An Oxford County organization that provides public education and training about violence against women has launched a new website focused on information, resources and supports.
Unveiled by the Domestic Abuse Resource Team earlier this month, the website – dartoxford.ca – also boasts a few features that coincide with February’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
“We wanted to ensure that this community resource was made available to support the national effort to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence,” said Diane Harris, the co-chair for the team’s committee and executive director of Domestic Abuse Services of Oxford County in a press release.
Through the new website, Harris said Oxford residents will be able to get the help they need, whether they’re the victims of domestic violence or want to end this cycle of abuse.
“I hope people use it and it gives them the information that they require,” Harris said.
The website had been in the works since a strategic planning meeting before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns took place.
During this meeting, the team’s members decided they needed both a greater focus on youth in the community while also educating people about domestic violence.
“We have a vested interest in focusing upon youth in our community, recognizing that there are many influences that young people navigate in developing intimate relationships,” she said in the press release.
In light of the website’s official launch, Harris said she felt “relief” when it finally went live.
“It’s just an exciting time to finally get this website up and running,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Despite the website being live, the team is still adding some upgrades and other features.
An events page will be added to promote various activities and events in the community, adding there are programs for men in the community that will be posted to the website.
“(The website) can serve both the person who is experiencing it, as well as the person who is using the violence,” Harris said.
There resource team also plans to include a page on its website for partner agencies to share news, such as upcoming training programs.
“Our goal is to, one, bring awareness that there is a resource team that can help families, help individuals (and) to help organizations and businesses to get the information out there to stop domestic violence,” Harris said.
Through this website, Harris said she hopes people who are suffering from abuse will “know that they’re not alone” and that they can get help.