The Family Violence Initiative (FVI)

Family violence occurs in relationships of intimacy, kinship, dependency, or trust. It ranges from physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse to neglect.

The Government of Canada has renewed its commitment to address family violence in Canada.

On behalf of the federal government and 15 partner departments, the Public Health Agency of Canada coordinates the Family Violence Initiative (FVI). With the long-term goal of reducing the occurrence of family violence in Canada, the Government of Canada provides the Family Violence Initiative with $7 million permanent annual funding. This allocation supports and complements activities across seven departments and agencies: Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Department of Justice Canada, RCMP, Canadian Heritage, Status of Women Canada, and Statistics Canada.

Additionally, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Service Canada and the Department of National Defence address family violence issues through existing departmental programs and activities.

The FVI promotes public awareness of the risk factors of family violence and the need for public involvement in responding to it; strengthens the criminal justice, housing, and health systems to respond; and supports data collection, research and evaluation efforts to identify effective interventions.

This Initiative marks a new stage in federal efforts to reduce family violence. The issue of family violence has been integrated into ongoing programming in many government departments. We have learned that the best way to address family violence is to support a common vision and a coordinated approach.

Under the Family Violence Initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada also manages the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV). The NCFV is Canada's resource centre for information on violence within the family. It provides a centralized and comprehensive reference, referral and distribution service for information on aspects of family violence prevention, protection, and treatment.

The Family Violence Initiative: Year 5 Report ( HTML - PDF )

Departmental Activities

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation delivers the Shelter Enhancement Program and in certain circumstances provides capital funding for new emergency shelters and second stage housing.
  
• Canadian Heritage supports family violence prevention projects for off-reserve Aboriginal women, supports prevention activities for non-English/French speaking members of ethno-cultural communities via ethnic media and English/French as a Second Language programs, aims at reducing media violence, and to a limited extent, conducts research and evaluation activities regarding family violence.
   
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada promotes awareness of family violence through citizenship and immigration policies and programs.
   
• Correctional Service of Canada addresses family violence through research, treatment programs and staff training.
   
• Department of Justice Canada reviews, researches and reforms criminal justice legislation and policy, funds community-based family violence projects and provides public legal education and information support regarding family violence.
• Family Violence Initiative
   
• Department of National Defence conducts awareness and education training for DND and Canadian Forces (CF) personnel on issues of family violence and violence against women. It provides support, counselling and referral services for service members and their families who are victims of family violence.
  
• Health Canada
    
• Human Resources and Social Development Canada collects and disseminates information related to social policy.
   
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada funds First Nations' emergency shelters and community-based projects on prevention, intervention, treatment and research on family violence.
  • Family Violence Prevention Program for First Nations
      
• Public Health Agency of Canada researches the population health consequences of family violence, develops resources and promotes policies, programs and projects that contribute to family violence prevention.
    
• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) is responsible for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a peaceful and safe society. Apart from the contributions of PSEPC Portfolio Agencies, Correctional Services Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which are listed individually on this web page, the Department addresses the issue of family violence through a wide range of activities such as: promoting public awareness of family violence issues; support for community based initiatives that aim to reduce family violence and other forms of victimization; developing tools, approaches and research that help contribute to safer communities; and providing Aboriginal community policing services.
    
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police supports community-based workshops on victims' issues, sexual assault, and relationship violence, and assists communities in using problem-solving approaches to family violence.
  
• Service Canada
    
• Statistics Canada works to improve the availability of national data on the nature and extent of family violence.
    
• Status of Women Canada supports projects that lead to systemic changes and alternative, long-term prevention strategies.