Results at a glance: Evaluation of Preventing and Addressing Family Violence: The Health Perspective Program - 2019-2020 to 2023-2024
Table of contents
Program context
The Preventing and Addressing Family Violence: The Health Perspective Program, previously known as the Supporting the Health of Survivors of Family Violence Program, is a national grants and contributions program providing time-limited funding (typically 3-5 years) to non-profit organizations, institutions such as universities and health authorities, and other levels of government for projects focused on preventing and reducing the health impacts of family violence in Canada.
The Program supports projects that conduct intervention research to prevent and address family violence through a variety of health promotion interventions that are tailored to the needs of those who have experienced, are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing family violence. The Program also supports projects that help build the capacity of health and social service professionals to recognize and respond to family violence.
Funding
Between 2019-20 to 2023-24, the Program had a budget of approximately $43 million, including approximately $39.3 million for grants and contributions.
Evaluation approach
This evaluation examined program relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency and covered activities from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Evaluation methodology included document and literature review; interviews with internal and external stakeholders; a survey of funding recipients; performance data review, and financial data review.
What the evaluation found
The public health impact of family violence in Canada is significant and evolving. To this end, the Program remains relevant and complements the work of other federal and non-profit organizations through its focus on prevention, addressing health impacts, and generating evidence through intervention research. In addition, the Program engages with other government departments to try and limit duplication and overlap with other organizations.
The evaluation found evidence of program effectiveness, with PHAC-funded projects showing progress in achieving the main goals of the Program: the creation of knowledge products and events, training and support of key target audiences, building knowledge and skills among participants and professionals, and changing behaviour, improving health and increasing support for participants, including survivors of family violence.
Overall, the Program is efficient, with a focus on health equity in its design and delivery, including in its application, project selection, funding and reporting processes. The Program was found to be well-run, thanks in large part to its flexibility, improvements made over the last five years, and support provided by PHAC staff. Program focus on intervention research, fostering communities of practice, and the length and amount of funding provided to projects also contributed to achieving its goals. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Program's adaptability and support enabled necessary adjustments to project activities and work plans.
The inability to carry over unspent funds to future fiscal years, frequent and detailed reporting requirements, and the demands of conducting intervention research created challenges, especially for smaller community-based organizations. Project sustainability once PHAC funding has ended is a challenge for various funding recipients, who feel this is an area where PHAC could play a larger role.
Recommendations
- Identify and communicate PHAC's role in project sustainability.
- Review reporting requirements.
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