Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Building a Culture of Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Alberta, Canada Through the Promotion of Healthy Youth Relationships

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article explores the design and implementation of the Alberta Healthy Youth Relationships (AHYR) Strategy. The AHYR is a province-wide practice and policy change initiative in Alberta, Canada, that aims to prevent intimate partner violence by promoting service provider and systems capacity to support healthy relationships in adolescence and beyond. Developed in 2012 within a broader initiative called Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, the design of the AHYR began with work with provincial policy-makers, in order to create a policy climate that championed primary prevention practice. This policy climate subsequently supported the province-wide implementation of three evidence-based/evidence-informed programs that focus on building the skills and capacities required for healthy youth relationships. Through these programs, the AHYR has reached over 62,000 youth in grades 7–9, 900 teachers, 850 parents, and 1300 adults that work with youth across the province. In addition to these three programs, the AHYR also works with larger systems (e.g., policymakers, local funders, post-secondary institutions) to advance primary prevention practice. In this paper, we describe how the AHYR contributed to a culture of intimate partner violence prevention practice in the province by improving the readiness of funders and system leaders, community organizations, and practitioners to support healthy relationships best practices. We also describe how we used process evaluation to explore the potential for practice change and to inform the design of the next iteration of the AHYR. The article concludes with implications for other researchers and practitioners aiming to build a culture of intimate partner violence prevention practice within their province or state.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In this article, we define intimate partner violence (IPV) as physically, psychologically, and/or sexually abusive actions perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner, including stalking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n.d.).

  2. We define healthy relationships as respectful, autonomous relationships where decision-making is shared and conflict is negotiated in effective, non-violent ways (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n.d.).

  3. For more details on the program, including content and training, please see https://youthrelationships.org/

  4. For space, we do not include all of our activities or evaluation data within each area, but rather focus on two to three key examples that highlight work that we believe has facilitated a culture of prevention. Additional information on other activities is available at www.preventdomesticviolence.ca or from the second author. Analyses presented here were conducted by the first author. Data from this evaluation are not currently available for sharing.

  5. These numbers reflect training reach at the time this article was written (March 2017). Since this time, we have continued to provide training in these three programs, with reach to additional youth and adults in the province.

References

  • Alberta Education. (2017). Student population overview. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/alberta-education/student-population/everyone/school-authority-enrolment-data/. Accessed 15 June 2018.

  • Bonomi, A. E., Anderson, M. L., Rivara, F. P., & Thompson, R. S. (2009). Health care utilization and costs associated with physical and nonphysical-only intimate partner violence. Health Services Research, 44(3), 1052–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7), 513–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D. M., Knoble, N. B., Shortt, J. W., & Kim, H. K. (2012). A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 231–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (n.d.). Promoting respectful, nonviolent intimate partner relationships through individual, community and societal change. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/ipv_strategic_direction_full-doc-a.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Cohen, L., & Swift, S. (1999). The spectrum of prevention: Developing a comprehensive approach to injury prevention. Injury Prevention, 5(3), 203–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coker, A. L., Davis, K. E., Arias, I., Desai, S., Sanderson, M., Brandt, H. M., & Smith, P. H. (2002). Physical and mental health effects of intimate partner violence for men and women. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 23(4), 260–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning [CASEL]. (2016a). Core competencies. Retrieved from https://www.casel.org/core-competencies/. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning [CASEL]. (2016b). 2015 CASEL guide: Effective social and emotional learning programs, middle and high school edition. Retrieved from http://secondaryguide.casel.org. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Corcoran, L., Exner-Cortens, D., & Wells, L. (in press). Advancing healthy and socially just schools and communities: An interdisciplinary graduate program. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

  • Crooks, C. V., Scott, K. L., Broll, R., Zwarych, S., Hughes, R., & Wolfe, D. A. (2015a). Does an evidence-based healthy relationships program for 9th graders show similar effects for 7th and 8th graders? Results from 57 schools randomized to intervention. Health Education Research, 30(3), 513–519.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crooks, C. V., Zwarych, S., Hughes, R., & Burns, S. (2015b). The Fourth R implementation manual: Building for success from adoption to sustainability. Retrieved from https://youthrelationships.org/implementation-manual. Accessed 15 June 2018.

  • Devries, K. M., Mak, J. Y. T., Garcia-Moreno, C., Petzold, M., Child, J. C., Falder, G., et al. (2013). The global prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. Science, 340(6140), 1527–1528.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dozois, E., Wells, L., & Crooks, C. (2016). Developing a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy for violence prevention: Lessons learned from Alberta, Canada. In M. Taylor, U. Khan, & J. A. Pooley (Eds.), Crime and violence prevention: Moving beyond hot-stove policing and perpetrator rehabilitation (pp. 215–230). Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Exner-Cortens, D. (2016). Social-emotional learning and bullying: Understanding impacts on safe, caring, welcoming and respectful learning environments. Retrieved from https://policywise.com/video_library/social-emotional-learning-and-bullying-understanding-impacts-on-safe-caring-welcoming-with-dr-deinera-exner-cortens/. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Exner-Cortens, D., Eckenrode, J., Bunge, J., & Rothman, E. (2017). Revictimization after adolescent dating violence in a matched, national sample of youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60(2), 176–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Exner-Cortens, D., Spiric, V., Crooks, C., Syeda, M., & Wells, L. (2018). Predictors of healthy youth relationships program implementation in a sample of Canadian middle school teachers. Manuscript submitted, revision requested.

  • Exner-Cortens, D., Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C. V., & Chiodo, D. (2019). A preliminary randomized controlled evaluation of a universal healthy relationships program for youth. Canadian Journal of School Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109918762492.

  • Fixsen, D., Blase, K., Metz, A., & Van Dyke, M. (2013). Statewide implementation of evidence-based programs. Exceptional Children, 79(2), 213–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulu, E., Jewkes, R., Roselli, T., & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2013). Prevalence of and factors associated with male perpetration of intimate partner violence: Findings from the UN multi-country cross-sectional study on men and violence in Asia and the pacific. The Lancet, 1(4), e187–e207.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorski, P. C., & Swalwell, K. (2015). Equity literacy for all. Educational Leadership, 72(6), 34–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Alberta. (2013). Family violence hurts everyone: A framework to end family violence in Alberta. Retrieved from http://www.humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/family-violence-hurts-everyone.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Government of Alberta. (2014). Alberta’s plan for promoting healthy relationships and preventing bullying. Retrieved from http://www.humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/promoting-healthy-relationships-and-preventing-bullying.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Greaves, L., Hankivsky, O., & Kingston-Riechers, J. (1995). Selected estimates of the cost of violence against women. London, ON: Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. T., Weissberg, R. P., O’Brien, M. U., Zins, J. E., Fredericks, L., Resnik, H., & Elias, M. J. (2003). Enhancing school-based prevention and youth development through coordinated social, emotional, and academic learning. American Psychologist, 58(6–7), 466–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kania, J., & Kramer, M. (2011). Collective impact. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter, 36–41.

  • King, G., Servais, M., Currie, M., Kertoy, M., Law, M., Rosenbaum, P., …, Chalmers, H. (2003). The community impacts of research oriented partnerships (CIROP) measure. Retrieved from www.impactmeasure.org. Accessed 15 June 2018.

  • Kitzmann, K. M., Gaylord, N. K., Holt, A. R., & Kenny, E. D. (2003). Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(2), 339–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapshina, N., Crooks, C. V., & Kerry, A. (2018). Changes in depression and positive mental health among youth in a healthy relationships program. Canadian Journal of School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573518777154.

  • Levesque, D. A., Johnson, J. L., Welch, C. A., Prochaska, J. M., & Paiva, A. L. (2016). Teen dating violence prevention: Cluster-randomized trial of teen choices, an online, stage-based program for healthy, nonviolent relationships. Psychology of Violence, 6(3), 421–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niolon, P. H., Taylor, B. G., Latzman, N. E., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Valle, L. A., & Tharp, A. T. (2016). Lessons learned in evaluating a multisite, comprehensive teen dating violence prevention strategy: Design and challenges of the evaluation of dating matters: Strategies to promote teen healthy relationships. Psychology of Violence, 6(3), 452–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2010). Developmental evaluation: Applying complexity concepts to enhance innovation and use. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phipps, D., Cummings, J., Pepler, D., Craig, W., & Cardinal, S. (2016). The co-produced pathway to impact describes knowledge mobilization processes. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 9(1), 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • School Act. (2015). Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000 § Chapter S-3. Retrieved from http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/s03.pdf. Accessed 18 Dec 2018.

  • Smith, P. H., White, J. W., & Holland, L. J. (2003). A longitudinal perspective on dating violence among adolescent and college-age women. American Journal of Public Health, 93(7), 1104–1109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (2001). We know some things: Parent-adolescent relationships in retrospect and prospect. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11(1), 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Way of Calgary and Area. (2016). Strong communities focus area: Request for proposal guidebook 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.calgaryunitedway.org/images/uwca/our-work/communities/rfp-spec-sheet-domestic-violence.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

  • Wells, L., & Claussen, C. (2012). Home visitation as a domestic violence prevention strategy: A discussion paper for the Government of Alberta. Calgary, AB: The University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.

  • Wells, L., Boodt, C., & Emery, H. (2012a). Preventing domestic violence in Alberta: A cost savings perspective. The School of Public Policy, SPP Research Papers, 5(7). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2088960.

  • Wells, L., Claussen, C., & Cooper, M. (2012b). Domestic & sexual violence: A background paper on primary prevention programs and frameworks. Calgary, AB: The University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, L., Claussen, C., Abboud, R., & Pauls, M. (2013). Developing a strategic and coordinated approach to violence prevention programming for children and youth in Calgary: Phase one: best and promising practices and program scan. Calgary, AB: The University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, T. S., Connolly, J., Pepler, D., Craig, W., & Laporte, L. (2008). Risk models of dating aggression across different adolescent relationships: A developmental psychopathology approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(4), 622–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, D. A., Jaffe, P. G., & Crooks, C. V. (2006). Adolescent risk behaviors: Why teens experiment and strategies to keep them safe. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C., Jaffe, P., Chiodo, D., Hughes, R., Ellis, W., et al. (2009). A school-based program to prevent adolescent dating violence: A cluster randomized trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 163(8), 692–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, T., Hoddenbagh, J., McDonald, S., & Scrim, K. (2009). An estimation of the economic impact of spousal violence in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/rr12_7/rr12_7.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2017.

Download references

Funding

This research was supported in part by funding from the Government of Alberta Ministry of Human Services, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and anonymous donors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Deinera Exner-Cortens

  2. Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Lana Wells, Lianne Lee & Vanja Spiric

  3. NorQuest College, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Vanja Spiric

Authors
  1. Deinera Exner-Cortens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lana Wells
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lianne Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vanja Spiric
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lana Wells.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study was reviewed and approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board, and was performed in accordance with ethical standards as specified in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic Supplementary Material

ESM 1

(DOCX 16 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Exner-Cortens, D., Wells, L., Lee, L. et al. Building a Culture of Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Alberta, Canada Through the Promotion of Healthy Youth Relationships. Prev Sci 22, 40–49 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-01011-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-01011-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation