Teen Dating Violence – Information for Healthcare Providers

The Healthcare Provider’s Role

Prep your practice. Take these simple steps to enhance the work you are already doing to support youth in your setting:

  • Ensure there is a private space to talk to adolescent patients about dating, sex, 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 “Resources” tab).
  • Develop a list of resources for patients and their caregivers (see “Resources” tab)


Learn more about your role in teen dating violence (TDV) prevention. See the evidence-informed CUES Intervention for guidance on your role: https://ipvhealth.org/health-professionals/educate-providers/


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:

*This information in this section was adapted from IPV Health

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TDV Safety Cards for Adolescent Patients

In the CUES approach, Step 2 involves the use of a safety card. We have created a safety card for providers in Canada to use with their adolescent patients:

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TDV Safety Planning Resources for Healthcare Settings

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Awareness Resources for Healthcare Settings

Consider printing some of the following posters to display in your healthcare setting (e.g., waiting room areas, bathrooms). Having resources around the clinic lets youth know this is a safe place to discuss their experiences with relationships. Because TDV can happen to youth of any gender or sexuality, make sure any resources provided are gender- and sexuality-inclusive.

Resources from PREVNet

Resources from Other Sources

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Teen Dating Violence and the Law

To learn more about Teen Dating Violence Policy & Legislation in your province or territory, inciudling information on duty to report, please visit: https://www.prevnet.ca/youth-dating-violence-policy-legislation/


Disclaimer: These summaries are currently intended to provide guidance but not legal advice for youth, parents and educators. They were prepared by PREVNet and reviewed by senior law students. They present our current understanding of the legislation in each province and territory.

The Healthcare Provider’s Role


Prep your practice. Take these simple steps to enhance the work you are already doing to support youth in your setting:

    • Ensure there is a private space to talk to adolescent patients about dating, sex, 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 “Patient Education Resources” tab).
    • Develop a list of resources for patients and their caregivers (see “Patient Education Resources” tab)


Learn more about your role in teen dating violence (TDV) prevention. See the evidence-informed CUES Intervention for guidance on your role: https://ipvhealth.org/health-professionals/educate-providers/


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:

 

*This information in this section was adapted from IPV Health

Teen Dating Violence and the Law

 

To learn more about Teen Dating Violence Policy & Legislation in your province or territory, including information on duty to report to child welfare authorities, please visit: https://www.prevnet.ca/youth-dating-violence-policy-legislation/

 

 

TDV Safety Planning Resources for Healthcare Settings

We have provided some safety planning tools here to support the development of care plans with the youth, or to share with the youth for them to revisit later. However, it is generally not the health care provider’s role to complete a safety plan with youth. In most circumstances, the best plan of action when a health care provider is concerned that TDV is an issue is to do a warm hand-off to another provider or organization with more experience in this area, and who can provide ongoing support to the youth (e.g., violence prevention agency, social worker).

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TDV Awareness Resources for Healthcare Settings

 

Consider printing some of the following posters to display in your healthcare setting (e.g., waiting room areas, bathrooms). Having resources around the clinic lets youth know this is a safe place to discuss their experiences with relationships. Because TDV can happen to youth of any gender or sexuality, make sure any resources provided are gender- and sexuality-inclusive.

Resources from PREVNet

Resources from Other Sources

 

TDV Patient Education Resources for Healthcare Settings

 

“Hanging Out or Hooking Up” Patient Education Cards

In the CUES approach, Step 2 involves the use of a safety card. We have created a safety card for providers in Canada to use with their adolescent patients: adapted from Futures without Violence for the Canadian context. This wallet-sized resource provides education on the dynamics of healthy relationships, and prompt teens to consider TDV warning signs. It also provides tips on how to help a friend.

  • “Hanging Out or Hooking Up?” Information Cards EN/FR 
    • This version is formatted as a single-page print-out, using regular paper.
  • “Hanging Out or Hooking Up?” Information Cards (EN/FR)
    • This version is 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, or folded. 

Relationships Resources Card

This is a shorter, one-sided wallet size card that contains a link and QR code to a list of relationships resources teens can seek out on their own to learn more about healthy relationships and TDV. This could be an option if teens feel unsafe taking other resources, or would like additional information to explore on their own time. Teens can either take a physical card or scan the QR code for later.

  • Relationships Resources Wallet-Size Cards (EN/FR)
    • These information cards are formatted to be printed on 3.5″ x 2″ business cards