Information and resources for service providers

• Domestic violence and violence against women in relationships
• Violence Against Women in Relationships Policy Document
• Community tools and other related information
• Government of Canada publications
• Guidelines, handbooks and assessment forms
• Information bulletins

To order printed copies of these publications and other resources, download the Publication and Resource Order Form.

Domestic violence and violence against women in relationships

• B.C.'s Domestic Violence Action Plan – Update December 2010
• Safety Planning with Children and Youth: A Toolkit for Working with Children and Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence
  Helps victim service workers develop safety plans for children and youth. It offers:
  • Steps to follow when safety-planning with children and youth
  • Specific information for safety planning with children and youth of all developmental stages
  • Practice tips, sample templates, suggested methods, and resources

Violence against women in relationships: Policy document

• Violence Against Women in Relationships: Policy (Including Protocol for Highest Risk Cases) – December 2010
• Optional Notification Forms and Instruction Guide – Protocol for Highest Risk Cases Guide and forms
• Optional Designation Form – Highest Risk Domestic Violence Case (form only) For police completion only
• Optional Case Update Form – Highest Risk Domestic Violence Case (form only) For use by all protocol partners

Community tools and other related information

• Referral Policy for Victims of Power-Based Crimes (January 2007)
  This bulletin remind police and victim service programs of legislation, policy and contractual requirements about referrals for victims of family and sexual violence cases (power-based crimes).
• Domestic Violence Response: A Community Framework for Maximizing Women's Safety (January 2010)
  This document consists of eight principles and key questions to help communities develop or enhance their coordinated response to domestic violence.
• Police Reported Spousal Assaults - Research Paper (July 2009 – External Report)
• Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Evidence Invoice (June 2025 fillable form) (PDF, 268 KB)

Government of Canada publications

• Policy Centre for Victims Issues, Department of Justice Canada
• National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Public Safety Canada

Guidelines, handbooks and assessment forms

• Crime Victim Assistance Program – Counselling Guidelines
• Victim Service Worker Handbook – Victims of Crime
• Victim Service Worker Handbook – Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR)
• Victim Service Worker Handbook – Victims of Sexual Assault
• Domestic Violence Service Priority Assessment – Information and Form
  The service priority assessment form assists victim service programs to identify women and children at potential risk for serious injury or death because of domestic violence.
• Domestic Violence Service Priority Assessment – Form Only
  This form has Adobe Reader form fields. If you are using Adobe Reader version 7 or later, the form can be completed online and saved to your computer.
• Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-book

Information bulletins

• Information Bulletin: Referral to Sexual Assault Services (July 2025)
• Information Bulletin: Bill C-75 (July 2020)
• Training Bulletin (October 2017)
• Information Bulletin: Focus on Trauma Informed Practice (April 2017)
• Information Bulletin: Focus on Restorative Justice (September 2016)
• Healing and Rebuilding (September 2016)
• Information Bulletin: Focus on Sexual Violence (June 2016)
• Information Bulletin (February 2016)
• Information Bulletin (October 2015)
• Practice Bulletin: Assisting Victims with Victim Impact Statements and Statements on Restitution (October 2015)
• Civil Forfeiture Information Bulletin (August 2015)
• Information Bulletin for Contracted Programs – Implementation of the Family Law Act (Revised August 2015)
• Information Bulletin (June 2015)
• Information Bulletin (April 2015)
• Information Bulletin (December 2014)
• Information Bulletin (October 2014)
• Information Bulletin (July 2014)
• Information Bulletin (March 2014)
• Information Bulletin (December 2013)
• Information Bulletin (September 2013)
• Information Bulletin for Contracted Victim Service Programs - Provision of Services in Family Court Matters (September 2012)
• Information Bulletin for Victim Service Workers – VAWIR Protocol for Highest Risk Cases (December 2010)