This guide is intended as a supplementary resource for staff at Children's Aid Societies and Indigenous Well-being Agencies. It is neither intended as an authority on social work or legal practice, nor is it meant to be representative of all perspectives in child welfare. Staff are encouraged to think critically when reviewing publications and other materials, and to always confirm practice and policy at their agency.
For information and support relating to library materials, library guides, and research databases, please click Email for Library Help to contact Jessica Mariano, Content & Research Librarian (she/her).
This guide intends to provide child welfare workers with resources, research, and tools to increase understanding on gender-based violence (GBV).
In order to recognize the intersections and complex nuances of types of violence, OACAS uses Gender-Based Violence as an umbrella term which includes:
GBV is disproportionately experienced by women, girls, trans-identified, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals. Although men and boys also experience gender-based violence, they are less likely to experience the most severe types of violence (i.e. physical violence requiring emergency medical treatment, lethal violence). Gendered language helps to disrupt the invisibility of gender-based violence (OAITH, 2025).
However, throughout this guide, you will come across external resources that use terms such as gender-based violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family violence, and violence against women. To learn more about the differences between these terms, please visit the Gender-Based Violence Learning Network Glossary.
Definitions and Statistics
Understanding Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Violence Against Women (VAW)
Understanding Violence Against Men
Understanding Women Who Use Violence
Understanding Information Sharing and Privacy in GBV Situations
Understanding the Impacts on Survivors and Children
Intersectionality Definition(s)
Cultural Considerations
First Nations, Inuit, Métis (FNIM) Communities
Black Communities
2SLGBTQ+ Communities
People with Disabilities
Religious and Faith-Based Communities
Risk Assessment
The following section offers resources to understand various risk assessment tools; however, training is required to use them in practice.
Safety Planning