Developing a comprehensive government strategy for building and promoting positive fatherhood involvement as a key priority for reducing domestic violence

Located in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence is aimed at significantly reducing domestic violence in Alberta, Canada. With an emphasis on primary prevention,... [ view full abstract ]

Located in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence is aimed at significantly reducing domestic violence in Alberta, Canada. With an emphasis on primary prevention, Shift conducts research and works collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders to move research into policy and practice, thereby helping to shape and inform domestic violence prevention efforts across the province. As part of this work, Shift spent two years working with the Government of Alberta to support the development of Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence in Alberta, a provincial policy framework that identified engaging healthy and non-violent men and boys in violence prevention as a key priority. In May 2014, the government entered into a partnership with Shift to 1) support the development of a comprehensive men and boys violence prevention strategy, and 2) develop a fatherhood action plan that would guide future policy and investments. Research shows that positive father involvement has a significant impact on the health and well being of children, and has been identified as a key priority for reducing child maltreatment and domestic violence. This presentation will provide an overview of the partnership between the University of Calgary and Government of Alberta, the process to develop the fatherhood action plan, along with key findings and recommendations that have policy and practice implications for government, community and families. The proposed fatherhood action plan is one that could become a template for other jurisdictions worldwide.