Minister of Health announces funding to prevent dating violence among teens

New resources will help educators deliver healthy relationship programming to youth in Canada

OTTAWA, June 25, 2018 /CNW/ - Gender-based violence, including dating violence, is a significant public health issue that can have lasting impacts on both physical and mental health. Helping teens develop skills to establish healthy relationships and educating them about the warning signs of unhealthy relationships are crucial for preventing teen dating violence.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced $550,000 in funding for the Supporting Educators' Capacity to Prevent Dating Violence and Promote Healthy Relationships through a Gender-Based Lens program. This program is run through the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Adolescence is a key time to teach young people the skills needed to develop healthy relationships that are free from violence and abuse. The project will develop and test four models through which educators can deliver a healthy relationship curriculum to youth. Providing new tools to educators to increase their capacity to deliver this type of programming is an important step forward in helping to prevent dating violence among youth.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is proud to support innovative capacity-building projects for professionals working with youth. Equipping educators so that they can help youth develop the skills they need to have healthy relationships is one way that we can address and prevent gender-based violence, and foster positive mental health among young Canadians." 

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

"In order to end gender-based violence, we have to make a conscious effort to bring youth into the conversation. PREVNet's efforts to prevent dating violence and promote healthy relationships among teens are part of our whole-of-government Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Ending gender-based violence is everyone's responsibility, and it is only by raising awareness, educating one another, and challenging long-held norms that we will be able to shift the dialogue to create positive change."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef
Minister of Status of Women

"We are committed to ending gender-based violence, and that includes stopping it before it starts. Providing educators with the right tools to deliver this important curriculum will help our youth succeed in developing healthy relationships throughout their lives."

Dr. Theresa Tam
Chief Public Health Officer 

"PREVNet is pleased that the Public Health Agency of Canada has invested in this innovative project. Together with partners from across the country and across sectors, we are excited to co-create with educators the tools that they need to promote healthy relationships among youth that are free from abuse and violence."

Dr. Wendy Craig
Scientific Co-Director, PREVNet

Quick Facts

• Educators often deal directly with situations involving unhealthy relationships, including dating violence. They may need to be supported with training and resources to deliver healthy relationship programming effectively. This funding is provided as part of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is contributing $550,000 over three years to the Supporting Educators' Capacity to Prevent Dating Violence and Promote Healthy Relationships through a Gender-Based Lens project.
• The project will be led by PREVNet, in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross, universities and school boards.

Associated Links

Stop Family Violence
The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2016 ? A Focus on Family Violence in Canada
PREVNet
Family Violence Prevention Investment: Currently funded projects
Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada