Funding will build capacity of educators to recognize and respond to youth violence
Ottawa – Family and gender-based violence are serious public health issues that have profound and long-lasting consequences within our communities and across Canada. These issues affect families and youth, and include many different forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Within our communities, especially during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, educators play a central role in promoting and supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of young people, especially those who may be at risk of family or gender-based violence.
Today, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $550,000 in funding to Queen’s University to develop, evaluate and deliver evidence-based, accessible, interactive online training modules on gender-based violence and prevention. The training will help educators across Canada to develop their awareness, knowledge, confidence, and capacity to recognize, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence. The project will enable Queen’s University to collaborate and co-develop trauma and violence-informed resources with key stakeholders from across Canada, and conduct intervention research to confirm that the tools are useful and appropriate.
Queen’s University will deliver the project through PREVNet (the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network). PREVNet is a national research hub that partners with organizations focused on fostering healthy relationships among children and youth. The network collaborates on issues related to child maltreatment, bullying, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence with youth-serving organizations, businesses and governments.
“We are working across government to support the safety and mental health of everyone living in Canada, especially children and youth. By supporting Queen’s University as they develop gender-based violence prevention training models, we can ensure educators across Canada have the training and tools necessary to help prevent and address violence in schools. This is an important part of our work to foster safer and more inclusive environments for children, families, and their communities.” – Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health