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Government of Canada Supports Initiatives to Prevent and Address Family Violence


Saturday, 28 November 2020 10:12.AM

- Projects will support health and law professionals, families, and children to recognize the signs and prevent family violence. -

Family violence is a public health issue with serious and lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of survivors. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and the Government of Canada is taking action to help prevent family violence and support those who have been affected. According to Canadian police data, family violence accounts for close to one third of reported violent crime in Canada.

Today, as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence start with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural and Economic Development, announced more than $3.4 million to support three initiatives aimed at preventing family violence and supporting survivors.

The University of Western Ontario will build the capacity of up to 15,000 practitioners and professionals from the health, violence prevention and family law sectors. Through the development of training and cross-sectoral collaboration opportunities, this project will contribute to the goal of protecting the health and safety of survivors of family violence and those at risk.

The Child Development Institute will help organizations deliver the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) program across the country, reaching up to 900 SNAP-trained clinicians and professionals, including police, child welfare, government, education and Elders. SNAP is an evidence-based, cognitive behavioural model that provides a framework for teaching effective emotional regulation, self-control and problem-solving skills to children struggling with behavioural issues and their parents.

The Canadian Association of Midwives will build the capacity of non-Indigenous and Indigenous midwives to assist in safeguarding the health and safety of survivors of family violence and those at risk. Through this program, they will directly train 440 midwives across Canada and reach up to 1,850 midwives through various activities, reaching more than 18,000 women per year. Participants will be trained to help spot signs of family violence and provide assistance to victims.

Quick Facts

- Funding for these projects is provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada as part of the Supporting the Health of Survivors of Family Violence investment and the Preventing Gender-Based Violence: the Health Perspective investment:
-- -- The University of Western Ontario will receive $1,185,270 toward the goal of protecting the health and safety of survivors of family violence and those at risk.
-- -- The Child Development Institute will receive $1,496,803 to support the organizations that are delivering the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) violence prevention program across the country.
-- -- The Canadian Association of Midwives will receive $729,701 to build the capacity of midwives and Indigenous midwives to spot signs of family violence and provide assistance to victims.

- November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The premise of the day is to raise awareness to prevent and help end gender-based violence and to honour the survivors, victims, advocates and community-based organizations that work towards this goal. One of the aims of the day is to re-commit to ending gender-based violence and to take action.

- The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that runs annually from November 25 to December 10 (World Human Rights Day). This campaign unites people in Canada and around the world, to question, call out and speak up against acts of gender-based violence.

- In Canada, we also recognize December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women to honour those who have experienced gender-based violence and to commemorate the tragic mass shooting at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal.

SOURCE: Public Health Agency of Canada