Wrapping up Family Violence Prevention Month, the Government of Alberta held a press conference on Friday to release their redesigned family violence prevention framework: Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence in Alberta. The new Framework is the result of extensive community consultations and a unique partnership with the University of Calgary.
Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, has worked in collaboration with the Government of Alberta’s Human Services Ministry and partnering Ministries, to bring forward advances in prevention science and promising practices from around the world in the area of primary prevention.
“Collaboration between universities, government and the community is critical to move research into policy and practice and have practice influence research and policy; a trifecta for social change,” says Wells.
The Framework ensures that investments, policies and practices cover the spectrum of prevention, including primary prevention – which is new for Alberta. The focus is three-fold:
- Ensure people have the capacity to build and sustain healthy relationships.
- Stop the transmission of violence to children, youth and young adults.
- Develop non- violent and healthy socio-cultural norms and environments.
There will be a number of indicators to determine the Framework’s success, including:
- Reduced intergenerational transmission of violence;
- Reduction in family violence-related mortality;
- Increased awareness of family violence, how to prevent it and where to go for help;
- Communities value healthy and respectful relationships;
- Improved access to resources, services and supports for victims and offenders; and
- Violence prevention research, resources and activities are integrated across sectors and settings.
Family, domestic and sexual violence does hurt everyone. It is encouraging to see policies, legislation, investments and practices moving upstream, to stop violence before it starts.
Please follow the link to access the source document for Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence in Alberta.
Please follow the link to access Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence.
