institutional Factors
   Risks influenced by colonialism, systemic racism, xenophobia, classism, economic abuse, spiritual abuse, technology‑facilitated violence, and coercive control.

2. Social and Interpersonal Dynamics
   Power imbalances, isolation, exploitation, and patterns of controlling behaviour that increase vulnerability to harm.

3. Direct Experiences of Gender‑Based Violence
   Incidents of physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological violence, harassment, and ongoing threats that contribute to safety risks.

By incorporating these layers, the RISA Tool ensures risk assessments are survivor‑centred and account for both immediate and long‑term safety needs.

Core Components of the RISA Tool

The RISA Tool is more than a questionnaire. It is a complete resource with learning supports and practical applications:

1. Learning Modules
   Three core modules provide foundational and advanced knowledge for service providers:

   • GBV: The Basics – Definitions, forms of GBV, and essential context.

   • Foundations of Risk Assessment & Safety Planning – Risk indicators, current assessment gaps, and trauma‑informed safety strategies.

   • Key Approaches – Applying intersectional practice that considers anti‑Black and anti‑Indigenous racism, ableism, precarious immigration status, LGBTQIA+ experiences, and rural or remote contexts.

2. RISA Questionnaire
   A structured assessment tool that guides providers through:

   • Current circumstances and immediate safety considerations.

   • Identity‑based factors influencing risk.

   • Risk indicators aligned with systemic, interpersonal, and experiential factors.

   • Summary risk reports that group risks into serious harm, re‑assault, or other contributing factors.

   From this, providers can generate clear safety planning templates, including high‑risk action plans and case management strategies for collaborative service delivery.

The RISA Tool empowers service providers to integrate a trauma‑informed, intersectional approach into their daily work. It helps ensure that each risk assessment reflects the survivor’s lived experience, identity, and systemic context. The tool not only enhances professional practice but also promotes survivor safety, dignity, and agency.

To explore the tool and its learning modules, visit Rise Above Risk.