Welcome to DRIVEN
DRIVEN provides access to multiple supports for women experiencing gender-based abuse and violence.
We work in collaboration with various partner agencies across the Durham Region to:
Help women to identify what their initial needs are.
Provide information about the services that we can help connect women with.
Offer support from various on-site partners, on the same day.
Help women to connect with as many off-site partners as needed, on the same day.
Arrange follow-up support at the various agencies.
Provide referrals to other agencies in the community.
What Is Abuse?
This behaviour is referred to by various names such as:
Relationship abuse
Women abuse
Domestic violence
Bullying
Gender- based violence
Abuse is an issue of power and control. It involves a person abusing his or her power over another person or people. It is not due to anger problems, drinking, or drugs although these issues may make abuse worse. Abuse is a conscious choice by a person to control another person.
Abuse can be:
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Psychological
Financial
Spiritual
Types of Gender-based Violence and Abuse Against Women:
Domestic Violence: Abusive behaviour of a verbal, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and/or financial nature against a woman committed by her current or past intimate partner or family member.
Sexual Violence and Abuse: Unwanted physical or verbal behaviour of a sexual nature against a woman committed by a current or past intimate partner, family member, friend, acquaintance, or stranger.
Elder Abuse: Violent or abusive behaviour towards an older person committed by someone in a position of trust (family, friend, caregiver, etc.).
Violence and Abuse: ...of all types, against a woman because she is a woman, committed by an employer, friend, acquaintance, or stranger.