Government of Canada Supports Projects to Prevent and Address Family Violence in British Columbia
Projects will support those who have experienced, are experiencing, or are at-risk of experiencing violence.
June 5, 2023 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Public Health Agency of Canada
Family violence and gender-based violence are serious public health issues that are strongly linked to mental health concerns and can have long-lasting consequences for survivors and for those around them. These issues touch families in all parts of Canada, and include many different forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting all survivors of family and gender-based violence and safeguarding the health and safety of those at risk.
Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced funding for two projects in British Columbia, totalling $1.7 million, to provide support to those affected by family and gender-based violence, with a particular focus on aiding women and racialized communities.
The Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health Society (CEWH), based in Vancouver, will receive $980,392 to launch the first Canadian self-guided workbook and social support program to address challenges related to intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use (SU). The project will be launched in British Columbia and available to partners across Canada. Through this initiative, CEWH will collaborate with partner organizations to strengthen training resources for over 50 IPV and SU services providers and help them support women survivors across the country.
Based in Surrey, British Columbia, the DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society will receive $794,423 to launch Signs of Safety (SOS), a community-led initiative designed to address and prevent family violence specifically in immigrant and refugee communities. The SOS initiative will provide multigenerational safety-planning resources to families from South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African newcomer communities in Surrey. This collaborative effort involves 250 partners who are working to enhance health and safety promotion in these communities.
The Government of Canada will continue working to prevent partner and family violence, support survivors, and break the cycle of violence in families and communities from coast to coast to coast.