Tools, guidance, and promising practices to help you prevent and respond to family violence
Access resources from the VEGA (Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action) Project to assist providers in recognizing and responding safely to family violence. Online content is aimed at health care and social service providers, including students and those in practice.
On this page
- Family violence in general
- Intimate partner violence
- Child maltreatment
- Elder abuse
- Violence against Indigenous peoples
- Addressing risks among youth
- Forced marriage, "honour"-related and other harmful practices
- Engaging men and boys to prevent family violence
- Impact of family violence in the workplace
- Related links
Family violence in general
A handbook for police and Crown prosecutors on criminal harassment (2012)
Department of Justice Canada
This handbook provides police and Crown prosecutors with guidelines for the investigation and prosecution of criminal harassment cases and to promote an integrated criminal justice response to stalking. It is intended to be a starting point for police and Crowns.
Evaluation Summary: Domestic Violence Treatment Option Project (2007)
Public Safety Canada
This document highlights the evaluation findings from the Domestic Violence Treatment Option project which was created in 2000 as a response to the high rates of domestic violence, the victimization First Nations felt from the criminal justice system and the sense that many victims were not reporting domestic violence to police.
Guidelines for service providers: Outreach strategies for family violence intervention with immigrant and minority communities (2010) (PDF document)
Changing Ways
This manual aims to provide guidance for organizations and service providers in Canada to reach out to isolated and vulnerable minority groups in an effort to reduce rates of family violence. It builds on the success of the Muslim Family Safety Project (MFSP) in London, Ontario.
Intimate partner violence
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children
This infographic shares 3 considerations when supporting women experiencing intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Identifying and responding to intimate partner violence (2016) (PDF document)
PreVAiL Research Network
This research brief discusses what intimate partner violence (IPV) is and its health consequences. It also discusses identifying IPV, interventions, policies and best practices for IPV based on current evidence.
Identifying and Responding to Children's Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (2016) (PDF document)
PreVAiL Research Network
This research brief discusses children's exposure to intimate partner violence (CE-IPV) and its health consequences. It also discusses identifying CE-IPV, interventions, policies and best practices for CE-IPV based on current evidence.
Inventory of spousal violence risk assessment tools used in Canada (2013)
Department of Justice Canada
This report identifies spousal violence risk assessment tools that are currently being used by criminal justice personnel with the goal of preventing future risk and harm to victims of spousal violence in Canada. It describes in detail tools, investigative checklists and protocols.
Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Tools: A Review (2012)
Department of Justice Canada
The purpose of this report is to provide an understanding of intimate partner violence risk assessment tools and of the issues that assessors should consider when choosing an assessment instrument.
PDF version (PDF document)
Responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women: WHO clinical and policy guidelines (2013)
World Health Organization
These guidelines equip healthcare providers with evidence-based guidance as to how to respond to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women. They also provide advice for policy makers, encouraging better coordination and funding of services, and greater attention to responding to sexual violence and partner violence within training programmes for health care providers.
Child maltreatment
Keeping Children Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children
This backgrounder shares important considerations and strategies for keeping children who may be at an increased risk of experiencing abuse or maltreatment safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
7 Protective Factors that Promote Children's Resilience (2020)
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children
This infographic provides a brief overview of 7 promising protective factors that have been shown to promote children’s resilience following exposure to intimate partner violence.
Interventions to Prevent Child Maltreatment (2014) (PDF document)
PreVAiL Research Network
This research brief describes the prevalence and incidence of child maltreatment in Canada. It includes the effects of child maltreatment, risk indicators, a prevention framework, preventing different types of child maltreatment as well as policy implications.
Handbook on sensitive practice for health care practitioners: Lessons from adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (2009)
Public Health Agency of Canada
This handbook presents information that will help health care practitioners practice in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and other types of interpersonal violence.
Violence Prevention, the evidence: Preventing violence through the development of safe, stable and nurturing relationships between children and their parents and caregivers (2009) (PDF document)
World Health Organization
This briefing looks at the effectiveness of interventions that encourage safe, stable and nurturing relationships for preventing child maltreatment and aggressive behaviour in childhood.
Series on Child Sexual Abuse (2008)
Public Health Agency of Canada and the Vancouver Incest and Sexual Abuse Centre
This booklet provides information about sexual abuse, how it affects children and how counsellors and parents can help children who have been sexually abused.
Elder abuse
Across the Generations - Education Program (2010) (PDF document)
This tool kit is intended to encourage awareness and understanding of aging, increases sensitivity towards mistreatment and neglect, and develops respect in attitudes and actions between and within generations. The kit includes an information guide for educators, activities for children and older adults, hands-on, print and audio-visual materials, quick reference resource list, information to and other resources.
Outlook 2007: Promising approaches in the prevention of abuse and neglect of older adults in community settings in Canada (2007)
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
This report provides a picture of 'promising approaches' in the prevention of elder abuse and neglect of older adults in community settings in Canada.
Violence against Indigenous peoples
Compendium of Promising Practices to Reduce Violence and Increase Safety of Aboriginal Women in Canada (2012)
Department of Justice
This compendium presents summaries of the programs and practices related to reducing violence and increasing safety of Aboriginal women in Canada. It is designed to enable readers to easily scan program information, so that, for example, a community might find a program that might be adapted to address one of their needs.
Compendium of Promising Practices to Reduce Violence and Increase Safety of Aboriginal Women in Canada - Compendium Annex: Detailed Practice Descriptions (2012)
Department of Justice
The Compendium Annex is designed for use as a companion document to the Compendium, to enable readers to easily cross-reference practices and obtain more detailed information about a particular practice.
First Nations ReAct
Vancouver Coastal Health
These materials are intended to be used to facilitate dialogues, workshops and education events to raise awareness and coordinate community responses to abuse and neglect of older or vulnerable adults.
National First Nations ReAct Manual: Recognize, report and act on older adult abuse and neglect (2011) (PDF document)
This interactive tool is a reference for workers who are responding to situations of suspected abuse, neglect or self-neglect of First Nation older adults.
Matrimonial Real Property on Reserves (updated 2014)
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
This website provides information about the legislation called the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act.
Promising Approaches for Addressing/ Preventing Abuse of Older Adults in First Nations Communities (2009) (PDF document)
BC Association of Community Response Networks
This report includes a critical analysis of the abuse of older First Nations adults. An environmental scan was also completed in this report and includes promising approaches in abuse education, training, intervention and prevention in First Nations communities on and off reserve, for use by front line responders, including: screening, assessment, intervention, prevention, and education and training tools.
Evaluation Summary: Healthy Families project and Kwanlin Dun First Nation's Project (2007) (PDF document)
Public Safety Canada
This document provides a summary about the Healthy Families project in Whitehorse, Yukon which aimed at parents with children aged 0-6 years old who were considered at high risk for future criminal behaviour and victimization. The goal was to reduce the risk factors associated with anti-social behaviour, such as delinquency and criminal behaviour, child abuse and neglect, poor parenting skills, exposure to domestic violence and parental criminality.
Evaluation Summary: First Nations Youth and Restorative Healing Project (2007) (PDF document)
Public Safety Canada
The First Nations Youth and Restorative Healing Project was a culturally-based community-based crime prevention strategy. The objective was to replace anti-social behaviour and criminal activity with conflict management based on resiliency, pride, self-esteem and respect for elders.
Addressing risk factors among youth
The Stop Now and Plan Program - SNAP Crime Prevention in Action (2013)
Public Safety Canada
Stop Now and Plan Program (SNAP®) is a community-based crime prevention program that was developed in Canada by the Child Development Institute (CDI). This document includes information on how to engage partners and organizations that are best suited to implement SNAP programs.
Results from the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) Program (2013)
Public Safety Canada
Stop Now and Plan (SNAP®) is a community-based program for children (under the age of twelve) who have come into contact, or are at risk of coming into contact, with the criminal justice system, and who display early signs of anti-social or aggressive behaviour.
Implementation Fact Sheets on Promising and Model Crime Prevention Programs (2012)
Public Safety Canada
This document provides information about various models for crime prevention programs. It includes information about the Aggression Replacement Training (ART)®program, Functional Family Training (FFT), the Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP), Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST), Project Venture, SNAP®Program (Stop Now and Plan), Strengthening Families Program (SFP) and the Ally Intervention Program.
PDF version (PDF document)
Promising and Model Crime Prevention Programs Volume II (2011)
Public Safety Canada
The purpose of these two volumes have been developed for community groups planning on applying for federal crime prevention funding, in order to guide them in the development and implementation of local crime prevention initiatives. This compendium is a reference tool for all those concerned with reducing delinquency, violence and insecurity through prevention. The second volume includes descriptions that pertain to programs found in Canada.
Volume 1 (2008)
Family-based Programs for Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Crime (2008)
Public Safety Canada
This fact sheet presents family-based programs for preventing and reducing juvenile crime.
Forced marriage, "honour"-related and other harmful practices
Forced marriage is a form of violence
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
This website provides information for women, girls, men and boys in Canada who are affected by forced marriage.
Engaging men and boys to prevent family violence
Engaging men and boys in Domestic Violence Prevention: Opportunities and Promising Approaches (2013)
Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence
This report outlines seven 'entry points' for engaging men and boys in domestic violence prevention. This research also provides an analysis of the literature and highlights 67 promising approaches in the areas of policy, programs and practices, and citizen-led initiatives.
Impact of family violence in the workplace
Domestic Violence and the Workplace (2018) (PDF document)
DV@WorkNet
This research brief discusses the impact of domestic violence perpetration on workers and workplaces.
The impacts of intimate partner violence on workers and workplaces (2014) (PDF document)
PreVAiL Research Network
This brief discusses IPV in a work related context and its impact on workplaces. It also provides information for interventions and support.
Make it Our Business
Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children
The information and training provided through Make It Our Business is intended to help employers meet their new obligations under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. It provides suggestions about what you can do to prevent workplace domestic violence and to support employees at risk.
Related links
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