
Helping Skills / Trauma-and Violence-Informed Care
Provincial/territorial crisis lines for intimate partner violence.
See below for a training handbook and resources on helping skills, trauma- and violence-informed care.
Photo: © Cora Kavyaktok, Cambridge Bay, NU / Vermilion, AB

Resources
Helping Skills / Trauma - And Violence-Informed Care
Courses
The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children based at Western University in London, Ontario, offers skills training to recognize and respond to gender-based violence. It offers the online courses listed below. https://training.learningtoendabuse.ca/course/index.php?categoryid=7.
Courses include: Understanding and Responding to Young People with Childhood Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence. Three-hour course taught online at specific times. https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/events/2025/05-13-understanding-responding-to-young-ppl-with-ipv-exp.html
Engaging Men in Conversation about Family Violence to Manage Risk and Promote Safety. Fee and registration required, 4 sessions. https://training.learningtoendabuse.ca/enrol/index.php?id=31
Supporting and Advocating for Survivors Who are Navigating the Criminal Justice System. Free, 3 hours, specific times. Focus may be on Ontario. https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/events/2025/04-10-supporting-surviors-nav-justice.html
Domestic Violence Risk Assessment & Management. Free course in 12 modules: https://rise.articulate.com/share/IqQaO7T9LYt-N4gLC0l5oQ2Gurwg68Nh#/
Document, Monitor, Collaborate: A Primer on Domestic Violence Risk Assessment & Management. Shorter version of the above (free one hour course) for social services professionals about warning signs and risk factors for IPV, and how to have a conversation with the person: https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/online-training/doc_mon_collab/index.html
Neighbours, Friends and Families. Free 1 hour online course in four parts for people who are concerned that someone in their life may be experiencing intimate partner violence: 1) Understanding Intimate Partner Violence; 2) Recognizing Warning Signs and Risk Factors; 3) Coercive Control; 4) Respond: What can I do? https://rise.articulate.com/share/8a7EXdL7ac1Mn0uol6yj9jXWKMV63-2l#/
Capability-based courses: Developing Skills to Recognize and Respond to Gender-based Violence, Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, London, ON. https://training.learningtoendabuse.ca/mod/page/view.php
Each course ($50) offers six hours of instruction (online or in-person) and application of skills learned. A certificate is granted upon completion. Courses include:
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Supporting and Advocating for Survivors who are Navigating the Criminal Justice System
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Engaging Men in Conversations about Family Violence
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Managing Risk and Promoting Safety with Men who have Behaved Abusively
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Family Violence and Coercive Control Dynamics
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Multi-Agency Case Review
Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters free course – Understanding Mental Health and Substance Use: Training for Professionals Working with Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: https://maws.mb.ca/courses/mental-health-and-substance-use/
BC Society of Transition Houses. Online training, password protected, fees. A number of shelters in the territories are members and the fees may be reduced for members. Post-secondary education may be assumed. https://bcsth.ca/online-training/ A library of webinars is also available. Some of the courses are available in French. Courses include:
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All Ages Welcome: Supporting older women in transition housing programs
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Building supports for immigrant and refugee women in transition house programs
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Emergency management and service continuity program planning.
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Foundations in Violence Against Women v2.0
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Foundations in women-centred housing
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Increasing access for Indigenous women v2.0
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Introduction to working with children and youth experiencing violence (PEACE I)
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Supporting children and youth experiencing Violence Against Women (PEACE II)
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Legal issues supporting women and children experiencing violence v2.0
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Supporting women with mental wellness and substance use needs in safe homes, transition & second-stage housing
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Violence is preventable
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Working in transition housing programs
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses. Online courses, fees and password needed. Some are available in French. Post-secondary education may be assumed. Some courses have prerequisites (must take a certain other course before the one you want to enroll in.) Certificate of completion offered. https://training.oaith.ca/login/index.php
Core courses include:
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Foundations of VAW practice (Intersectional feminism, VAW practice ethics, self-reflective practice, portfolio building, survivor inclusion and record keeping)
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Intermediate foundations of VAW practice (primary prevention, sexual violence, meaningful work with Indigenous women, Trans inclusion, rights based approaches for all sex workers)
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Risk assessment and safety planning
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Gender-based violence, technology and safety
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The neurobiology of gender-based violence across the lifespan
Courses related to reducing barriers to service:
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Improving access to gender-based violence services: Communicating with survivors with disabilities or who are Deaf
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Harm reduction in VAW organizations
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Understanding & applying harm reduction approaches within gender-based violence work
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Moving toward Trans inclusive shelter and housing
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Working with Aboriginal women from an Indigenous lens
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Taking action in our spheres of influence: Intersectional anti-racism/anti-oppression Gender-based Violence
Courses relating to supporting survivors:
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Sexual violence, the law and legal obligations
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Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
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Responding to survivors of sexual violence from immigrant and refugee communities
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Preventing and responding to violence against older women
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Risk assessment and safety planning with older women
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Risk assessment & safety planning with infants, children and youth
Canadian Mental Health Association free 1-hour online courses:
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Strong Families: Building Boundaries. https://cmhasaskatoon.ca/course/strong-families-building-boundaries/
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Strong Families: Assertive Communication. https://cmhasaskatoon.ca/course/strong-families-assertive-communication/
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Healthy Relationships: Dating Violence. https://cmhasaskatoon.ca/course/healthy-relationships-dating-violence/
Racialized Trauma – Cultural Somatics. Free online 5-session course, more advanced courses for $. Certificate available for the completion of some courses. https://www.culturalsomaticsinstitute.com/courses
JRI: Leader in Social Justice virtual workshops/training. 2 hour sessions, $1,000 per person. https://jri.org/training/virtual-workshops-trainings-and-consultation-series Workshops available:
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Trauma 101 and Introduction to Core Actions of PFA Training
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Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care Planning
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Cultural Responsiveness Training
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Introduction to Suicide Prevention
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Diagnostic Series Trainings
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Professional Boundaries During Times of Crisis
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5 green flags in relationships. Very Well Mind, 2022. https://www.verywellmind.com/green-flags-in-relationships-6833475
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12 elements of healthy relationships. By Molly Hutchison, Johns Hopkins University. https://wellbeing.jhu.edu/blog/2020/09/15/12-elements-of-healthy-relationships/
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Healthy relationships resource kit. Learning activities for all ages from kindergarten to adults. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. https://westernhealth.nl.ca/uploads/Addictions%20Prevention%20and%20Mental%20Health%20Promotion/Healthy%20Relationships%20Resource%20Kit%20-%20Western.pdf
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Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Articles (easy to read)
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21208-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt
Articles (academic/professional language)
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Adapting CBT to meet clients’ needs. American Counselling Association, 2023. https://www.counseling.org/publications/counseling-today-magazine/article-archive/article/legacy/adapting-cbt-to-meet-clients-needs#
Factsheets
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American Psychiatric Association. Modified CBT therapies for IPV and trauma survivors. STAIR (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation), HOPE (Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment), Cognitive Trauma Therapy for Battered Women (CTT-BW), trauma-informed principles. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/IPV-Guide/APA-Guide-to-IPV-Among-Women.pdf
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DBT Made Simple. Online course ($), by Sheri Van Dijk. New Harbinger Publications. https://www.newharbinger.com/pages/dbtms-course/
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Story-shifters: Co-creating new stories about trauma. Webinar, 2019. Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children. https://www.gbvlearningnetwork.ca/webinars/recorded-webinars/2019/webinar-2019-8.html
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Narrative Exposure Therapy. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/narrative-exposure-therapy
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Trauma-Focused ACT: A practitioner’s guide to working with mind, body, and emotion using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Book by Russ Harris, 2021. New Harbinger Publications.
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Self-Help Workbooks
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The unwanted thoughts and intense emotions workbook: CBT and DBT skills to break the cycle of intrusive thoughts and emotional overwhelm. By Jon Hershfield and Blaise Aguirre, New Harbinger Publications, 2023. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648480553/the-unwanted-thoughts-and-intense-emotions-workbook/
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Recovering from emotionally immature parents: Practical tools to establish boundaries and reclaim your emotional autonomy. Lindsay C. Gibson (clinical psychologist). New Harbinger Publications, 2019. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684032525/recovering-from-emotionally-immature-parents/
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The Adverse Childhood Experiences guided journal. By Donna Jackson Nakazawa, New Harbinger Publications, 2024. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648484155/the-adverse-childhood-experiences-guided-journal
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Healing sexual trauma workbook: Somatic skills to help you feel safe in your body, create boundaries, and live with resilience. By Erica Shershun, New Harbinger Publications, 2021. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684036509/healing-sexual-trauma-workbook/
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Somatic therapies involve the body and are designed to ease the stress response. They include mindfulness, meditation, grounding techniques, and other body-based activities.
Articles-
How to introduce mindfulness to patients with diverse beliefs and backgrounds. National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine. https://www.nicabm.com/introducing-mindfulness/?itl=free-resources-page
Books
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The politics of trauma: Somatics, healing, and social justice. By Staci Haines, 2019. Video based on this book (1 hour, 38 minutes): https://www.stacihaines.com/
Relaxation techniques
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Grounding techniques. https://nscs.learnridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GroundingTechniquesPDF1.pdf
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Need a breather? Try these 9 breathing exercises to relieve anxiety. By Sheryl Ankrom, VeryWell Mind, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115
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Relaxation response for reversing stress. By Elizabeth Scott, VeryWell Mind, 2023. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-relaxation-response-3145145
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Short meditation, focused attention, mindfulness practices. www.mindful.org
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Self compassion, downloadable guided practice meditations. Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer.
www.self-compassion.org
www.mindfulselfcompassion.org
www.klinic.mb.caVideo
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The power of somatics for racial justice. Video with Nkem Ndefo, Temi Mwale, Melz Owusu, Rebekah Delsol and Alex Augustin. https://vimeo.com/user114095750 (1 hour, 31 min)
Websites
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Social justice somatics. Staci Haines: https://www.stacihaines.com/
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Crisis lines/websites
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988 Suicide Crisis Helpline, anywhere in Canada
Call or text 988 or visit 988.ca, anytime. Lines are never closed. Service available in English or French. Other languages may be available – responder will have to arrange for an interpreter. People whose safety is at risk should call 911.
People who are Deaf or hard of hearing can text 988 or access 988 with the Canada Video Relay Service (Canada VRS) which connects you to a video interpreter in American Sign Language (ASL or Langue des signes du Quebec (LSQ) – access is free and open every day and night. You can also use a Teletypewriter (TTY) or Internet Protocol (IP) Relay Services. Dial 711 to reach an operator for TTY.
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Embrace Life Council (Nunavut) (867) 975-3233 or toll free at (866) 804-2782
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Resources by region: inuusiq.com
Webinar and zines
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Carly Boyce suicide intervention resources: https://www.tinylantern.net/suicide-intervention-resources
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Trauma-Informed Care
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Trauma- and violence-informed approaches to supporting children exposed to IPV. Factsheet, Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, 2020. https://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-31/index.html
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Treating women who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence. American Psychiatric Association. Covers screening, safety assessment, suicide assessment, danger assessment, various treatment options, best practices for counselling, examples of strengths-based language, Traumatic Brain Injury. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/IPV-Guide/APA-Guide-to-IPV-Among-Women.pdf
Trauma-informed facilitation
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Guidelines for planning and facilitating trauma- and violence-informed meetings. https://kh-cdc.ca/en/resources/guides/guide3/index.html
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Change is possible
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Can people really change? Research shows change is possible with motivation and therapy support. By Sanjana Gupta, VerywellMind, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/can-people-really-change-5203290
Culturally sensitive counselling
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Trauma-informed and culturally sensitive counselling skills. From “Lessons Learned from a Culturally-Informed Peer Support Program for Newcomer Arabic-Speaking Communities”, 2024. https://www.gbvlearningnetwork.ca/resource-spotlights/recorded-resource-spotlights/docs/Spotlight-Slides-Dec-2024.pdf
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Academic
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The land is a healer: Perspectives on land-based healing from Indigenous practitioners in Northern Canada. 2020 article by Jennifer Redvers in International Journal of Indigenous Health 15 (1). https://doi.org/10.32799/ijih.v15i1.34046
Book chapter
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Chapter 4. Land-based healing and cultural resilience. Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance. https://mhcca.ca/indigenous-communities/chapter-4-land-based-healing-and-cultural-resilience
Factsheet
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What is land-based treatment and healing? First Nations Health Authority, B.C. https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-What-is-Land-Based-Treatment-and-Healing.pdf
Programs
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Dehcho First Nations annual on-the-land program. Contact Health and Wellness. https://dehcho.org/
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Mamisarvik Healing Centre. Eight-week residential treatment program for Inuit, based in Ottawa. Incorporates some on-the-land activities. https://tiontario.ca/programs/mamisarvik-healing-centre
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Project Jewel. On-the-land program near Inuvik offered by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. https://irc.inuvialuit.com/programs/project-jewel/
Website
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Wellness on the land: Land-based programs. About how to create a land-based program. Thunderbird Partnership Foundation. https://thunderbirdpf.org/land-for-wellness/
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Moose Hide Campaign. https://moosehidecampaign.ca/
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Working with men (Ontario First Nations perspective). Kanawayhitowin: Taking Care of Each Other’s Spirit. http://www.kanawayhitowin.ca/?page_id=82
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Moose Hide Campaign talks Indigenous masculinity! Recorded Facebook talk by Sage Lacerte. https://gbvlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/facebook-lives/moose-hide-campaign-indigenous-masculinity/index.html 18 mins 16 secs
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Also see Populations - Children and Youth
Articles – easy to read
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Why parenting styles matter when raising children. Verywell Mind, 2022. https://www.verywellmind.com/parenting-styles-2795072
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What does secure attachment look and feel like? Verywell Mind, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/secure-attachment-signs-benefits-and-how-to-cultivate-it-8628802
Books
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Staying connected with your teen: Polyvagal parenting strategies to reduce reactivity, set limits, and build authentic connection. Book or e-book by Yshai Boussi, New Harbinger, 2024. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648482229/staying-connected-with-your-teen
Factsheets
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Mothering in the context of Intimate Partner Violence: Realities and resilience. Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, 2023. https://www.gbvlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/briefs/mothering-brief.html?utm_source=LN+and+KH+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=9baf608586-Backgrounder-Sport
Video
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The Incredible Years Parenting Program overview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1-BoK7KVQY
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