Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced $550,000 in funding for the Supporting Educators' Capacity to Prevent Dating Violence and Promote Healthy Relationships through a Gender-Based Lens program.

"The Government of Canada is proud to support innovative capacity-building projects for professionals working with youth. Equipping educators so that they can help youth develop the skills they need to have healthy relationships is one way that we can address and prevent gender-based violence, and foster positive mental health among young Canadians."

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

"In order to end gender-based violence, we have to make a conscious effort to bring youth into the conversation. PREVNet's efforts to prevent dating violence and promote healthy relationships among teens are part of our whole-of-government Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Ending gender-based violence is everyone's responsibility, and it is only by raising awareness, educating one another, and challenging long-held norms that we will be able to shift the dialogue to create positive change."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef
Minister of Status of Women

"We are committed to ending gender-based violence, and that includes stopping it before it starts. Providing educators with the right tools to deliver this important curriculum will help our youth succeed in developing healthy relationships throughout their lives."

Dr. Theresa Tam
Chief Public Health Officer

"PREVNet is pleased that the Public Health Agency of Canada has invested in this innovative project. Together with partners from across the country and across sectors, we are excited to co-create with educators the tools that they need to promote healthy relationships among youth that are free from abuse and violence."

Dr. Wendy Craig
Scientific Co-Director, PREVNet

• Educators often deal directly with situations involving unhealthy relationships, including dating violence. They may need to be supported with training and resources to deliver healthy relationship programming effectively. This funding is provided as part of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.

• The Public Health Agency of Canada is contributing $550,000 over three years to the Supporting Educators' Capacity to Prevent Dating Violence and Promote Healthy Relationships through a Gender-Based Lens project.

• The project will be led by PREVNet, in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross, universities and school boards.

Associated links

• Stop Family Violence
• The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2016 - A Focus on Family Violence in Canada
• PREVNet
• Family Violence Prevention Investment: Currently funded projects
• Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Thierry Bélair
Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca