An awareness campaign is educating local residents about warning signs of Intimate Partner Violence.
Run by Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services, Not Ok focuses on spotting patterns of behavior in a relationship that may indicate more severe forms of violence.
This includes being prevented from seeing friends and family, a partner showing obsessive behavior like stalking and harassment, and fearing being hurt.
Officials said it launched last November and will run for three to five years.
Optimism Place Executive Director Donna Jean Forster says they’ve heard from community members that while they suspect something’s off in their loved ones relationship, they aren’t sure how to address it.
“We felt that if we could have a campaign that would reach anybody and everybody, and provide them with the tools to know what to look for and know how to respond in a way that is safe and effective, not only would people experiencing IPV be able to access support and resources they need, but everybody would feel equipped.”
Forster said volunteers are spreading the campaign through posters, brochures, digital signs and pull-up banners across Perth County, with hopes of getting people to talk about Intimate Partner Violence.
She added the initiative has gone well, noting they’ve been getting more volunteers and phone calls from residents asking about IPV and Not Ok.
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