Alberta Health Services expands Domestic Abuse Response Team to 23 more communities
More Albertans will have access to around-the-clock support if they are experiencing domestic violence.
The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) has expanded to serve 23 more communities after receiving a $2.6 million grant extension from the province.
Originally launched at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre in 2017, DART expedites patient connection with services like housing, legal aid, and counselling when they indicate, or proactive screening by health care providers determines they are experiencing domestic violence.
Albertans can request DART services at Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Covenant Health emergency departments, urgent care centres, and some maternity wards.
“We know domestic violence impacts a person’s health and it isn’t always physical,” said Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, AHS medical director for addiction and mental health, in a statement.
“Domestic violence can take many forms, including mental, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse,” Mitchell added. “Through the Domestic Abuse Response Team, we are able to help people and connect them to services immediately.”
AHS says it plans to expand DART’s availability to even more communities in the province in the coming months.
The full list of communities where DART support expanded to includes:
- Banff
- Black Diamond
- Bonnyville
- Camrose
- Canmore
- Claresholm
- Daysland
- Drayton Valley
- Fort McMurray
- Fox Creek
- Grande Prairie
- High River
- Lacombe
- Okotoks
- Ponoka
- Rocky Mountain House
- St. Paul
- Stettler
- Two Hills
- Valleyview
- Vulcan
- Wetaskiwin
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is flagpoling? A new ban on the practice is starting to take effect
Immigration measures announced as part of Canada's border response to president-elect Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff threat are starting to be implemented, beginning with a ban on what's known as 'flagpoling.'
Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants and bounties for six activists including two Canadians
Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a fresh round of arrest warrants for six activists based overseas, with bounties set at $1 million Hong Kong dollars for information leading to their arrests.
Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano
One of the world's most active volcanoes spewed lava into the air for a second straight day on Tuesday.
Indigenous family faced discrimination in North Bay, Ont., when they were kicked off transit bus
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal has awarded members of an Indigenous family in North Bay $15,000 each after it ruled they were victims of discrimination.
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive.
OPP and Ottawa firefighters help remove vehicle wedged into Highway 417 overpass
Ottawa firefighters and local Ontario Provincial Police officers were called to a bizarre scene Tuesday morning along Highway 417, where a driver managed to wedge his vehicle under an overpass.
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world
Pope Francis said the story of Jesus' birth as a poor carpenter's son should instill hope that all people can make an impact on the world, as the pontiff on Tuesday led the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas.
Read Trudeau's Christmas message
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued his Christmas message on Tuesday. Here is his message in full.
Ontario First Nation challenging selection of underground nuclear waste site in court
A First Nation in northern Ontario is challenging the selection of a nearby region as the site of a deep geological repository that will hold Canada's nuclear waste, arguing in a court filing that it should have had a say in the matter as the site falls "squarely" within its territory.