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Family Violence Initiative

Overview

The Family violence Initiative (FVI) is an ongoing federal commitment to a long-term societal problem with a multitude of social, justice, and health dimensions. The long-term goal of the FVI is to prevent and reduce the occurrence of family violence in Canada. Twelve federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations take part in this Initiative. The Department of Justice is a key participant in the federal Family Violence Initiative.

The Department of Justice's component of the FVI focuses on strengthening the criminal justice system's response to family violence. The Department's activities addressing family violence are concentrated in four areas:

• Policy development and legislative reform;
• Research and evaluation;
• Project funding; and
• Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

Further information on these activities can be found at the Department of Justice's Family Violence Web site .

Objectives

Within the Department of Justice Canada , the Innovations, Analysis and Integration Directorate (Programs Branch) administers the Department's Justice Partnership and Innovation Fund.  Family violence is a special initiative administered under this fund.

Project funding under the FVI is aimed at supporting:

• Innovative pilot projects and activities to inform criminal law and policy development and implementation; the development, implementation, testing and assessment of models, strategies and tools to improve the criminal justice system's response to family violence, as well as the identification of best practices/models to reduce the problem and effects of family violence; and
• Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) efforts to promote public access to family violence information, to promote public awareness of the factors contributing to family violence, and to advance public involvement in the responses to family violence.

Activities

Examples of innovative pilot projects and activities that could be funded under the FVI include:

• Assessment of the criminal justice system's and professionals' responses to family violence;
• Development of new strategies, models and tools to facilitate service and program delivery to family violence victims in crisis;
• Development and implementation of support for child victims/witnesses of family violence in the criminal justice process;
• Development of resource tools, for intermediaries and service providers, related to family violence, including those in hard to reach communities such as rural and Aboriginal communities; and
• Development of information and resources relating to family violence to meet the needs of vulnerable groups such as older adults, people with disabilities, and immigrants.

Examples of PLEI activities that could be funded under the FVI include:

• Development of information materials and information sessions addressing PLEI needs of vulnerable and hard to reach communities related to family violence;
• Revision, reprint and dissemination of existing PLEI materials;
• Assessment of PLEI materials and activities in the area of family violence;
• Updating and translation of family violence PLEI materials into additional languages.

Who is eligible?

To be considered for project funding, applicants must submit a proposal using the Application Form that is provided in the Kit and available on the Programs Branch Web site. Project proposals must be consistent with the FVI objective and meet one or more of the following Fund objectives:

• To enhance knowledge, promote development, and inform Canadians and the legal community about family violence issues;
• To promote access to justice, equality and human rights in Canada by supporting:
• consultations, research, and partnerships;
• development and dissemination of information; and
• development, testing and implementation of new cost-effective, multi-disciplinary approaches, models and pilot projects regarding the administration and delivery of services, to victims of family violence;
• To promote the development and implementation of legislative and socio-legal reforms;
• To support the development, testing and implementation of innovative program options, new and multi-disciplinary approaches and models in regard to community involvement and protection from family violence.

Other Considerations: Please consult the section "Other Considerations" in the Justice Partnership and Innovation Fund's information sheet in the Kit for additional information.

Note: As funds are limited, it is not possible to fund all projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Projects that demonstrate that they can best meet the information needs of the Department will be given priority consideration.

How to Apply

The Department of Justice's Programs Branch has developed a Funding Guide that helps you prepare an application for funding. The guide provides you with eligibility criteria, information about the application process, an application form, and a glossary of terms.

Family Violence Initiative project funding can be, and often is, accessed in conjunction with other program funding. Applications will be reviewed carefully to determine linkages from the Family Violence Initiative to other initiatives/programs so that funding can be shared when appropriate.

Contact Information