BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and St. Lawrence County legislators are taking strides to make meaningful change with the yearly resolution. 

St. Lawrence County's Domestic Violence task force has worked for many years to bring about meaningful change to support healthy relationships and families in local communities. 

At the forefront of those efforts is Renewal House, an organization that responds to the immediate needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in St. Lawrence County. 

Officials say Renewal House offers services "which empower victims and increase community awareness." 

Legislators said they hope to see the county take the next steps beyond raising awareness, moving toward meaningful change through outreach at various community events. 

Legislator Rita Curran said Renewal House has been at nearly every community event this summer. 

"I will say, like almost any festival that's going on, Renewal House has had a booth at everything all summer long everywhere they can be handing out contact cards and information," Curran said. 

She said throughout the summer she saw more and more residents approach Renewal House officials to learn more about the services offered. 

Curran said she "found it interesting to see who moved over to chat." 

"They do an awful lot of work and we should always thank them for that," she said. 

At the county level, the Task Force is continuing work to increase and improve services which range from prevention, crisis intervention and counseling through shelter, advocacy and legal intervention, officials said. 

Renewal House will work as the lead agency of the task force and has planned activities

throughout the County to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month with the 2026 theme being "Survivors Deserve Action." 

"Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, supported, and given access to the resources they need to feel safe and rebuild their lives," county officials said.