New website connects Oklahoma crime victims with trusted legal information, safety resources
Contact
Kathryn Fanlund
Communications and Social Media Manager
(202) 295-1520
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other forms of abuse in Oklahoma now have a new, easy-to-use online resource to help them understand their legal rights, develop safety plans and connect with trusted local services.
Today, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) and a coalition of Oklahoma organizations announced the public launch of GetSafeOK.org, an innovative website created to make critical legal and community resources more accessible to survivors throughout the state.
The website provides step-by-step legal information on topics including protective orders, safety planning, housing, financial stability and recovery, while connecting users with legal aid providers, domestic violence programs, shelters and other local services.
The site was developed through LSC funding to improve access to legal help for survivors and help them safely navigate complex legal systems during times of crisis.
“No one experiencing abuse should have to face the legal system alone or struggle to find reliable information during one of the most difficult moments of their lives,” said Ron Flagg, president of LSC. “GetSafeOK.org is an outstanding example of how innovation and collaboration can help people get the support they need during the most difficult moments in their lives. We’re proud to support this work and grateful to our Oklahoma partners for bringing this vision to life.”
Domestic violence remains one of the most urgent civil legal needs facing communities across the country. LSC’s recently released By the Numbers report found that LSC-funded organizations report rising demand for legal assistance from survivors of domestic violence, increasing 5.4% from the previous year and reflecting the growing need for accessible legal information and services nationwide.
“Every survivor deserves access to clear, trustworthy information that helps them make informed decisions about their safety and future,” said Michael Figgins, executive director of LASO. “GetSafeOK.org was built to make it easier for Oklahomans experiencing abuse to understand their legal options and connect with the help they need.”
The website was designed with survivor safety and accessibility as guiding principles, Figgins said. Users can quickly locate information, understand their legal options in plain language and connect with organizations that can provide legal representation and other supportive services.
LASO partnered with Scale Justice, a nonprofit access-to-justice technology innovator, to develop the site through a collaborative design process with extensive community input.
According to Flagg of LSC, the project reflects how partnerships among legal services providers and technology experts can make a difference in people getting the help they need when they need it.
LASO worked with other service providers across the state to develop content and resources for the site. Janine Collier, Director of Programs for the Case Family Safety Center in Tulsa, said the site helps build a stronger, more connected network of support for survivors across the state.
“GetSafeOK.org represents the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to improving access to safety, support and justice for survivors of domestic violence across Oklahoma,” explained Collier. “By bringing together trusted information, resources and innovative technology tools in one accessible platform, this initiative helps remove barriers and strengthens our collective ability to serve survivors when they need help most.”
The main collaborators that partnered with LASO to develop the site include Help In Crisis, Palomar OKC, Case Family Safety Center and Sac and Fox Nation.
LSC funded the development of the project as part of its ongoing commitment to innovative technology that expands access to civil legal assistance for low-income Americans.
LASO thanks the following organizations for contributing their time and expertise to the project: the Office of the Attorney General, the Oklahoma Fatality Review Board, YWCA OKC, Cardinal Point, Canadian County District Attorney’s Office, the Delaware Nation, ProjectSafe, SafeNet, Women’s Resource Center Norman, Safe Haven, Marie Detty New Directions, Crisis Center Durant, DVIS, ABLE Commission, The Spring, Northwest Domestic Crisis Center, Garfield County District Attorney’s Offices, YWCA Enid, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Wings of Hope, Family Crisis Center, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Canadian County District Court, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Mangum Oklahoma Police Department, Survivors Resource Network, Oklahoma Department of Corrections Victims Services, Guthrie SA, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Offices of Marriage and Family Life, Guthrie Oklahoma Police Department, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, Native Americans Against Domestic Violence, and the Kiowa Tribe.
For more information or to explore the new resource, visit www.GetSafeOK.org.