A new website hopes to help children prepare to testify in court.

A new website funded by the Alberta government aims to help abused children prepare for the ordeal of testifying in court.

The Child Witness Court Preparation site, at www.childcourtprep.com, can be accessed by children from all over the world and takes them through what they can expect with the help of interactive games, audio recordings and a video tour of a courtroom.

Lynn Barry, a former social worker and the founder of the Canadian Society for the Investigation of Child Abuse, said her group received so many requests to work with children scheduled for court that it was impossible to meet the demand.

"Then an epiphany happened," Barry said from Calgary. "We realized through an interactive website we could make our services available to children at no cost. Kids these days are text-based and internet savvy."

'The last thing we want to do is re-traumatize, so if they know what to expect they'll be fine and ready.'— Lynn Barry, Canadian Society for the Investigation of Child Abuse

Children and teens can be terrified at having to see the accused abuser in court, Barry said.

"The last thing we want to do is re-traumatize, so if they know what to expect they'll be fine and ready. If their story can get out then justice is served."

The website, which will be officially launched in Calgary on Thursday, gives tips to help kids stay calm, such as deep breathing or focusing on a point on a courtroom wall.

Participants never talk specifically about what happened to them, but they can join one-hour sessions with Barry and other kids so they know they're not alone, she said.

The website is funded by the Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security Ministry, victims programs, the Bank of Montreal Employees Charitable Foundation, the Calgary Foundation and the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire.

With files from The Canadian Press