Teen Dating Violence for Healthcare Providers

The Healthcare Provider’s Role

* This information was adapted from IPV Health

1. Learn about adolescent relationships and Teen Dating Violence (TDV) prevention practices. To learn more about best practices to address TDV within a clinical setting, please refer to the evidence-informed CUES Intervention: https://ipvhealth.org/health-professionals/educate-providers/
2. Prep your practice. Take these simple steps to enhance the amazing work you are already doing to support youth in your healthcare setting:
   • Ensure there is a private space to talk to adolescent patients about dating and relationships.
   • Display educational posters on healthy relationships and TDV to let patients and their caregivers know your healthcare setting is a place they can discuss these topics (see below).
   • Develop a list of resources for patients and their caregivers (see below)
3. Locate local, provincial, and national violence prevention organizations, crisis support lines, and support services. In Canada, there is no TDV-specific crisis support line. To locate relevant resources to provide to patients and their families, please visit:
   • https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/
   • https://kidshelpphone.ca/resources-around-me

Consider printing any of the following posters to display in your healthcare setting (e.g., waiting room areas):

Posters by PREVNet

• Building Healthy Relationships Poster
• 8 Warning Signs of Unhealthy Relationships Poster
• How To Ask For Help Poster
• “Hanging Out or Hooking Up?” – Poster
• “Hanging Out or Hooking Up?” – Information Cards (regular paper)
• “Hanging Out or Hooking Up – Information Cards (formatted for Avery business cardstock)
  • These information cards are formatted to be printed on 3.5″ x 2″ business cards
  • All 10 can be printed on the same page, which can be cut or torn into smaller cards
• For more TDV resources, please visit our resource library: https://www.prevnet.ca/resources/

Other Posters

• Technology-Facilitated TDV Infographics and Factsheets (available in English and French) by Digitally Informed Youth: https://www.diydigitalsafety.ca/resources
• Relationship Spectrum (Healthy > Unhealthy > Abusive) Poster by Love Is Respect: https://www.loveisrespect.org/everyone-deserves-a-healthy-relationship/relationship-spectrum/

• Locate crisis centres and support lines across Canada by the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada: https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/
• Search for in-person or virtual well-being support programs, services, tools, etc. nearby by Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/resources-around-me/
• 5 ways your words can empower your friend by OneLove: https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/5-ways-your-words-can-empower-your-friend/
• Understanding tech-facilitated TDV:
  • Teen Digital Dating Violence Toolkit by Tech Safety Canada (includes information on how to stay safe online, legal information, and getting help): https://techsafety.ca/resources/toolkits/teen-digital-dating-violence-toolkit
  • Getting help if a sexual picture or video of youth under 18 years of age (includes steps on reporting and removing) by Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc: https://needhelpnow.ca/en/
• Canadian Human Trafficking services, supports, or submitting a tip: https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/
• PREVNet list of youth-friendly crisis and support lines: https://www.prevnet.ca/get-help-now

• Interactive Safety Planner (for any safety issue) by Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/my-fill-in-the-blanks-safety-plan-for-any-time/
• TDV Interactive Personal Safety Planning Tool by Love Is Respect: https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/create-your-personal-safety-plan
• TDV Safety Planning PDF (includes ideas on how to stay safe in everyday life, social life, and online) by Love Is Respect: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Teen-Safety-Plan.pdf