Commish hear about DV awareness month

Harrison News-Herald Reporter

CADIZ — Chelsea Scott, Executive Director of Tri-County Help Center, visited the county commissioners to share an update on the center as well as declare October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Our agency is a mental health service provider and we provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and human trafficking,” Scott explained. “Every year we have a theme and this year we partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence and our theme is ‘Everyone Knows Someone.’ The message behind that is domestic violence is more prevalant [than many think]. The statistic is that one in four women and one in seven men are likely to experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.

“When we looked at the US census and the populaiton of Harrison County, we would estimate that 1813 females and 1032 males in Harrison County are likely to experience some form of domestic violence. So for the national week of action, out agency is displaying a field of flags.”

She explained that each flag will represent a hundred people for the county statistics. The flags will be displayed outside their office.

Scott went on to share several upcoming events that span three counties. They will hold their annual march on October 18 at their Saint Clairsville office, 104½ Nothern Mariette St. October 19 is Purple Thursday when everyone is encouraged to wear purple in support of survivors of domestic violence. On October 20, the TCHC is joinging the YWCA Wheeling for a free bowling event at St. Clair Lanes 6:30-8:30 p.m.

She shared a few of the services TCHC provides including legal advocacy and community outreach. There is also a new counselor available at the Cadiz office.

“Finding mental health counselors and providers has beena struggle,” Scott said. “We now have services for adults and children. They don’t have to have a history of victimization to come to our agency for counseling services.”

TCHC can also provide a sliding fee scale for clients so that they can receive the help they need without worrying about the cost. There will also be parenting classes soon available in Harrison County. These used to only be offered in Saint Clairsville.

Commissioner Paul Coffland then read the resolution, “Whereas every person has the right to live in a non-violent home and community, it is the goal of this administration for our communities to be safe. The problem of domestic violence affects all citizens of Harrison County, and is not confined to any particular race, gender, age, social, religious, ethnic, geographic or economic group.”

The resolutions detailed several statistics, including that a victim is 70 times more likely to be murdered after leaving an abusive partner and 72% of murder-suicides involve intimate partners. Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families.

“Only coordinated community effort will put a stop to this heinous crime,” Coffland read. “The Harrison County Board of Commissioners reaffirms the commitment of the County of Harrison, State of Ohio, to reducing violence in our homes, as well as on our streets. We urge citizens to participate in the activities planned by TCHC during this month. Citizens should take this opportunity to educate themselves about the impact of domestic violence and to become familiar with resources and programs available.”